United States v. Walker

John Eugene Walker (defendant) pleaded guilty to robbing two banks in 2013, crimes he committed, like his prior 20-year prison term, while addicted to drugs and alcohol. In 2015, the sentencing judge found imprisonment unnecessary to deter him and sentenced him to time served with supervised release; the Tenth Circuit reversed and remanded, agreeing imprisonment was not needed for specific deterrence but faulting the judge for not weighing the other sentencing factors under 18 U.S.C. Section 3553. By resentencing, Walker had stayed crime-free, complied with all release conditions, and completed a rigorous rehab program that broke his addiction.