Opinion ID: 4394859
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: court’s restitution order

Text: Six months later, on May 9, 2017, the district court issued its restitution order. After outlining in detail Paroline’s framework (and expressing some frustration with its inexactitude), the district court analyzed each victim’s restitution request. As a preliminary matter, the district court stated that, with 2 Though the district court admitted the restitution exhibits into evidence at the restitution hearing, it did not scan and file those exhibits on the district court docket. On appeal, Rothenberg filed an unopposed motion to supplement the record to include those exhibits, which this Court granted. 22 Case: 17-12349 Date Filed: 05/08/2019 Page: 23 of 67 respect to each victim, it had assigned restitution in a manner that comported with Rothenberg’s relative role and only for damages he proximately caused. The district court explicitly explained that it had not “attempted to hold [Rothenberg] responsible for all losses sustained by any victim.” Furthermore, the district court expressly noted there was no evidence that Rothenberg was connected to the initial abuse of any of the victims or that he had reproduced or distributed their images. Instead, Rothenberg was a possessor only. And the district court specifically stated that it had “taken these factors into consideration in assigning [Rothenberg] a relative role as the proximate cause of these victims’ losses.” Turning to the specific awards, the district court determined that Sierra’s $10,000 request was reasonable. The district court found that: (1) Rothenberg possessed one image of Sierra; (2) a small number of criminal defendants had paid restitution to Sierra; (3) Sierra’s current mental health condition was severe; and (4) Sierra’s projected costs of care exceeded $600,000. The district court found “in consideration of her large amount of total costs, the small number of contributing offenders, and a request for a proportion of these costs proximately caused and to be paid by [Rothenberg], who neither created nor distributed her image, that $10,000 is a reasonable request under the Paroline analysis and factors.” Next, the district court determined that Jane’s $3,000 request was reasonable. The district court found that: (1) Rothenberg possessed four images of 23 Case: 17-12349 Date Filed: 05/08/2019 Page: 24 of 67 Jane; (2) a small number of criminal defendants had paid restitution to Jane; (3) Jane’s victim impact statement specifically addressed how the existence of her images on the internet affected her and isolated the harm caused by possessors and distributors from that caused by the original abuse; and (4) Jane’s estimated medical and therapy costs were $101,027. The district court found “in consideration of her medical costs, the small number of contributing offenders, and a request for a proportion of these costs to be paid by [Rothenberg], who neither created nor distributed her images, that $3,000 is a reasonable request under the Paroline analysis and factors.” The district court then determined that Pia’s $5,000 request was reasonable. The district court found that: (1) Rothenberg possessed 14 images of Pia; (2) there was no evidence regarding the number of other criminal defendants ordered to pay restitution to Pia, though Pia’s counsel indicated that one other defendant was so ordered; and (3) Pia’s estimated therapy costs over the next 20 years totaled $81,900. The district court found “in consideration of her total costs, the fact that she has only received restitution from one other defendant, the large number of images possessed by [Rothenberg] of [Pia], and a request for a proportion of these costs to be paid by [Rothenberg], who neither created nor distributed her images, that $5,000 is a reasonable request under the Paroline analysis and factors.” 24 Case: 17-12349 Date Filed: 05/08/2019 Page: 25 of 67 The district court also determined that Mya’s $5,000 request was reasonable, despite the government’s requested amount of only $500. The district court found that: (1) Rothenberg possessed one image of Mya; (2) there was no indication as to whether any other criminal defendants were ordered to pay restitution to Mya; and (3) Mya’s counsel indicated a reasonable treatment estimate for Mya would be more than $100,000. The district court found “in consideration of her total costs, the fact that she has not received any restitution at this time, and a request for a proportion of these costs to be paid by [Rothenberg], who neither created nor distributed her images, that $5,000 is a reasonable request under the Paroline analysis and factors.” As to Sarah, the district court determined that an award of $20,000—$5,000 less than Sarah’s requested amount—was reasonable. The district court explained that: (1) Rothenberg possessed six images of Sarah; (2) over 150 criminal defendants were ordered to pay restitution to Sarah; (3) Sarah’s victim impact statement explicitly addressed how the existence of her images on the internet affected her, thereby isolating the harm caused by possession of her images from that caused