Case Explained: UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MICHAEL ALEXANDER DAVIS ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Filed: 2026-07-30 The sixth-circuit affirmed Michael Davis’s convictions for attempted possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The court held that the district court did not plainly err in issuing limiting instructions regarding prior bad acts evidence at the time exhibits were admitted rather than individually, as defense counsel failed to request contemporaneous instructions or object to the timing. Regarding the admission of res gestae evidence, the court determined that any potential error in admitting text messages about prior drug transactions was harmless because overwhelming independent evidence supported the verdict. Finally, the court concluded that the district court properly admitted evidence of prior drug discussions under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) to prove specific intent and rebut Davis’s claim of duress, finding the probative value was not substantially outweighed by unfair prejudice. The judgment of the district court is affirmed. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.