United States v. Cothran

JAMES C. PAINE, District Judge: A jury convicted defendant/appellant Glen Douglas Cothran of willfully distributing cocaine to a minor in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 845(a). Under the statute, the district court was empowered to imprison Cothran for a term of up to 30 years and to impose a fine of up to $250,000. Instead, the district court fashioned a 66 month split sentence which was designed to rehabilitate Cothran and protect the public from future unlawful conduct on his part. Specifically, Cothran was sentenced to the custody of the Attorney General for 66 months. He was required to be confined in a community treatment center for six months and the execution of the remainder of the sentence of imprisonment was suspended. The defendant was placed on probation for a period of 60 months. As a special condition of the probationary period, Cothran was required to reside at a community center for six months consecutive to the custody commitment. Defendant was also required to stay out of Fulton County, Georgia for the first two years of his probation unless he received the permission of his probation officer.1