Case ID: cma_12/html/0408-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES, Appellee v STANLEY J. STANASZEK, Acting Corporal, U. S. Marine Corps, Appellant
    12 USCMA 408, 30 CMR 408
    No. 14,928
    Decided May 26, 1961
    
      Lieutenant Colonel R. G. Coyne, USMC, was on the brief for Appellant, Accused.
    
      Captain Warren C. Kiraeofe, USN, was on the brief for Appellee, United States.
   Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM:

This accused was tried by general court-martial and found guilty of desertion, in violation of Uniform Code of Military Justice, Article 85, 10 USC § 885, and failure to obey a lawful order, in violation of Code, supra, Article 92, 10 USC § 892. The order allegedly violated involved the accused’s duty to report back to his station. Rather than obey it, he absented himself without leave with the appropriate intent and thereby committed the offense of desertion of which he was also found guilty. The law officer instructed the court members that the offenses were separately punishable, and the issue of multiplicity was not raised either at the trial or at any other level. It is nevertheless axiomatic that the penalties may not be so aggregated. United States v Granger, 9 USCMA 719, 26 CMR 499; United States v Helfrick, 9 USCMA 221, 25 CMR 483.

The petition for review is granted and the decision of the board of review is reversed. The record of trial is returned for reassessment of the sentence in light of the multiplicious nature of the charges.