Case Name: UNITED STATES, Appellee v. RICHARD S. MITCHELL, Private, U. S. Army, Appellant
Court: United States Court of Military Appeals
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1968-01-12
Citations: 17 C.M.A. 351
Docket Number: No. 20,650
Parties: UNITED STATES, Appellee v RICHARD S. MITCHELL, Private, U. S. Army, Appellant
Judges: Chief Judge Quinn and Judge Kil-day concur.
Reporter: Decisions of the United States Court of Military Appeals
Volume: 17
Pages: 351–352

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES, Appellee v RICHARD S. MITCHELL, Private, U. S. Army, Appellant
17 USCMA 351, 38 CMR 149
No. 20,650
January 12, 1968
Colonel Daniel T. Ghent, Major David J. Passamaneck, and Captain Kenneth J. Stuart were on the pleadings for Appellant, Accused.
Lieutenant Colonel David Rariek, Major John F. Webb, Jr., Major Edwin P. Wasinger, and Ca-ptain Gregory U. Evans were on the pleadings for Appellee, United States.

Opinion:
Opinion of the Court
FeRGüson, Judge:
Despite the evidence presented in extenuation and mitigation, the law officer's instructions on the maximum sentence were limited to a statement of the possible penalty and the mechanics of voting. This was error and, under the circumstances, prejudicial to the substantial rights of the accused. United States v Wheeler, 17 USCMA 274, 38 CMR 72.
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 in light of the error or order a rehearing thereon.
Chief Judge Quinn and Judge Kil-day concur.