United States v. Thorn

OPINION

This case presents a straightforward but legally complex question in the developing area of federal sentencing law: Was Defendant Robert Thorn, Jr.'s prior conviction for robbery under Pennsylvania law a "crime of violence" as defined by the United States Sentencing Guidelines ("U.S.S.G" or "Sentencing Guidelines")? The answer requires analyzing Pennsylvania case law; parsing Pennsylvania's robbery statute; examining certain records underlying Defendant's state conviction; and applying what is known as the "categorical approach" to his state conviction. The Court concludes that, given…