Opinion ID: 856631
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: In 2008, Timothy Baker began serving a ten-month sentence followed by three years of supervised release for unlawful access to stored communications. While on supervised release, William Decker gave Baker a second chance. Decker employed Baker at his kitchen cabinet company as an internet salesman. Customers could order the cabinets directly from the company’s website or over the phone. The phone sales garnered commissions; the self-orders did not. No. 11-4151 United States of America v. Timothy Baker Decker testified that a few weeks after Baker started working for him, the number of selforders dramatically decreased and the number of commissions credited to Baker for phone sales rose significantly. Decker stated that he soon learned that Baker had configured the computer system to drive all the self-orders to himself in order to profit from the commissions and had additionally pocketed $650 dollars from the company. Baker was arrested for violating his supervised release based on this theft as well as for failure to submit monthly reports and failure to pay restitution in a timely manner. Baker only contested the theft and pleaded guilty to the other violations. At sentencing, based largely on Decker’s testimony, the judge found that Baker committed the theft by a preponderance of the evidence. Baker faced a guidelines range of 5 to 11 months and a statutory maximum of two years. The judge sentenced Baker to two years.
At the sentencing hearing, the judge spoke extensively about the nature of the theft and his particular frustration with Baker for taking advantage of a “good samaritan.” Sent. Tr. at 44. The judge stated, “It is the mindset that troubles me and failure to have learned the lesson that troubles me, and it’s the use of a computer. It’s the taking advantage that troubles me.” Id. at 31. Baker’s attorney argued for a lesser sentence, stating that Baker had a drug habit and suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Baker also addressed the judge. He told the judge that he was “strung out on pills” and was sorry for his betrayal of trust. Id. at 40. -2- No. 11-4151 United States of America v. Timothy Baker The judge, focusing on the intent and deliberation involved, laid out in detail his reasons for sentencing Baker to the statutory maximum of 2 years. He mentioned Baker’s previous criminal history, the need to protect the public, the seriousness of the crime, and deterrence. Baker timely filed this appeal, arguing that his sentence is both procedurally and substantively unreasonable.