Background
Ernest Tulsida Carpenter moved in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina for compassionate release under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). District Judge James C. Dever III denied the motion on December 19, 2025.
Carpenter, proceeding pro se, appealed. He also sought leave to file an amended informal brief and requested appointment of counsel.
The Court’s Holding
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court’s order. In an unpublished per curiam opinion, the panel stated that it had reviewed the record and found no reversible error.
The court granted Carpenter leave to file his amended informal brief but denied his motion for appointment of counsel. It dispensed with oral argument because the written materials adequately presented the facts and legal contentions and argument would not aid the decisional process.
Key Takeaways
- The Fourth Circuit upheld the denial of Carpenter’s motion for compassionate release.
- The panel found no reversible error after reviewing the record.
- The court allowed an amended informal brief, denied appointed counsel, and decided the appeal without oral argument.
Why It Matters
The decision leaves Carpenter’s sentence unchanged and the district court’s denial of compassionate release in place. Because the opinion is unpublished, it is not binding precedent in the Fourth Circuit.