Filed: Nov. 06, 2017
Latest Update: Mar. 03, 2020
Summary: The military judge deferred, ruling on the motion until hearing the governments evidence on the merits.18, At trial, the defense tried to undermine SPC AMs in-court identification of, appellant by asking if SPC AM was aware that [appellant] has gained 30 pounds, since [the offense date].
UNITED STATES ARMY COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
Before
MULLIGAN, FEBBO, and WOLFE
Appellate Military Judges
UNITED STATES, Appellee
v.
Specialist ANDREW J. CRISWELL
United States Army, Appellant
ARMY 20150530
Headquarters, Fort Campbell
Steven E. Walburn, Military Judge (arraignment)
Matthew A. Calarco, Military Judge (motions hearing & trial)
Colonel Susan K. Arnold, Staff Judge Advocate (pretrial & recommendation)
Lieutenant Colonel Robert C. Insani, Staff Judge Advocate (addendum)
For Appellant: Captain Matthew L. Jalandoni, JA (argued); Colonel Mary J. Bradley,
JA; Major Christopher D. Coleman, JA; Captain Matthew L. Jalandoni, JA (on
brief); Major Patrick J. Scudieri, JA; Captain Matthew L. Jalandoni, JA (reply brief).
For Appellee: Captain John Gardella, JA (argued); Colonel Mark H. Sydenham, JA;
Lieutenant Colonel A.G. Courie III, JA; Major Cormac M. Smith, JA; Captain Linda
Chavez, JA (on brief).
6 November 2017
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MEMORANDUM OPINION
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This opinion is issued as an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as precedent.
FEBBO, Judge:
In this case, we hold that the military judge did not abuse his discretion in
admitting the victim’s in-court identification of Specialist (SPC) Andrew J. Criswell
[hereinafter appellant]. We also hold that appellant’s defense counsel was not
ineffective in failing to submit a discovery request to obtain appellant’s Facebook
profile picture used for pretrial identification of appellant.
A military judge, sitting as a general court-martial, convicted appellant,
contrary to his pleas, of one specification of false official statement, two
specifications of abusive sexual contact, one specification of assault consummated
by a battery, and one specification of indecent language in violation of Articles 107,
CRISWELL—ARMY 20150530
120, 128, and 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §§ 907, 920, 928,
934 (2012 & Supp. I 2014) [hereinafter UCMJ]. The military judge sentenced
appellant to a dishonorable discharge, confinement for two years, and reduction to
the grade of E1. The military judge credited appellant with one day of credit against
the sentence of confinement. The convening authority approved the sentence as
adjudged and credited appellant with one day confinement credit.
This case is before us for review pursuant to Article 66, UCMJ. 1 Appellant
assigns four errors on appeal. We find two issues merit discussion, but no relief.
We have considered the matters personally asserted by appellant pursuant to United
States v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431 (C.M.A. 1982), and find they lack merit.
BACKGROUND
Specialist AM was assaulted at a party. Specialist AM did not know her
assailant’s name. Appellant also attended the party and stated he spoke to a woman
that we conclude could only have been SPC AM. However, appellant denied
touching her inappropriately. Specialist AM’s friend, SPC Nasser Al-Shamesi,
observed appellant at the party and knew mutual friends of appellant. Based on SPC
AM’s description of her assailant and speaking with appellant’s friend from the
party, SPC Al-Shamesi found appellant’s profile picture on Facebook. Specialist Al-
Shamesi provided the picture to Criminal Investigation Command (CID). A CID
agent showed the picture to SPC AM and she confirmed appellant was her assailant.
At trial, appellant’s defense counsel moved to suppress the out-of-court and in-court
identification of appellant.
DISCUSSION
Under our Article 66(c), UCMJ, authority to resolve controverted questions of
fact, and recognizing that the trial court saw and heard witnesses, we make the
following findings:
In 2014, appellant was twenty-one years old and assigned to Fort Campbell,
Kentucky. Appellant is African-American and is five feet ten inches tall. Specialist
AM was also assigned to Fort Campbell. Specialist AM is Caucasian, is five feet
tall, and weighed ninety-eight pounds. She performed military intelligence duties as
an imagery analyst.
On the evening of 2 November 2014, SPC AM attended a dance party at a
university in Clarksville, Tennessee. She attended the party with SPC Al-Shamesi
1
The court heard oral argument in this case on 27 June 2017.
2
CRISWELL—ARMY 20150530
and two other male soldiers. They arrived at the party between around 2130 and
2200. Specialist AM and SPC Al-Shamesi had been friends since high-school.
When SPC Al-Shamesi entered the party, he observed appellant with several other
soldiers, two of the soldiers he knew.
The party was located among and between several rooms of a building at the
university. The area was crowded with between 100 and 200 people (a majority
African-American), was very noisy from the music, and was very hot. The area was
“almost pitch black,” except for lights at the entrance of the bathrooms and near the
disc jockey (DJ) stand. Later on, around 0200, SPC AM got separated from her
friends.
Appellant approached SPC AM as she was standing alone near the DJ stand.
Appellant was wearing a black bandana with a white design lying flat on his head,
black jeans, a dark blue jacket, and dark blue shirt with a logo. Appellant was also
wearing a gold grill piece on the upper row of his teeth. Appellant asked why she
was alone and SPC AM made up a story that she was looking for her boyfriend.
Specialist AM wanted appellant to leave her alone.
Instead of leaving her alone, appellant pushed SPC AM up against a wall and
opined that her boyfriend could not “fuck” her the way he could. Appellant next
grabbed SPC AM’s face and stuck his tongue into her mouth. He then pulled down
his pants enough to expose his penis, and proceeded to rub his erect penis against
SPC AM’s upper thigh while he grabbed her buttocks with his other hand. Appellant
next grabbed SPC AM’s hand, placed her hand on his penis, and moved it in a
stroking motion. Appellant told SPC AM he “would fuck the shit” out of her “white
ass.” Appellant made other indecent statements to SPC AM as well. All the while,
SPC AM attempted to squirm her way out, and talk her way out of the corner where
appellant was assaulting her. Ultimately, appellant grabbed SPC AM’s wrists and
began to walk her towards the front entrance of the room, near a closet. Along the
way, they happened upon two other men and appellant began to whisper to these
individuals. Specialist AM was shaking her head telling them “No, no, don’t,
whatever he says, don’t listen.” At this point, appellant backed her against the wall,
and SPC AM said “leave me alone and just let me go.” Appellant replied, “Okay,
give me a kiss and I’ll go.” He then forced SPC AM to kiss him, and he walked
away.
