United States v. Rothwell

SENTENCING MEMORANDUM

CURTIS L. COLLIER, Chief Judge.

If is often said the most difficult task a federal trial judge must perform is deciding upon and then imposing a sentence in a criminal case. In a universe of difficult decisions, one of the most difficult type of cases, if not the most difficult and also most vexing, confronting federal judges are cases where defendants are charged with receipt and/or possession of child pornography. Defendants facing sentencing for these offenses are generally without any history of criminal conduct, from outward appearances present no threat to society,…