Case Name: UNITED STATES, Appellee v. ALAN REINER, Specialist Third Class, U. S. Army, Appellant
Court: United States Court of Military Appeals
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1957-06-28
Citations: 8 C.M.A. 101
Docket Number: No. 9451
Parties: UNITED STATES, Appellee v ALAN REINER, Specialist Third Class, U. S. Army, Appellant
Judges: Chief Judge Quinn concurs in the result.
Reporter: Decisions of the United States Court of Military Appeals
Volume: 8
Pages: 101–104

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES, Appellee v ALAN REINER, Specialist Third Class, U. S. Army, Appellant
8 USCMA 101, 23 CMR 325
No. 9451
Decided June 28, 1957
Major Edward Fenig and First Lieutenant William H. Carpenter were on the brief for Appellant, Accused.
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas J. Newton and First Lieutenant James G. Duffy were on the brief for Appellee, United States.

Opinion:
Opinion of the Court
GEORGE W. LatimeR, Judge:
The accused was convicted of seven offenses, five of which were charged as violations of a lawful general regulation and two of which were alleged under a charge of conspiring to commit the substantive offenses, in violation of Articles 92 and 81, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 USC § 892, 881, respectively. On these findings, he was subject to a maximum punishment of dishonorable discharge, total forfeitures, and confinement at hard labor for twelve years, but due to a failure to appreciate a duplication of punishment on two aspects of one transaction, the law officer announced the maximum confinement as fourteen years. We granted review to consider the effect of the error.
The Government comes forward and concedes arguendo that the law officer's instructions to the members of the court-martial on the maximum imposable sentence were incorrect. For the purpose of this case, we accept the concession of the Government but call attention to the fact that the sentence actually assessed by the court was dishonorable discharge, total forfeitures, and confinement at hard labor for only one year. Since error is conceded, we will go one step further and assume it had some measurable impact on the sentence. We make that assumption although a two-year error on a twelve-year maximum sentence makes it extremely doubtful that the one-year sentence imposed would have been decreased had the correct figure been given to the court. Be that as it may, it is our duty now to determine whether the board of review purged the error by reassessing the appropriateness of sentence. We conclude it did for reasons which we hereinafter set out.
In his assignments of error before that appellate tribunal, the accused raised the specific issue which now confronts us, for he there argued that two specifications were multiplicious and each could not be considered separately for sentence purposes. He requested that the board reassess the sentence in light of the error and the Government in effect argued that the error could be cured in that manner. In addition, the accused contended that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the findings of guilty on two other specifications. The board of review decided the latter assignment in his favor and set aside those findings and dismissed those specifications. The board then went on to find the remaining findings of guilty correct in law and fact. With only the findings it approved to be considered, the board determined on the basis of the entire record that only so much of the sentence as provided for a bad-conduct discharge, partial forefeitures, and confinement at hrd labor for eight months should be affirmed.
In United States v Keith, 1 USCMA 442, 4 CMR 34, we made the following observation which is pertinent to our present inquiry:
". . . if an accused is convicted under an indictment containing several counts — regardless of the character of the verdict — and a general sentence is imposed, which is either mandatory or appropriate in fact and law for a valid conviction under a single count, neither the verdict nor the sentence will be reversed for error in other counts. Although some doubt is entertained as to the military utility of this principle, it is conceivable that occasional use may be made of it in so far as it is based upon a concept of 'harmless error' appropriate in the field of military justice. If the sentence in question is mandatory for a valid conviction under one specification, or if it has been deemed appropriate for a similar finding of guilty by a judicial agency empowered to make such a determination of adequacy, there is indeed no reason for reversal as to sentence in the absence of special factors materially prejudicing the substantial rights of the accused."
We believe the previous quotation states our position clearly that when a board of review which is empowered to assess the appropriateness of a sentence has made a determination of its adequacy, there is no reason for us to reverse for a prior error known to the board, absent some special factor materially prejudicing an accused. In this instance, we believe the board of review made that determination, that there are no special circumstances of a prejudicial nature, and that the resubmission of the sentence to another board of review to purge an error known to the first board would be an empty gesture.
A ease somewhat in point is United States v Crusoe, 3 USCMA 793,14 CMR 211. In that instance, the law officer misinformed the court-martial on the-maximum sentence imposable. The error was noticed by the staff judge advocate and was mentioned in his review to the convening authority. Although that legal functionary apparently misunderstood the principles governing the appropriateness of sentence, he stated in one of the subparagraphs that the sentence as imposed by the court-martial was correct in law and fact and was appropriate for the offense of which the accused was found guilty. The record was automatically forwarded to a board of review and, despite the board's failure to mention the error, we concluded its members were cognizant of the contents of the field review in which it was set forth and that when the board found the sentence appropriate on the basis of the entire record, it corrected any error committed by the law officer.
In the ease at bar, we are certain that the members of the board of review were cognizant of the error made by the law officer. The matter was specifically called to its attention by the brief of appellate defense counsel and the Government, in answer to the assignment of error, conceded arguendo that accused's position was well taken. Certainly, we must assume that a board of review is advised of the errors raised in the briefs and argued by counsel. Furthermore, when the board of review reversed the findings on two specifications, neither the twelve-year nor fourteen-year maximum was applicable, as their disapproval necessarily reduced the maximum period of confinement. Under the corrected findings as approved by the board, of necessity the members took a new limitation into account when considering the punishment which would be adequate and appropriate. The board in its opinion stated that .the sentence was being considered on the basis of the entire record and at that time the maximum punishment which could be imposed was confinement for eight years, dishonorable discharge, and total forfeitures. The transcript of testimony shows offenses which disclose rather extensive black-market operations with profit to accused of nearly $1,000 in a short period of time. The original sentence included a year in confinement, a dishonorable discharge and total forfeitures, and we are convinced that when the board diminished the punishment by affirming a sentence of only- eight months confinement, forfeiture of $44 per month for the same period and a bad-conduct discharge, it gave due consideration to any error committed by the law officer and any prejudice flowing therefrom. We therefore affirm the decision of the board of review.
Chief Judge Quinn concurs in the result.