by the original abuse; and (4) Sarah’s estimated cost of psychiatric care was nearly $300,000. The district court found, “in consideration of the amount of costs, the fact that many other offenders have been required to pay restitution to [Sarah]—which in the case of Sarah, the Court finds contributes to a finding that 25 Case: 17-12349 Date Filed: 05/08/2019 Page: 26 of 67 the request is reasonable and acknowledged by many other courts—the large number of images possessed of [Sarah], and a request for a proportion of these costs proximately caused and to be paid by [Rothenberg], who neither created nor distributed her image[s], that $20,000 is an appropriate amount under the Paroline analysis and factors.” In a similar vein, the district court determined that for Vicky, $9,000— $1,000 less than Vicky’s requested $10,000 amount—was a reasonable award. The district court found that: (1) Rothenberg possessed one image of Vicky; (2) more than 600, and possibly more than 800, other criminal defendants were ordered to pay restitution to Vicky; (3) Vicky’s victim impact statement specifically addressed how the online traffic in her images affected her and explained the distinct harm caused by possessors and distributors of her images; and (4) Vicky’s predicted therapy costs exceeded $100,000. The district court found “in consideration of the amount of costs, the fact that many other offenders have been required to pay restitution to [Vicky]—which in the case of Vicky, the Court finds contributes to a finding that the request is reasonable and acknowledged by many other courts—and a request for a proportion of these costs proximately caused and to be paid by [Rothenberg], who neither created nor distributed her image, that $9,000 is an appropriate amount under the Paroline analysis and factors.” 26 Case: 17-12349 Date Filed: 05/08/2019 Page: 27 of 67 The district court likewise awarded a reduced amount to Amy. The district court noted that Amy requested $25,000 and that the government requested $15,664, but the district court ultimately determined that $23,000 was reasonable. The district court explained that: (1) Rothenberg possessed one image of Amy; (2) more than 200 criminal defendants had paid restitution to Amy; (3) Amy’s victim impact statement “provide[d] strong support for the different and separate harm that possessors proximately cause to victims such as [herself]”; and (4) Amy’s counseling and therapy costs could exceed $500,000. The district court found “in consideration of the large amount of costs, the fact that other offenders have been required to pay restitution to [Amy]—which, again, in the case of Amy, the Court finds contributes to a finding that the request is reasonable and acknowledged by other courts—and a request for a proportion of these costs proximately caused and to be paid by [Rothenberg], who neither created nor distributed her image, that $23,000 is an appropriate amount under the Paroline analysis and factors.” Regarding Jenny, the district court acknowledged that both the government and Rothenberg agreed that $2,000 was an appropriate amount, but that Jenny requested $42,600. The district court determined that Jenny’s requested amount was reasonable. The district court emphasized that (1) Rothenberg possessed 34 images and one video of Jenny, and (2) only one other defendant had paid 27 Case: 17-12349 Date Filed: 05/08/2019 Page: 28 of 67 restitution to Jenny. The district court conceded there was “less documentation of Jenny’s psychological and medical expenses as compared with some other victims in this case,” but found that the $2,000 amount requested by the parties was insufficient. Considering “the extremely large number of images [Rothenberg] possessed of [Jenny], her costs, the fact that only one other defendant has so far contributed to these costs, and a request for a proportion of these costs to be paid by [Rothenberg], who neither created nor distributed her images, the Court finds that $42,600 is a reasonable request under the Paroline analysis and factors.” Lastly, as to Casseaopeia, the district court determined that her requested award of $25,000 was reasonable, even though the government requested only $21,563. The district court found that: (1) Rothenberg possessed two images of Casseaopeia; (2) more than 50 criminal defendants were ordered to pay her restitution; and (3) her projected costs of care exceeded $300,000. Considering “her costs, the number of contributing offenders, and a request for a proportion of these costs proximately caused and to be paid by [Rothenberg], who neither created nor distributed her image,” the district court found that “$25,000 is a reasonable request under the Paroline analysis and factors.” In total, the district court ordered Rothenberg to pay $142,600 in restitution, to be apportioned to the nine victims in the amounts set out above. On appeal, Rothenberg argues that the district court erred as to all nine restitution awards. We 28 Case: 17-12349 Date Filed: 05/08/2019 Page: 29 of 67 begin with the restitution statute and then review the Supreme Court’s Paroline decision, which both parties agree governs this appeal.