Specialist AM texted SPC Al-Shamesi that she wanted to leave the party.
Before leaving, SPC Al-Shamesi had to use the bathroom. Specialist AM was
standing outside the bathroom door when appellant approached her again and asked
why she was still standing by herself. Specialist AM told appellant her “boyfriend”
was in the bathroom and to leave her alone. Appellant stated “how about I take you
in there and show you how a real man fucks you?” Specialist AM replied “No…I
just want to go.” Appellant walked away.
3
CRISWELL—ARMY 20150530
Specialist AM was very upset and told SPC Al-Shamesi about the assaults.
She described her assailant as an African-American male wearing a black bandana
with white markings. Specialist Al-Shamesi stopped her description because he
thought he knew the identity of her assailant. 2 Specialist Al-Shamesi had observed
appellant wearing a black and white bandana on top of his head earlier that evening.
The black and white bandana stood out as unusual to both SPC AM and SPC Al-
Shamesi because it was just laid on top of appellant’s head. They had never
observed anyone wear a bandana in a similar manner at other bars or clubs.
According to SPC AM and SPC Al-Shamesi, only one person at the club was
wearing a bandana in this manner.
Between that evening and the next day, SPC Al-Shamesi was able to
determine appellant’s identity through texts with a soldier who was with appellant at
the dance party, and by asking another soldier from appellant’s unit. Specialist Al-
Shamesi went onto appellant’s Facebook page and obtained his profile picture. Also
on the next day after the assault, SPC AM reported the assault to Fort Campbell
CID. Specialist Al-Shamesi provided a CID agent his phone where he saved
appellant’s Facebook profile picture. He also provided the CID agent with
appellant’s name. The CID agent showed SPC AM the Facebook picture and she
confirmed appellant was the same person that assaulted her at the dance party. The
CID agent instructed SPC Al-Shamesi to cease any further investigation efforts.
Afterward, CID interviewed appellant. Appellant stated he was at the
university dance party that evening during the same times SPC AM was there—
between around 2230 and 0230 or 0300. Appellant stated he was wearing blue and
black clothing, and a grill piece on his top teeth. He denied wearing a bandana.
Instead, according to appellant, he was wearing a black skull cap similar to an Army
Physical Training cap. 3 Appellant further admitted that he talked to a “short, skinny,
2
Our dissenting colleague points to SPC AM’s description to SPC Al-Shamesi as
being “extraordinarily not detailed.” However, there is a substantial difference
between SPC AM being stopped in describing her assailant immediately after an
assault and SPC AM’s observations being limited to her assailant being an African-
American male wearing a black and white bandana. After the assault and prior to
the Article 32, UCMJ, hearing, SPC AM’s additional details of her assailant’s
description included him wearing a black jacket, black jeans, black shirt and a grill
piece on his top row of teeth.
3
Both at trial and on appeal, appellant asserted SPC AM’s identification and
description of appellant were flawed since he was wearing a skull cap and SPC AM
did not describe the lettering and logo on his shirt. As proof of what he was wearing
(continued . . .)
4
CRISWELL—ARMY 20150530
real small, white girl.” Appellant essentially told CID he spoke with SPC AM. 4
There was enough lighting for appellant to observe that SPC AM was wearing jeans
and a polo-shirt with a collar. He was also able to observe her facial expressions.
According to appellant, SPC AM was “very flirtatious” based on her body language
and the way she looked. However, he denied saying or doing anything inappropriate
and denied touching SPC AM. According to appellant, he was married and did not
have trouble getting sex from other women. Appellant told CID SPC AM’s
“boyfriend” knew one of appellant’s friends from that evening. 5 Appellant thought
it was strange that the night before SPC AM referred to SPC Al-Shamesi as her
boyfriend and now the CID agent was telling appellant that the two of them were
only friends. Appellant speculated SPC AM’s “boyfriend” may have gotten jealous
when he saw appellant speaking with SPC AM and she made up a story to “cover her
ass.”
At arraignment, appellant deferred his pleas. The military judge scheduled
the trial date. At the start of a contested trial, appellant entered a plea of not guilty
and appellant’s defense counsel made an oral motion to suppress the Facebook
(. . . continued)
that evening, appellant’s defense counsel introduced a group picture of appellant and
his friends taken at the party earlier that night. In the group photo from the party,
appellant is wearing a dark blue shirt with a design on the front, was wearing a black
or dark blue skull cap, and a gold grill piece on the top row of his teeth. The other
four friends were wearing either white, or colorful plaid shirts or jackets. However,
the photograph does not establish that he could not have replaced his skull cap with
a bandana later in the evening when the assault occurred. Appellant’s friend from
the party testified appellant had previously worn a bandana in the same manner as
described by SPC AM.
4
Based on the record of trial, it is clear that appellant was describing his interaction
with SPC AM. The attendees at the dance party were predominantly African-
American. There were only three Caucasian females at the party. Out of the three,
only SPC AM could be described as short and skinny.
5
It is clear from the record that appellant is referring to SPC Al-Shamesi.
Specialist AM testified that appellant was the only person at the dance party she had
to tell she was with her “boyfriend” (SPC Al-Shamesi) in the hope of stopping his
indecent language and assaults. In his statement to CID, appellant confirmed he
briefly met SPC Al-Shamesi at the entrance to the party and two of appellant’s
friends knew SPC Al-Shamesi. According to appellant, one of those same friends
was contacted by SPC Al-Shamesi to get appellant’s name after SPC AM made an
assault allegation.
5
CRISWELL—ARMY 20150530
picture of appellant as being unnecessarily suggestive and to suppress any in-court
identification of appellant. Since appellant had not entered pleas, the military judge
allowed appellant to raise the suppression motion. The military judge deferred
ruling on the motion until hearing the government’s evidence on the merits.
Appellant did not request a continuance or object to the military judge’s proposed
procedure to consider the motion.
At trial, in addition to the descriptions above, SPC AM testified that her
assailant was wearing what looked to be a black jacket, very dark jeans, and a gold
grill piece on his upper teeth. She described her assailant as being in his early
twenties, and between five feet ten inches, and 6 feet tall. Specialist AM testified
that the shape of appellant’s face stood out to her. SPC AM did not recall
appellant’s shirt having a logo. 6
At trial, two defense witnesses testified that they did not observe appellant
wearing a bandana laying on his head. 7 One witness was only with appellant for
about ten to fifteen minutes at the dance party. The other witness was only with
appellant briefly at the dance party.
