Court Opinion

ID: 9578548
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:46:18.627495+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:23.824750
License: Public Domain

BRIGHT, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
I dissent. Here the guidelines range was 15 to 21 months. The guidelines already take into account the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. The district court did not think that the guidelines were proper, but gave no valid reason for raising the 15-21 months to 51 months, a raise of about 150%.
The comparison to other sex crimes as noted by the majority is not convincing. The district court imposed what I call a sentence without support. That is inappropriate. We require good reason for a judge to depart below the guidelines. The same approach should be followed for a sentence above the guidelines.
This defendant deserves no special consideration from any judge, but he is entitled to equal treatment with other offenders similarly situated.
This defendant is otherwise getting his just deserts. See footnote 2 in majority’s opinion. Hill will serve 174 months (14.5 years) for his other sex-related crimes.