UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. Traxler

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
ALBANY DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
v.
THOMAS N. TRAXLER,
Defendant.
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CASE NO:
1:11-cr-16–WLS-ALS
ORDER
Before the Court is Defendant’s “Unopposed”1 Motion for Early Termination of
Supervised Release (Doc. 22) (“Motion”) filed December 1, 2025. Therein, Defendant
requests that this Court terminate his supervised release early pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
§ 3583(e)(1). After pleading guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography, Defendant was sentenced
on September 8, 2011, to serve 120 months imprisonment, followed by a life term of
supervised release. Defendant commenced his supervised release on December 13, 2019.
Defendant states he has complied with all conditions of his supervised release,
completed sex offender treatment at Peaceway Counseling and Mediation Services Inc.,
voluntarily attends monthly group counseling sessions, and has passed 11 consecutive
polygraphs which are administered every 6 months since his release from custody. Defendant
is now 67 years old, lives alone in Lee County, and works as a custodian for Albany Baptist
Church and as a maintenance person for a rental business. He is active with his family
members and grandson. Defendant served 23 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. In summary,
Defendant requests termination of supervised release because his performance during his 6
years on supervised release has been exemplary.
On January 9, 2026, the United States Probation Office for the Middle District of
Georgia (“USPO”), via memorandum, responded to Defendant’s request. The USPO’s
memorandum reflects that Defendant has generally complied with the conditions of his
1 As reflected by the Memorandum of the United States Probation Office for the Middle District of Georgia
and the Response (Doc. 24) of the Government, the Motion is not “unopposed.”
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supervised release and completed sex offender treatment in 2023. While the USPO commends
Defendant for his performance on supervised release, the USPO states that Defendant is not
eligible for early termination and recommends that the Court deny Defendant’s request.
However, as an alternative to early termination, the USPO recommends that Defendant’s term
of supervision be reduced from life to 10 years, resulting in Defendant’s term of supervised
release terminating on December 12, 2029. The USPO indicates that sentencing data in the
Middle District of Georgia since January 1, 2020, shows an average term of supervised release
for a conviction of Receipt of Child Pornography is 14.6 years. According to the USPO,
Defendant would be classified as a Tier I sex offender for purposes of the Sex Offender
Registration and Notification Act of 2006 (“SORNA”). See 34 U.S.C. § 20901, et seq. Under
SORNA, Defendant must register at a minimum for 15 years, unless reduced for a clean
record. Id. § 20915(a)(1). By maintaining a clean record for 10 years, Defendant’s period of
required registration under SORNA may be reduced by 5 years to a total of 10 years. Id.
§ 20915(b)(2)(A), (3)(A).
The Government filed its Response (Doc. 24) on January 3, 2026. Therein, the
Government also objects to termination of Defendant’s supervised release, but recommends
that the Court reduce Defendant’s term of supervised release to 15 years.
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e)(1), upon consideration of certain factors set forth in
§ 3553(a),2 the Court may terminate a term of supervised release after the expiration of one
year of supervised release, if the Court is satisfied that such action is warranted by the conduct
of the defendant released and the interest of justice. A court’s termination of supervised release
is discretionary. United States v. Boyd, 606 Fed. App’x. 953, 956-957 (11th Cir. 2015). After
careful individualized review of Defendant’s Motion, and consideration of the required
§ 3553(a) factors, and in particular the nature and circumstance of the offense, the need to
afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct, and the need to protect the public from future
crimes, the Court finds that Defendant does not meet the standards for early termination at
this time. The Court, has determined that further monitoring by the USPO is in the interests
of justice.
2 The Court must consider § 3553(a)(1), (a)(2)(B), (a)(2)(C), (a)(2)(D), (a)(4), (a)(5), (a)(6), and (a)(7).
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However, upon consideration of the current range of supervised release for this offense
of 5 years to life as reflected in 18 U.S.C. § 3583(k), and the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a), including the circumstances in this case, the defendant’s performance while on
supervised release, the defendant’s personal history and characteristics, the need to avoid
unwarranted sentencing disparities, and to afford adequate deterrence of criminal conduct, the
Court further finds, that a reduction in Defendant’s term of supervised release to 15 years is
warranted. In the event Defendant maintains a “clean record” for a period of at least 10 years
as contemplated by 34 U.S.C. § 20915(b), the Court may entertain a subsequent motion for
reduction.
Accordingly, Defendant’s Motion for Early Termination of Supervised Release (Doc.
22) 	is 	hereby 	GRANTED 	IN 	PART 	and 	DENIED 	IN 	PART, 	WITHOUT
PREJUDICE to Defendant’s subsequent petition or upon the Court’s own initiative. The
Defendant’s term of supervised release is reduced to fifteen (15) years. The USPO is
DIRECTED to prepare an amended judgment.
SO ORDERED, this 13th day of January 2026.
/s/W. Louis Sands
W. LOUIS SANDS, SR. JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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