After the government presented its case on the merits and rested, the military
judge ruled on the suppression motion. The military judge found CID’s use of
appellant’s Facebook picture was unnecessarily suggestive. However, the military
judge allowed SPC AM to make an in-court identification of appellant. Afterward,
the defense presented its case on the merits.
A. Deferring Pleas
As a threshold matter we address the Army practice of deferring pleas during
arraignment. Our routine review of records for courts-martial reveals the practice of
6
The logo design, however, would have been under appellant’s jacket. SPC AM’s
failure to observe the logo design could reasonably be attributed to numerous
factors, including that appellant was in the midst of sexually assaulting her.
7
One of the defense witnesses had been friends with appellant for about eighteen
months. They went out a lot together. Prior to that evening, the defense witness had
observed appellant wear a bandana draped on his head at other clubs. He did not
observe anyone wearing a bandana on top of their head at the dance party that night.
The defense witness testified that appellant was wearing a grill piece that night. The
witness could not recall if appellant was wearing a shirt with a logo that night, but
confirmed he was wearing the shirt with a logo in their group photo.
6
CRISWELL—ARMY 20150530
deferring the entry of pleas is a matter of course. 8 Our review of records also
reveals this practice has resulted in potentially case-dispositive motions being
argued without briefs and being presented to military judges at the beginning of
trial. We find an orderly system of justice is frustrated when matters are addressed
out of sequence. While we find no prejudice to appellant from the practice in this
case, indeed the timing of the motion seems tactical and intentional, the result was a
less developed record 9 on an important issue. This problem could have been
avoided.
Appellant was arraigned on 7 May 2015. Appellant made no motions and
stated that he was deferring the entry of pleas. The motions deadline established by
the military judge’s pretrial order came and went. Appellant filed none.
Then, on 4 August 2015 at the start of the contested trial, appellant was again
called upon to enter pleas. Apparently for tactical reasons, the defense waited until
the moment appellant was to actually enter pleas before raising a suppression
motion. Rule for Court-Martial [hereinafter R.C.M.] 905(b) lists several motions
that must be “raised before a plea is entered.” Included are dispositive motions and
motions that usually require evidentiary hearings, such as motions to suppress
evidence, motions based on defects in the charges, discovery, severance, and
requests for individual military counsel. In short, it is a list of motions that
generally involve threshold issues that need to be decided well before trial.
8
Unlike the deferral of forum selection explicitly contained in Rule for Court-
Martial 903(a)(2), there is no explicit reference to deferring entry of pleas within the
rules. Nor does the Military Judges’ Benchbook provide for the deferral of pleas in
the standard arraignment script. Dep’t of Army, Pam. 27-9, Legal Services:
Military Judges’ Benchbook, para. 2-1-3 (16 Sep. 2014). The only arguable
suggestion of the practice is the discussion of R.C.M. 904 stating “[a]rraignment is
complete when the accused is called upon to plead; the entry of pleas is not part of
the arraignment.” Thus, the primary purpose of the initial session is complete
irrespective of whether pleas themselves are entered. This leaves the only possible
authority for the military judge to defer pleas would be his or her general control
over the proceedings and authority to grant continuances. See R.C.M. 801; R.C.M.
906(b)(1).
9
Unlike the military judge that had to decide the suppression motion the day of
trial, without the benefit of briefs, this appellate court had the benefit of extensive
government and defense briefs on the suppression issue, oral argument, and many
months to consider the issue.
7
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At trial the defense counsel argued, and the military judge was persuaded, that
R.C.M. 905(b) allowed him to ignore the motions deadline established by the pretrial
order and raise a suppression motion on the morning of trial because appellant had
not yet “entered pleas.” In other words appellant could raise a motion to suppress
by either the motions deadline or the entry of pleas—whichever came later.
Appellant in this instance was allowed to ignore the motions deadline and surprise
the military judge and the government with a suppression hearing. 10
As a result, a potentially case-dispositive and non-frivolous suppression
motion was thrust onto the military judge’s lap, moments before a contested trial,
without the benefit of prior notice, written motions, or a prepared government
evidentiary response. While there is understandable regulatory flexibility that
allows the military judge to set motions deadlines, conduct hearings on motions, and
grant continuances, the military judge should not allow this flexibility to be pitted
against specific rules to thwart the orderly administration of justice. In our view,
the practice of allowing the deferral of pleas should not be used as a mechanism to
allow defense counsel to ignore pretrial deadlines. 11
We suggest at the initial session a military judge would be well within his
right to deny a request to defer pleas and if an accused refuses to enter a plea to then
enter one for him. See R.C.M. 910(b). We recognize the three and five day
statutory waiting periods between referral and arraignment provided for special and
general courts-martial respectively may often be insufficient for a defense attorney
to fully comply with due diligence requirements with respect to R.C.M. 905(b)
motions. See Article 35, UCMJ. 12 We also acknowledge there is no explicit
mechanism for deferring the entry of motions that are required to be entered before
10
This is now the law of the case. Nothing in this opinion however should be
interpreted as stating that defense counsel’s interpretation of R.C.M. 905(b) is
correct.
11
Nothing in this opinion should be interpreted as passing judgment on a defense
counsel who attempted to use the rules for courts-martial to his client’s advantage.
Rather, we recognize defense counsel have a duty to zealously represent their
client – – a far disparate role from that of the military judge.
12
We do not suggest that pretrial orders should not provide the parties with
adequate time to file motions.
8
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pleas under R.C.M. 905(b). 13 However, “the military judge for good cause shown
may grant relief from the waiver” effectuated by a failure to enter these motions
prior to pleas. R.C.M. 905(e). The establishment of an alternate deadline under a
military judge’s authority pursuant to R.C.M. 801, certainly would constitute good-
cause.
Furthermore, as an accused may withdraw or change a plea until findings are
announced, there seems little to be gained by the current practice of deferring pleas
themselves. That is, an accused who enters a plea at arraignment instead of
“deferring” the plea would not be in any worse position. Adopting this practice
would reinforce the military judge’s authority, preclude motions by ambush or the
alternative of granting a continuance and ordering formal briefing on the eve of trial
to deal with counsel zealously representing their client and at the same time
hijacking the system.
B. Whether the Military Judge Erred in Allowing the Admission of SPC AM’s
In-Court Identification of Appellant
On appeal, appellant asserts that the military judge abused his discretion by
admitting SPC AM’s in-court identification of appellant. Appellant asserts that the
military judge relied on an incomplete, and therefore erroneous, view of the law.
