United States of America v. Steven Warren Baker

NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
STEVEN WARREN BAKER,
Defendant-Appellant.
No. 21-30236
D.C. No. 1:17-cr-00087-SPW-1
MEMORANDUM*
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Montana
Susan P. Watters, District Judge, Presiding
Submitted April 11, 2022**
Before: McKEOWN, CHRISTEN, and BRESS, Circuit Judges.
Steven Warren Baker appeals from the district court’s order denying his
motion for compassionate release pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). We
have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.
Baker contends that the district court erred by categorically rejecting his
* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
FILED
APR 14 2022
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

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argument that his family circumstances warranted compassionate release. Even if
Baker is correct, we see no cause to remand. Baker did not substantiate his claim
regarding his family circumstances, just as he failed to substantiate his asserted
medical conditions. On this record, we agree with the district court that Baker did
not meet his burden to establish extraordinary and compelling reasons for
compassionate release.
We do not reach Baker’s additional argument that the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)
factors weigh in favor of release because the district court did not decide that issue,
nor was it required to do so after it determined that Baker had not shown
extraordinary and compelling reasons for release. See United States v. Keller, 2
F.4th 1278, 1284 (9th Cir. 2021) (“[A] district court that properly denies
compassionate release need not evaluate each step.”).
AFFIRMED.

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