Case ID: cma_17/html/0279-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Ferguson, Judge:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES, Appellee v WILLIAM D. MAPLE, Private, U. S. Army, Appellant
    17 USCMA 279, 38 CMR 77
    No. 20,313
    November 17, 1967
    
      Colonel Daniel T. Ghent, Captain Paul V. Melodía, Captain John Kagel, and Captain Anthony F. Cilluffo were on the pleadings for Appellant, Accused.
    
      Lieutenant Colonel David Rarick, Major John F. Webb, Jr., and Captain Harvey L. Anderson were on the pleadings for Appellee, United States.
   Opinion of the Court

Ferguson, Judge:

The accused was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, in violation of Uniform Code of Military Justice, Article 119, 10 USC § 919, and sentenced to bad-conduct discharge, total forfeitures, confinement at hard labor for three years, and reduction. Despite evidence of long and honorable prior service, good character, and receipt of letters of commendation, the law officer gave no instructions on punishment beyond the maximum limitations thereon and the mechanics of voting.

Under the circumstances of this case and in light of the near maximum sentence imposed, the failure to provide adequate sentence instructions was prejudicially erroneous. United States v Wheeler, 17 USCMA 274, 38 CMR 72, this day decided.

The decision of the board of review is reversed and the record of trial is returned to the Judge Advocate General of the Army. The board may reassess the sentence or order a rehearing thereon.

Chief Judge Quinn and Judge Kil-day concur.