Appellant also asserts that the military judge relied upon SPC AM’s certainty in
identifying her perpetrator, while ignoring clear evidence refuting her testimony.
We conclude that the military judge did not abuse his discretion in denying
appellant’s motion to suppress the in-court identification of appellant.
1. Forfeiture and Waiver
Appellant’s objection to the in-court identification preserved the issue on
appeal. Therefore, we will reverse should we find prejudicial error.
However, we separately address whether appellant has preserved any
objection to the manner in which the suppression hearing was conducted. Here, the
military judge deferred ruling on the suppression motion until the government rested
its case in chief. There was not a separate evidentiary hearing. Instead, the parties
litigated the suppression motion by examining and cross-examining the
government’s witnesses. As a result, evidentiary objections were sometimes
13
Rule for Court-Martial 905(d) only allows deferral of a “determination” on a
“motion made before pleas are entered,” it says nothing about deferral of the filing
of the motion itself.
9
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resolved in a bifurcated manner with the military judge agreeing to consider the
evidence for purposes of the motion, but not on the issue of guilt.
Neither appellant nor the government objected to the military judge deferring
the ruling on the suppression motion. Therefore, appellant has not preserved an
objection to the military judge’s decision to defer ruling on the motion. “Whereas
forfeiture is the failure to make the timely assertion of a right, waiver is the
intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right.” United States v.
Ahern, 76 M.J. 194, 197 (C.A.A.F. 2017) (quoting United States v. Gladue,
67 M.J.
311, 313 (C.A.A.F. 2009)). First, appellant raised the suppression motion for the
first time at the start of trial. Second, appellant did not specifically request a
continuance for the military judge to consider the suppression motion before trial.
Third, appellant did not object to the procedure the military judge proposed, that
was, to defer ruling on the motion until hearing the government’s evidence on the
merits. To the contrary, after the military judge explained that he was going to defer
ruling until he heard the evidence in the case, defense counsel replied “Yes, Your
Honor.” As a result, appellant has waived any procedural challenge to the military
judge considering evidence on the suppression motion at the same time he was
considering evidence on the merits.
Even if we were to find that appellant had only forfeited the issue, we find no
plain error. The military judge’s decision to defer ruling on the suppression motion
until after the government presented evidence on the merits was prompted by the
timing of the motion and the defense counsel’s agreement for the military judge to
defer his ruling.
The Manual for Courts-Martial gives the military judge the responsibility and
deference to ensure that the court-martial procedures are conducted in a fair and
orderly manner. See R.C.M. 102; See also R.C.M. 801(a)(3) discussion (the military
judge is empowered to set the time for each session of a court-martial and “prescribe
the manner and the order in which proceedings may take place”).
Although R.C.M. 905 normally requires motions to suppress be raised prior to
entry of pleas, the rule also allows the military judge, for good cause, to defer a
determination until trial “or even after findings.” R.C.M. 905(d). The military
judge “may determine when and in what order motions may be litigated.” R.C.M.
801(a)(3) discussion. The military judge also decides the order in which witnesses
may testify. Id. The military judge decides the order in which parties may argue on
a motion or objection.
Id. Military judges also control the mode and order of
examining witnesses and presenting evidence.
Id. In short, the rules allow the
military judge to keep order in the courtroom. In this case, the military judge’s
procedure to consider the motion was fair, orderly, and did not deny appellant a full
opportunity to present evidence on the merits.
10
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Further, in military judge alone trials, “[m]ilitary judges are presumed to
know the law and to follow it absent clear evidence to the contrary.” United States
v. Erickson, 65 M.J. 221, 225 (C.A.A.F. 2007) (citing United States v. Mason,
45
M.J. 483, 484 (C.A.A.F. 1997)). It is clear from the record that the military judge
was considering evidence separately for each purpose. He indicated a number of
times to the parties for what purpose he was ruling on an objection or considering
the evidence.
2. Review of the Military Judge’s Ruling on In-Court Identification
This court reviews a military judge’s ruling on a motion to suppress for an
abuse of discretion, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
prevailing party. United States v. Hoffmann, 75 M.J. 120, 124 (C.A.A.F. 2016).
Findings of fact are reviewed under a clearly-erroneous standard and conclusions of
law are reviewed de novo.
Id. The abuse of discretion standard calls “for more than
a mere difference of opinion. The challenged action must be ‘arbitrary, fanciful,
clearly unreasonable, or clearly erroneous.’” United States v. White,
69 M.J. 236,
239 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (quoting United States v. Lloyd,
69 M.J. 95, 99 (C.A.A.F.
2010)).
We employ a two-prong test for determining the admissibility of eyewitness
identifications. United States v. Rhodes, 42 M.J. 287, 290 (C.A.A.F. 1995). First,
the court must determine whether a pretrial identification was unnecessarily
suggestive.
Id. If the answer to this threshold question is in the affirmative, the
court must next determine whether this “unnecessarily suggestive” pretrial
identification was “conducive to a substantial likelihood of misidentification.”
Id.
(citing Manson v. Brathwaite,
432 U.S. 98 (1977)). “An ‘unnecessarily suggestive’
pretrial identification does not preclude a reliable in-court identification.”
Id.
The reliability of an in-court identification is evaluated under a totality of the
circumstances. See
Rhodes, 42 M.J. at 291 (citing Neil v. Biggers,
409 U.S. 188,
199-200 (1972)). Factors to consider in this analysis include the following: (1) the
opportunity of the witness to view the perpetrator at the time of the crime; (2) the
witness’ degree of attention; (3) the accuracy of the witness’ prior description of the
perpetrator; (4) the witness’ demonstrated level of certainty during the
confrontation; and (5) the elapsed time between the criminal act and the
confrontation.
Id. These factors, however, are not exhaustive and may also include
“the likelihood of other individuals in the area at the time of the offense matching
the description given by the victim.”
Id.
The military judge made detailed findings of fact and conclusions of law on
the record. His findings of fact were not clearly-erroneous and we adopt the military
judge’s findings of fact with two modifications. First, the military judge found that
“more than 50 people” and “as many as 100 people” attended the party and were
predominately African-American. Based on the testimony about how crowded the
11
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rooms at the party were and after reviewing photos of the rooms admitted at trial, we
conclude, using our Article 66(c) fact-finding authority, that at least 100 and as
many as 200 people attended the party and were predominately African-American.
While we do not find the military judge’s finding of 50-100 people to be clearly
erroneous, we do decide that fact differently. Second, as further described below,
the military judge found SPC AM had two opportunities to view appellant’s face
clearly, whereas we find SPC AM had three opportunities to observe appellant’s face
clearly.
a. Was the pretrial identification unnecessarily suggestive?
