Source: https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-calimer?ref=ArmlS6!MiEIPo
Timestamp: 2020-08-10 08:31:01
Document Index: 685597350

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 3582', '§ 3582', '§ 3582', '§ 12003', '§ 3553', '§ 3553', '§ 3624']

United States v. Calimer, Criminal Case No. DKC 02-0177 | Casetext Search + Citator
United States v. Calimer
Full title:UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ROBERT MARK CALIMER
Criminal Case No. DKC 02-0177 (D. Md. Jul. 15, 2020)
Criminal Case No. DKC 02-0177
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ROBERT MARK CALIMER
Robert Mark Calimer is serving a 229 1/2-month sentence, imposed in November 2002, for multiple bank robberies. He has filed a motion to reduce sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i) (Compassionate Release). (ECF Nos. 37; 41). The Government filed an opposition (ECF No. 46), and Mr. Calimer replied (ECF Nos. 48; 49). For the following reasons, the motion for compassionate release will be granted.
The motions to seal (ECF Nos. 42; 45; 47) are GRANTED. The personal medical information should remain private, except as recited herein.
Ordinarily, "[t]he court may not modify a term of imprisonment once it has been imposed[.]" 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c) (2018). This general rule is subject to certain exceptions, including the compassionate release provision, which allows the Bureau of Prisons ("BOP") to seek a modification of a prisoner's sentence. See id. § 3582(c)(1)(A). Under the First Step Act of 2018, the compassionate release provision was modified to allow prisoners to seek a sentencing reduction directly from the court. The provision now provides, in relevant part, that:
Judge Hollander described the next step of the analysis:
On March 26, 2020, Attorney General William Barr issued a memorandum to Michael Carvajal, Director of the BOP, directing him to prioritize the use of home confinement for inmates at risk of complications from COVID-19. See Hallinan v. Scarantino, 20-HC-2088-FL, 2020 WL 3105094, at *8 (E.D.N.C. June 11, 2020). Then, on March 27, 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act"), Pub. L. No. 116-136, 134 Stat. 281. In relevant part, the CARES Act authorized the Director of BOP to extend the permissible length of home confinement, subject to a finding of an emergency by the Attorney General. See Pub. L. No. 116-136, § 12003(b)(2). The Attorney General issued a second memorandum to Carvajal on April 3, 2020, finding "the
requisite emergency . . . ." Hallinan, 2020 WL 3105094, at *9. Notably, the April 3 memorandum "had the effect of expanding the [BOP's] authority to grant home confinement to any inmate...." Id.
United States v. Kess, No. 14-cr-480-ELH, 2020 WL 3268093, at *3-4 (D.Md. June 17, 2020) (footnote omitted).
Mr. Calimer argues that he meets the "extraordinary and compelling reasons" because his underlying medical conditions make him especially vulnerable to COVID-19. He asserts that he does not pose a danger to the community, and the § 3553(a) factors warrant release.
He concedes that his offense conduct was extremely serious, but argues that the bank robberies were the product of acute drug and gambling addiction. He has participated in educational courses and programming that will help reduce his likelihood of recidivism. He has only 16 months left to serve, in any event. He proposes to live with family in Pennsylvania who will assist him with his medical needs.
The Government counters that, even if the underlying medical conditions make Mr. Calimer more susceptible to serious illness from COVID-19, there is no enhanced risk at the facility where he is currently housed. Moreover, the Government suggests that a generalized risk is insufficient and a prisoner must show something with respect to himself in particular. It also suggests that the risk may actually be higher in Pennsylvania, where he proposes to reside.
In a supplement, Mr. Calimer reports that case statistics for Victorville have gone up. (ECF No. 50). --------
Furthermore, the Government maintains that the § 3553(a) factors do not support release. Beginning with the facts of the multiple bank robberies, his lengthy criminal history, and his poor conduct while in prison, it contends that Mr. Calimer has yet to manifest any attribute meriting release, that none of the goals of sentencing have been met, and that continued incarceration is necessary to protect the public.
There is much force to the Government's argument. The amount of the decrease being sought is minimal, however, and given the current situation, it is unlikely that significant programming will be available for Mr. Calimer in the remaining months of his sentence. The combination of factors, age, health conditions, COVID-19 risk, as well as length of time already served, justify granting compassionate release to Mr. Calimer.
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3624 (d), the BOP is required to provide transportation to the place of conviction or verified residence. The proposed residence in Pennsylvania will also require the probation office in Maryland to coordinate with its counterpart in Pennsylvania, to assess the proposed residence and put in place appropriate supervision. Accordingly, the court will defer entry of the amended judgment until it receives notification that a release plan is ready for implementation.