Judge Kenneth Davis Bell — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Davis Bell sits in the Western District of North Carolina (WDNC) and granted a downward variance in 133 of 281 federal sentencings (47.3%) from FY2012–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Kenneth Davis Bell, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Kenneth Davis Bell grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (133 below-guideline cases out of 281 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)55-24.6%
  2. 2.Reduce Disparity (aggregated reason)52-28.4%
  3. 3.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities21-32.9%
  4. 4.Mule/Role in the offense17-29.9%
  5. 5.Cooperation without motion (not §5K1.1) (aggregated reason)16-27.5%
  6. 6.Rehabilitation12-36.1%
  7. 7.(5H1.4) Drug dependence and alcohol abuse9-36.2%
  8. 8.Acceptance of responsibility9-34.2%
  9. 9.(5K2.0) General aggravating or mitigating circumstance9-31.9%
  10. 10.(5H1.1) Age (Defendant's youth or old age)8-36.5%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Kenneth Davis Bell

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Kenneth Davis Bell's 251 Zone D sentencings, 122 (48.6%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended251 cases
  • Within range
    114(45.4%)
  • Below range
    122(48.6%)
    avg −27.9% below min
  • Above range
    15(6.0%)
    avg +26.6% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Kenneth Davis Bell?

Want to see what those 133 below-guideline cases actually looked like? Just Metrics shows you the actual matched cases — same judge, same guideline chapter, same guideline range — and tells you what they did.

Just Metrics also surfaces Judge Kenneth Davis Bell's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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