Generally, presenting a victim a single suspect in person or as in this case a
single photograph of a suspect are by their very nature suggestive. Id. at 290.
“Suggestive confrontations are disapproved because they increase the likelihood of
misidentification, and unnecessarily suggestive ones are condemned for the further
reason that the increased chance of misidentification is gratuitous.”
Biggers, 409
U.S. at 198. “[S]howing a suspect singly to a victim is pregnant with prejudice.”
Biggers v. Tennessee,
390 U.S. 404, 407 (1968) (Douglas, J., dissenting).
The military judge found that SPC Al-Shamesi showed the CID agent
appellant’s photograph from SPC Al-Shamesi’s phone. 14 The CID agent then showed
the single photograph to SPC AM who immediately identified appellant as the
person who assaulted her at the dance party. Prior to showing SPC AM the
photograph, the CID agent did not arrange a photo array or present SPC AM any
other options but to say that the photograph was or was not the person who assaulted
her. This court also notes that the government did not present evidence or any
exigent circumstances to explain the CID agent’s decision that it was necessary to
show SPC AM the single photograph. The military judge concluded that the
identification method used by the CID agent was unnecessarily suggestive. This
issue is unchallenged on appeal and we agree with the military judge’s conclusion
that the pretrial identification was unnecessarily suggestive.
14
Even without the CID agent showing SPC AM appellant’s Facebook profile
picture before trial, SPC AM would have seen the photograph absent any error in
law enforcement procedures. While SPC AM was waiting to be interviewed by CID,
her father sent her the picture of appellant to her phone. She opened up the picture
but “didn’t even take a glance at it” since she was waiting for the interview.
However, after CID showed her the picture of appellant from Al-Shamesi’s phone,
she looked at the picture her father sent and confirmed that they were the same
photographs.
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b. Reliability of the in-court identification of appellant
After reviewing the evidence we find the military judge did not abuse his
discretion and properly interpreted and applied Mil. R. Evid. 321 and the factors
articulated by the Supreme Court in Manson and Biggers in allowing the in-court
identification. The military judge did not specifically state whether the pretrial
identification was “conducive to a substantial likelihood of misidentification.”
Rhodes, 42 M.J. at 290 (C.A.A.F. 1995). However, he clearly articulated the two
threshold issues he needed to determine under Rhodes. The military judge held the
government had proven by clear and convincing evidence that the in-court
identification of appellant was not a result of SPC AM’s inadmissible identification
to CID. In articulating his reasoning, it is clear the military judge determined that
the pretrial identification did not create a substantial likelihood of causing
misidentification.
The military judge found SPC AM had two opportunities to see appellant’s
face clearly. The first was when she was approximately 20 feet from the light of the
DJ stand. At the time of the assault, appellant was only centimeters from SPC AM. 15
The second time, SPC AM was able to observe appellant even more clearly when he
approached her near the bathroom with light coming from the entrance area to the
party. This court finds there was a third opportunity to see appellant’s face
clearly, 16 when appellant was pulling her towards a closet at the front entrance area
to the party. SPC AM was able to see that appellant was whispering to the three
other men by the closet door, before he backed her up against the wall and forced
another kiss.
The military judge also found that SPC AM’s testimony showed she was
extremely attentive to her assailant’s features. This court similarly notes that SPC
AM—a trained Army Image Analyst—was very detailed in her testimony and
identification of appellant.
15
Specialist AM described that appellant’s chest was almost touching hers.
Appellant grabbed her face, pulled her face towards his face, and he forced a kiss.
16
The military judge in his findings of fact also found that after the encounter at the
DJ stand, SPC AM’s assailant grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her toward a
closet and forced her to kiss him again. Since the closet was located in a different
area of the dance party near the lighting at the front entrance instead of the lighting
near the DJ area, this court concludes the encounter at the closet was a third
opportunity for SPC AM to observe her assailants face instead of a continuation of
the first.
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Specialist AM was accurate in her prior description of appellant. This
description led SPC Al-Shamesi to instantly realize he had also seen SPC AM’s
assailant talking with SPC Al-Shamesi’s friends at the party.
The military judge found SPC AM’s CID identification and in-court
identification of appellant were both made immediately and with certainty. 17
The time between the assaults and the CID identification of appellant’s
photograph was less than 24 hours. This left little opportunity for SPC AM to forget
what she remembered about her assailant and therefore be persuaded by seeing only
a single picture.
The military judge did not limit his ruling to considering only the five Biggers
factors. The military judge considered that many of the African-American males
were similar to appellant in age and height. He also considered environmental
factors and all the surrounding facts and circumstances of SPC AM’s description,
including the defense cross-examination of SPC AM regarding the group photograph
and the clothing worn by appellant in that photograph. Appellant’s defense counsel
contended that appellant was wearing a cap instead of a bandana and a shirt with a
logo design on the front, instead of a solid dark colored shirt. Ultimately, the
military judge concluded appellant was wearing dark clothes, a black and white
bandana laying on his head, and a grill piece.
We hold that the military judge did not abuse his discretion in denying the
defense motion to suppress and allowing the in-court identification of appellant.
C. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Appellant asserts that he was denied his right to effective assistance of
counsel because his defense counsel failed to request production of the photograph
SPC Al-Shamesi provided to CID that was shown to SPC AM. Appellant argues that
without the photograph, the defense counsel could not adequately prepare a defense
for trial.
We review claims that an appellant did not receive effective assistance of
counsel de novo. United States v. Akbar, 74 M.J. 364, 379 (C.A.A.F. 2015); United
States v. Datavs,
71 M.J. 420, 424 (C.A.A.F. 2012). “In order to prevail on a claim
17
The court notes that at the time SPC AM was shown the photograph, there was no
statement from the CID agent that law enforcement suspected the person in the
photograph of any offense or that the photograph was the result of a prior police
investigation of the sexual assault. Specialist AM was shown the photograph the
same day she was making the initial complaint to CID.
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of ineffective assistance of counsel, an appellant must demonstrate both (1) that his
counsel’s performance was deficient, and (2) that this deficiency resulted in
prejudice.” United States v. Green, 68 M.J. 360, 361 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (citing
Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984)).
Under the first Strickland prong, appellant must show “counsel made errors so
serious that counsel was not functioning as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed the defendant by
the Sixth Amendment.” 466 U.S. at 687. The relevant issue is whether counsel’s
conduct failed to meet an objective standard of reasonableness or whether it was outside
the “wide range of professionally competent assistance.”
