A former member of a violent neo-Nazi group who tormented journalists across the US with hand-delivered threats won’t be sentenced to prison after a federal judge in Seattle said the man, who is transgender, had suffered enough from abusive family members and high school bullies.

During a virtual court hearing Wednesday, US District Judge John Coughenour said he struggled with his decision to sentence Taylor Parker-Dipeppe to time served, according to the Associated Press, which first reported on the hearing. But Coughenour explained that while he was aware of the fear and torment that Parker-Dipeppe’s actions inflicted on his targets, the 21-year-old had also been a victim himself.