[idoh]

The two main theories of justice in the US is retribution and deterrence. Applying these two theories to the case here it isn't totally unreasonable for him to be punished.

I feel that deterrence is a stronger argument here - maybe you are right in that he'll be a net positive anyway as a free man, but there is some validity in that it will make the next guy who wants to secretly install laptops in server closets to think twice.