Case Name: UNITED STATES v. Michael R. OATNEY, [ XXX XX XXXX ], Lance Corporal (E-3), U.S. Marine Corps.
Court: United States Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1994-11-04
Citations: 41 M.J. 619
Docket Number: NMCM 92 02024
Parties: UNITED STATES v. Michael R. OATNEY, [ XXX XX XXXX ], Lance Corporal (E-3), U.S. Marine Corps.
Judges: Senior Judge ORR and Judges KEATING, McLAUGHLIN and DeCICCO concur.
Reporter: West's Military Justice Reporter
Volume: 41
Pages: 619–637

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES v. Michael R. OATNEY, [ XXX XX XXXX ], Lance Corporal (E-3), U.S. Marine Corps.
NMCM 92 02024.
U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals.
Sentence Adjudged 30 April 1992.
Decided 4 Nov. 1994.
Maj Hagen W. Frank, USMC, Appellate Defense Counsel.
LT Scott A. Browne, JAGO, USNR, Appellate Government Counsel.
Maj Laura L. Scudder, USMC, Appellate Government Counsel.

Opinion:
REED, Senior Judge:
This case involves several assignments of error, most of which are addressed later in this opinion. Of primary concern to us is the multiplicity issue raised by the appellant in his second assignment of error. In that regard, we are called upon to interpret the doctrine of multiplicity as enunciated by the U.S. Court of Military Appeals in United States v. Teters, 37 M.J. 370 (C.M.A. 1993), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 114 S.Ct. 919, 127 L.Ed.2d 213 (1994). Our case involves a determination of whether obstruction of justice and the communication of a threat are multiplieious offenses for findings and sentencing. Factually, in appellant's case, the communication of the threat was proven as the means of obstruction of justice. Nevertheless, we find that these two offenses are not multiplieious for findings or sentence. We hold the following:
(1) Offenses are multiplieious for findings if:
(a) each does not necessarily require proof of an element required to prove the other— in such a determination we will not look to the pleadings or the proof but only the statutory or generic elements of the offenses charged. See United States v. Schoolfield, 40 M.J. 132 (C.M.A.1994); or
(b) one offense is listed as a lesser-included offense of the other, either by Congress in the Uniform Code of Military Justice [hereinafter "UCMJ" or "the Code"] or the President in the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, 1984 [hereinafter "MCM" or "the Manual"]; or
(c) there is some other manifestation by Congress that such offenses are multiplicious for findings.
(2) If offenses are multiplicious for findings, they are also multiplicious for sentencing; if they are not multiplicious for finding purposes, then they are not multiplicious for sentencing. Thus, if offenses are separate for findings, they are separate for punishment, and the maximum authorized punishment is found by combining the punishments authorized for each individual offense.
(3) Teters applies retroactively.
(4) "What is substantially one transaction should not be made the basis for an unreasonable multiplication of charges against one person." Rule for Courts-Martial [R.C.M.] 307(c)(4) discussion. The military judge retains discretion to dismiss specifications brought in contravention of this policy.
HISTORY OF THIS CASE
On 16 July 1993 the appellant filed a brief with this Court assigning four assignments of error. Subsequently, a panel of this Court specified an additional issue to be briefed by counsel:
HOW DOES UNITED STATES V TET-ERS, 37 M.J. 370 (C.M.A.1993), AFFECT THIS COURT'S EVALUATION OF THE APPELLANT'S SECOND ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR? IS TETERS APPLICABLE TO APPELLANT'S CASE AND DOES IT CHANGE THE CONCEPT OF "MULTIPLICITY FOR SENTENCING" AS DISCUSSED IN DISCUSSION, RULE FOR COURTS-MARTIAL 1003(c)(1)(C)?
On 29 April 1994, an unpublished panel decision was issued addressing the assignments of error as well as the specified issue. On 18 May 1994, the Government submitted a Motion for Reconsideration and Suggestion for En Banc determination of the issues arising out of the panel decision dealing with the specified issue. On 22 June 1994 this Court issued an order wherein we agreed to reconsider en bane the panel decision and ordered oral argument. Oral argument was subsequently held on 12 August 1994. We now withdraw the panel decision of 29 April 1994.