Id. at 690.
When assessing Strickland’s second prong for prejudice, we require a showing
“there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result
of the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a probability
sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id. at 694. That requires a
“substantial,” not just “conceivable,” likelihood of a different result. Harrington v.
Richter,
562 U.S. 86, 112, (2011).
Pursuant to United States v. Ginn, 47 M.J. 236 (C.A.A.F. 1997), we have
analyzed whether a post-trial evidentiary hearing is required. After applying the
Ginn principles, we find such a hearing is not required in this case.
Id. at 248.
Considering the third Ginn factor, appellant’s affidavit is factually adequate, and the
government’s affidavits do not contest the fact that appellant’s defense counsel did
not request production of the photograph. Any factual disputes about the pretrial
discovery of the photograph are not relevant in deciding the legal issue of
ineffective assistance of counsel on appeal.
In his affidavit, appellant’s defense counsel stated it was a tactical decision
not to request discovery of the image shown to SPC AM during her interview by
CID. Appellant’s counsel did not want to trigger reciprocal discovery and have to
provide the government with the aforementioned photograph from the party that
showed appellant was wearing clothes that did not match the description of SPC
AM’s assailant. Namely, appellant was wearing a beanie cap instead of a bandana,
and was wearing a blue sweatshirt with “bold, bright” graphics on the front. The
defense strategy was to undermine through cross-examination SPC AM’s testimony
and they did not want the government to have these exhibits before trial to better
prepare SPC AM for cross-examination.
At trial, the defense counsel did cross-examine SPC AM about the differences
between her description of appellant’s clothing and the photograph. They also
admitted the shirt he was wearing as evidence. Furthermore, through the documents
already provided by the government, appellant’s defense counsel knew the
government was not in possession of the picture of appellant that was on SPC Al-
Shamesi’s cell phone. The CID agent returned the cell phone to SPC Al-Shamesi
and did not retain a copy of the image. Further, the SA instructed SPC Al-Shamesi
15
CRISWELL—ARMY 20150530
to cease all investigative efforts. The defense was aware that the CID agent did not
retain a copy of the image he showed to SPC AM. In their affidavits defense
counsel recount that the government informed them that “the defense already had
everything the government had related to the pre-trial investigation. The
[g]overnment indicated it did not intend to introduce the photograph at trial.”
According to defense counsel, a discovery request for the photograph would have
produced nothing, while simultaneously triggering reciprocal discovery
Appellant defense counsel’s explanation about concern for reciprocal
discovery leaves out the fact that SPC AM and the government were aware of the
group photograph prior to trial. Defense counsel previously used appellant’s group
photograph from the party to cross-examine SPC AM and submit it as an exhibit at
the preliminary hearing. On the other hand, reciprocal discovery of the photograph
and shirt would have highlighted that the defense intended to again use the
photograph at trial and disclose that they intended to use appellant’s shirt at trial.
See R.C.M. 701(b)(3). Arguably, having pretrial access to appellant’s original
photograph and shirt from that evening may have better prepared the government and
SPC AM for trial.
From a review of the record and defense counsel’s affidavit, it appears the
decision not to request appellant’s Facebook profile photograph was tactical and
intentional. Reciprocal discovery would have likely tipped off the government to
the suppression motion. Obtaining the Facebook photograph prior to trial would
have undermined the defense counsel’s argument that the government failed in their
discovery obligations to produce the photograph or that the pretrial identification
issue was identified on the eve of trial.
Ultimately, since we find no prejudice, we do not have to make a
determination if defense counsel was deficient for failing to file a discovery request
for the photograph SPC Al-Shamesi found on appellant’s Facebook account. United
States v. Captain, 75 M.J. 99, 103 (C.A.A.F 2016) (citing
Strickland, 466 U.S. at
697;
Datavs, 71 M.J. at 424-25).
We find no prejudice to appellant. Appellant has not met his burden in
establishing his Facebook profile photograph was exculpatory or would have
changed the outcome of the trial. The photograph of the appellant was not a
material piece of evidence for the government or defense. Neither party used or
intended to use the photograph at trial. The photograph and pretrial identification
using the photograph was suppressed by the military judge. The photograph itself
did not lead to identifying appellant’s name or his interview with CID. Instead,
witnesses from the dance party who were mutual friends of appellant and SPC Al-
Shamesi led to finding appellant’s Facebook photograph. The photograph was from
appellant’s own Facebook account. Therefore, if the photograph was needed for any
purpose, appellant and his defense counsel could access the photograph through
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appellant’s own Facebook account. Accordingly, the appellant has failed to meet his
burden that his trial defense counsel was ineffective.
CONCLUSION
The findings of guilty and the sentence are correct in law and fact and are
AFFIRMED.
Senior Judge MULLIGAN concurs.
WOLFE, Judge, dissenting:
I respectfully dissent.
Under Article 66(c), UCMJ, my duty is to determine whether the findings are
correct in law, correct in fact, and whether the findings should be approved. This
case presents concerns on all three fronts. In the end, I conclude the military judge
prejudicially erred in not suppressing SPC AM’s in-court identification of appellant.
I also consider the factual sufficiency of the evidence to be a close call.
Close enough that in my weighing, the evidence is factually insufficient without SPC
AM’s in-court identification. That is, had the in-court identification not been
introduced, I would find insufficient facts to support appellant’s conviction.
There is, of course, a substantial difference between finding reversible legal
error and finding the evidence factually insufficient. A rehearing may be authorized
for the former but not the latter. See Article 66(d), UCMJ. Thus, whether a Court of
Criminal Appeals conducts a factual sufficiency review before or after reviewing for
legal error can be critical.
I conclude that a factual sufficiency review is conducted based on the case as
it was tried. That is, I should look to see whether the evidence is legally and
factually sufficient before I consider whether there was other prejudicial legal error.
Accordingly, while I would set aside the findings in this case I believe a rehearing is
authorized.
A. The Suppression Motion
Military Rule of Evidence 321 governs eyewitness identifications. Under Mil.
R. Evid. 321(c)(1) an “identification process is unreliable, and therefore unlawful, if
the . . . identification process is so suggestive as to create a substantial likelihood of
misidentification.”
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That the photo lineup was unlawful and should have been suppressed is
unchallenged on appeal. That is, the military judge correctly prohibited SPC AM
from testifying that she identified appellant in the photo lineup. At issue is whether
the military judge properly allowed SPC AM’s in-court identification of appellant as
her assailant.
