--- description: A federal judge dismissed the four life sentences given to Lee Boyd Malvo for his role in the 2002 Washington D.C. sniper shootings title: Judge Throws Out Life Sentences for D.C. Sniper Lee Boyd Malvo image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt61f9287369d065df/6988cf36a988ca16236bc6ca/gettyimages-2627091.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Judge Throws Out Life Sentences for D.C. Sniper Lee Boyd Malvo by [Lisa Marie Segarra](/author/lisa-marie-segarra/) ## Lisa Marie Segarra Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 26, 2017 10:07 PM CUT  Sniper suspect Lee Boyd Malvo (C) is escorted by deputies as he is brought into court to be identified by a witness during the murder trial in courtroom 10 at the Virginia Beach Circuit Court October 22, 2003 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Muhammad has decided not to represent himself in court and to turn his defense back to his attorneys. Sniper suspect Lee Boyd Malvo (C) is escorted by deputies as he is brought into court to be identified by a witness during the murder trial in courtroom 10 at the Virginia Beach Circuit Court October 22, 2003 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Muhammad has decided not to represent himself in court and to turn his defense back to his attorneys.Photograph by Davis Turner—Getty/Pool by [Lisa Marie Segarra](/author/lisa-marie-segarra/) ## Lisa Marie Segarra Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 26, 2017 10:07 PM CUT [A federal judge](http://time.com/4722209/judge-president-trump-rally-violence/ "undefined") dismissed the four life sentences given to Lee Boyd Malvo for his role in the 2002 Virginia sniper shootings. Malvo was only 17 at the time, which is why the judge vacated the life sentences and ordered new sentencing hearings, [the Washington _Post_ reported.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/federal-judge-tosses-life-sentences-for-convicted-sniper-lee-boyd-malvo/2017/05/26/ecd83942-4252-11e7-adba-394ee67a7582%5Fstory.html?utm%5Fterm=.cd9a0a5c5444 "undefined") In 2012, the [Supreme Court](http://time.com/4788229/supreme-court-north-carolina-redistricting/ "undefined") ruled that mandatory life sentences for juveniles without the possibility for parole were unconstitutional. In 2016, the court also decided that ruling could be retroactively applied to cases. Malvo pleaded guilty and agreed to serve two life sentences in Spotsylvania County. He was convicted and sentenced to serve another two life sentences in Fairfax County. However, the federal judge’s ruling only applies to his sentences in Virginia. It does not apply to the six life sentences Malvo received for pleading guilty to six murders in Maryland. His lawyers are appealing those on the same grounds, the _Post_ reported. According to the _Post_, this does not vacate his convictions and he can still be given life sentences. He and John Allen Muhammad were convicted of 10 murders in a three-week period in and around Washington D.C. Muhammad was sentenced to death and was [executed](http://time.com/2892183/three-executions-loom-after-botched-lethal-injection/ "undefined") in 2009. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4796434/life-sentences-dc-sniper-lee-boyd-malvo/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4796434/life-sentences-dc-sniper-lee-boyd-malvo/"},"headline":"Judge Throws Out Life Sentences for D.C. 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