United States v. Michael Edward Aerts

FLAUM, Circuit Judge.

Defendant-appellant Michael Edward Aerts voluntarily turned himself in to the police and confessed to committing two bank robberies. At sentencing, Aerts asked the court to depart downward under section 5K2.16 of the United States Sentencing Commission Guidelines, which provides for a reduction in a defendant’s sentence “[i]f the defendant voluntarily discloses to authorities the existence of, and accepts responsibility for, the offense prior to the discovery of such offense____” United States Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual, § 5K2.16, p.s. (Nov.1995). The…