Under Mil. R. Evid. 321(d), the subsequent in-court identification is allowable
only if the government can show “by clear and convincing evidence” that it is not
the result of the inadmissible identification. I have several concerns with the
military judge’s analysis.
First, with one exception, all the evidence regarding SPC AM’s various
descriptions of her attacker appear to post-date the improper photo lineup. That is,
these descriptions share the same infirmity as the in-court identifications—they were
tainted by the overly suggestive photo lineup. 18 Thus, I disagree with the military
judge that SPC AM “gave a very detailed description of her assailant.” Yes, her in-
court description was detailed and apparently matched appellant. However, I don’t
think it proper to use the detail contained in the possibly tainted in-court testimony
to determine whether that same testimony was tainted. In Manson v. Brathwaite, by
contrast, the witness’s detailed description of the suspect was made before he saw
the one-photo line-up. 432 U.S. at 101.
While there is some evidence in the record that SPC AM described her
assailant to CID before being shown the suggestive photograph this was never
adequately explained or explored by the government. The burden was on the
government to prove this fact.
The one “pre-taint” description of SPC AM’s assailant was extraordinarily not
detailed. This was SPC AM’s initial description of her attacker to SPC Al-Shamesi.
Specialist Al-Shamesi testified SPC AM told him that her attacker wore a black
bandana lying flat on his forehead. However, before SPC AM could further describe
her attacker, SPC Al-Shamesi testified that he stopped her from any further
description.
18
At trial, the defense tried to undermine SPC AM’s in-court identification of
appellant by asking if SPC AM was “aware that [appellant] has gained 30 pounds
since [the offense date].” She responded that she was not aware. On appeal,
appellant asserts this as additional evidence of misidentification. While I agree with
appellant’s brief in many respects, I disagree here. The defense counsel’s question
was not evidence that appellant had, in fact, gained 30 pounds.
18
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I stopped her there and I said, ‘I probably know who this
is,’ because I reminisced, in the club when I ran into [two
friends], they introduced me to this male who put a black
and white bandana over his head. . . .
In other words, in the one description of her assailant that was untainted, SPC
AM was cut off before she could finish her description. All we are left with is that
the assailant wore a bandana lying flat on his head. Using this brief description,
SPC Al-Shamesi identified appellant as the assailant by contacting his friends and
doing brief research. This then lead to SPC AM being shown a single photo of
appellant by a CID agent. All of SPC AM’s subsequent descriptions of her attacker
risk being tainted by the unlawful photo lineup. 19
Second, I find insufficient support in the record for the military judge’s
conclusion that upon being shown the photo of appellant “[SPC AM]’s reaction,
when seeing the picture, was immediate and certain.” She testified on direct as
follows:
Q. And you were able to identify the person who
assaulted you as the guy in the phone photograph?
A. Yes, sir.
She was asked again on redirect and testified:
Q. And [the CID agent] said, “Can you identify this
person?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And were you able to?
A. Yes.
19
For example, compare this case to the lineup conducted by the Washington, D.C.
Metropolitan Police as described in Heath v. United States, 26 A.3d 266, 270 (D.C.
2011). There, the witness was shown “an array of nine photographs of African–
American men of approximately the same age and complexion, all with their hair in
dreadlocks.”
Id. The witness was also read instructions that emphasized that a
picture of assailant was not necessarily included in the photo array.
Id. at 270 n.3.
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CRISWELL—ARMY 20150530
Q. And who was that person? Was it the same person
from the night prior?
A. Yes, sir.
The CID agent who showed the photo to SPC AM said she
identified appellant instantaneously and testified as follows:
Q. [. . .] Approximately how long would you say that it
took for her to make a response after you showed her the
photo?
A. Mere seconds, sir. I mean, it was--she didn’t look at it
and take her time. It was quite fast.
Q. And did she say anything else about it?
A. No, not just other than that she identified that person
from the incident that occurred earlier.
SPC AM’s description of her identification of appellant consisted of one-word
answers to leading questions. While the CID agent testified to the speed of her
identification, he did not testify about her degree of confidence. By contrast, in
Manson v. Brathwaite, the witness testified that “There is no question whatsoever”
that he had identified the proper person. 432 U.S. at 115. This positive assurance
was repeated.
Id.
Third, I do not believe SPC AM had an excellent opportunity to view her
assailant. The military judge found that SPC AM had ample time and opportunity to
view the person who had assaulted her. The military judge credited SPC AM’s
testimony that she could identify appellant by the light of a DJ booth in an otherwise
dark, crowded and noisy room. The military judge’s findings have support in the
record and are not erroneous. However, as a judge on a court that reviews questions
of fact de novo, I am not as confident that the conditions surrounding the assault
provided a good opportunity to observe SPC AM’s attacker.
Fourth, the government did not introduce the photo that was used to create the
unlawfully suggestive lineup. 20 That is, I cannot find the government to have met its
20
Appellant asserts his counsel was ineffective for not seeking production of the
photo. As it was the government’s burden to establish that the in-court
identification “was not the result” of the unlawful single-photo lineup, I do not see
(continued . . .)
20
CRISWELL—ARMY 20150530
burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that SPC AM’s in-court
testimony was untainted by the single photo line-up when the government did not
introduce the photo itself. How suggestive was the photo? A key question in this
case is whether, after being shown the photo of appellant, SPC AM was describing
her attacker or was she describing the photo of appellant. Without the photo, this is
a hard question to answer. 21
(. . . continued)
the defense counsel’s performance as deficient. I therefore would not grant
appellant relief for ineffective assistance of counsel; albeit for reasons other than the
majority.
21
I share the majority’s concern regarding the manner in which the suppression
motion was raised. The record supports the majority’s conclusion that the defense
intentionally raised an oral motion to suppress on the morning of trial for purposes
of tactical advantage. Appellant asserted, citing R.C.M. 905, that he had the right to
make a suppression motion as a matter of right because he had not, yet, entered
pleas.
To the extent that the majority opinion stands for the proposition that military judges
have the authority to reasonably control motions practice, the discretion not to
consider untimely motions, control of their dockets to ensure an orderly system of
justice, and may require an entry of a plea when required by the rules, I fully join
that part of the opinion.
Here, R.C.M. 905(b) was argued, incorrectly in my view, to have the opposite of its
intended effect. Instead of requiring that a motion to suppress be resolved early in
the trial process, appellant used the rule to raise a suppression motion at the last
possible minute before the trial began. There are obvious possible tactical benefits
to surprising the government with a case dispositive, complex, and non-frivolous
motion just before opening statements. For example, the government may be
unprepared to introduce the key photo necessary to win the motion.
Admittedly, appellant’s strategy likely backfired when the military judge held the
suppression motion simultaneously with trial on the merits. Having locked in his
forum selection, the defense discovered halfway through the trial that the military
judge found SPC AM to be credible and by “clear and convincing evidence” found
the defense’s theory of mistaken identity to (at least partially) not hold water. This
left the defense with little ability to adjust their case by presenting a theory that was
not contingent on winning the suppression motion.
(continued . . .)
21
CRISWELL—ARMY 20150530
Under Washington I am “admoni[shed]” to “recognize that the trial court saw
and heard the witnesses.” I am well aware that much is lost when live testimony is
transcribed into emotionless text. For me, this “recognition” is greatest when
judging credibility. The tone and tenor of an answer can invert its meaning.
Here, however, the central issue is not the credibility of SPC AM’s testimony.
She is a credible witness. My concern here is the accuracy of SPC AM’s testimony,
not her honesty. The danger of an overly suggestive lineup is that it will influence
the memory of the witness. That is, the danger is that the witness will honestly, but
incorrectly, identify the accused because of the unlawful line up. Indeed, a sincere
but mistaken witness may be more dangerous to a just result than a dishonest
witness. The latter’s dishonesty may be more easily revealed in cross-examination.
Thus, in cases such as this, I give less recognition to the trial court’s ability to see
and hear the witnesses when conducting an Article 66(c), UCMJ, review.
Accordingly, I conclude that the military judge erred when he found clear and
convincing evidence that SPC AM’s in court identification was not the result of the
inadmissible identification. As SPC AM’s testimony was the only direct evidence
that appellant was the assailant, I find the error to be prejudicial. See UCMJ art.
59(a).
B. Should a rehearing be authorized? 22
Notwithstanding that I find the military judge erred, I believe a rehearing is
authorized in this case. This is because I believe that I should conduct a legal and
factual sufficiency review of the evidence before we address other claims of legal
error. In other words, while I believe the military judge erred in not suppressing
(. . . continued)
However, and again, neither side objected. The government did not ask the military
judge to deny appellant relief because the motion was untimely. See Mil. R. Evid.
321(d)(2). The government did not ask the military judge to direct a written motion
be filed in compliance with court rules and the pretrial order. And, finally, neither
party asked the military judge for a continuance so that they could properly have a
hearing on the surprise suppression motion. Given this forfeiture by the
government, I see my duty as to strictly apply Mil. R. Evid. 321 without considering
any infirmity in the government’s evidence that might be attributable to surprise.
22
I discuss this issue at length to explain why I find the case to be factually
sufficient, notwithstanding that I would suppress the government’s strongest
evidence, and that without that evidence the case falls apart.
22
CRISWELL—ARMY 20150530
SPC AM’s in-court identification of appellant, I believe that we do consider this
evidence when weighing whether the evidence was factually and legally sufficient.
The order in which we conduct our analysis is critical. Under Article 66(d),
UCMJ, this court may not authorize a rehearing if we find the evidence factually
insufficient. Absent the in-court identification, there would be no direct evidence
tying appellant to the offense. Thus, this is a distinction with a difference.
Although I have not been able to find any military case law on point, I reach this
conclusion for two reasons.
First, the alternative would risk violating the Double Jeopardy Clause and
Article 66(d), UCMJ. Consider, for example, a case that has both factually
insufficient evidence and legal error. Were I to address the legal error first, I might
authorize a rehearing without ever considering whether the evidence was lacking. In
such a case, I would be ordering a rehearing in direct contravention of Article 66(d),
UCMJ. If the evidence was legally insufficient, I would be authorizing a rehearing
in violation of the Double Jeopardy Clause. Compare Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31
(1982) (holding that the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment does not
apply to reversals based on factual sufficiency) with Article 66(d), UCMJ
(prohibiting a rehearing when a court of criminal appeals determines the evidence is
factually insufficient).
Second, I believe the Supreme Court’s decision in Lockhart v. Nelson, 488
U.S. 33 (1988) is controlling in determining when we evaluate legal sufficiency. I
find it persuasive authority for determining when to evaluate factual sufficiency. In
that case, the court considered a trial error which, once resolved in appellant’s favor,
resulted in legally insufficient evidence to support the conviction.
It appears to us to be beyond dispute that this is a . . .
reversal for ‘trial error’--the trial court erred in admitting
a particular piece of evidence, and without it there was
insufficient evidence to support a judgment of conviction.
Id. at 40. The Court then proceeded to address whether the Double Jeopardy Clause
allows retrial when a reviewing court determines that a defendant’s conviction must
be reversed because evidence was erroneously admitted against him, and also
concludes that without the inadmissible evidence there was insufficient evidence to
support a conviction.
Id.
The Supreme Court concluded that the Double Jeopardy Clause does not
foreclose a retrial in this situation because the reviewing court must look to all the
evidence, not just the legally admitted evidence, to determine whether a retrial is
permitted. The Court stated:
23
CRISWELL—ARMY 20150530
It is quite clear from our opinion in Burks that a reviewing
court must consider all of the evidence admitted by the
trial court in deciding whether retrial is permissible under
the Double Jeopardy Clause--indeed, that was ratio
decidendi of Burks, see 437 U.S. at 16-17 . . . . The basis
for the Burks exception to the general rule is that a
reversal for insufficiency of the evidence should be treated
no differently than a trial court’s granting a judgment of
acquittal at the close of all the evidence. A trial court in
passing on such a motion considers all of the evidence it
has admitted, and to make the analogy complete it must be
this same quantum of evidence which is considered by the
reviewing court.
Id. at 41-42; See also United States v. Taylor,
61 M.J. 157, 162 (C.A.A.F. 2005)
(authorizing a rehearing even though the government could not establish all of the
elements of the charge against appellant without improperly admitted evidence and
citing Lockhart).
While the Supreme Court addressed only the legal sufficiency of the evidence
(not factual sufficiency) the logic of the opinion applies to both determinations.
Accordingly, I conclude that when reviewing for factual sufficiency we judge the
evidence based on the evidence as it was admitted, not after carving off any
evidence that was improperly admitted or considered.
Accordingly, I would set aside the findings and sentence and authorize a
rehearing.
FOR THE COURT:
MALCOLM
MALCOLM H. H. SQUIRES,
SQUIRES, JR.
JR.
Clerk of Court
Clerk of Court
24