FACTS
The appellant was tried before a general court-martial, military judge alone, on 30 April 1992. He was charged, among other things, with obstruction of justice by communicating a threat to a PFC G on 16 January 1992 (Charge II, Specification 1), communicating a threat to PFC G on 16 January 1992 (Charge II, Specification 2), and communicating an additional threat to PFC G on 27 January 1992 (Charge II, Specification 3), all in violation of Article 134, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 934 (1988). The appellant entered not guilty pleas to these offenses but was found guilty. Both the obstruction of justice offense of 16 January 1992 (Charge II, Specification 1) and the communication of a threat on 16 January 1992 (Charge II, Specification 2) involved the same threat and are the subject of the specified issue. In fact, to prove the obstruction of justice charge required proving the 16 January threat.
The military judge sentenced the appellant to confinement for 4 years, total forfeitures, reduction to pay grade E-l, and a dishonorable discharge. The convening authority approved the sentence as adjudged but suspended confinement in excess of 18 months for 12 months from the date of trial.
After the appellant was found guilty, trial defense counsel moved to have the obstruction of justice charge (Charge II, Specification 1) and the 16 January 1992 threat (Charge II, Specification 2) held multiplieious. It is not clear from the record whether defense counsel was discussing multiplicity for findings or multiplicity for sentencing. Record at 36. The military judge then ruled that
when the language that is used to attempt to impede an investigation is in and of itself a communication of a threat, that constitutes a separate offense. Therefore, it is not my belief at this time, absent evidence to the contrary, that the specifications should be considered multiplieious. The act of wrongfully endeavoring to impede an investigation has a different societal standard or motivation behind it. It is an attempt to undercut the very structure of society. Whereas the act of communicating a threat to injure someone is a threat against an individual and only peripherally a threat against society.
Record at 36. We agree with the military judge's ruling, albeit for somewhat different reasons, and find that the obstruction of justice offense (Charge I, Specification 1) is not multiplieious for findings, and thus not for sentencing, with the threat offense of 16 January 1992.
ANALYSIS
In Teters the Court of Military Appeals held that, because of the near identity of language contained in Article 79, UCMJ, and Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 31(c), it was abandoning the "fairly embraced" test for determining lesser-included offenses as a matter of military law. Teters at 376. Instead, in light of the U.S. Supreme Court cases of Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 52 S.Ct. 180, 76 L.Ed. 306 (1932), and Schmuck v. United States, 489 U.S. 705, 109 S.Ct. 1443, 103 L.Ed.2d 734 (1989), a determination of multiplicity would be based on double jeopardy considerations, i.e., Fifth Amendment prohibitions against double jeopardy. Teters at 376.
The Double Jeopardy Clause itself simply states that no person shall "be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb." However, the Supreme Court has interpreted the clause as prohibiting a second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal, a second prosecution for the same offense after conviction, and multiple punishments for the same offense. North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 717, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 2076, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969). "Obviously, the scope of each of these three protections turns upon the meaning of the words 'same offense,' a phrase deceptively simple in appearance but virtually kaleidoscopic in application." Whalen v. United States, 445 U.S. 684, 700, 100 S.Ct. 1432, 63 L.Ed.2d 715 (1980) (Rehnquist, J., dissent ing). In fact, the Supreme Court has on at least one occasion indicated that the meaning of this phrase may vary depending on the situation such that "two charges considered the same offense so as to preclude prosecution on one charge after an acquittal or conviction on the other need not be considered the same offense so as to bar separate punishments for each charge at a single proceeding." Id. (citing Brown v. Ohio, 432 U.S. 161, 166-67 n. 6, 97 S.Ct. 2221, 2226 n. 6, 53 L.Ed.2d 187 (1977)). "[T]he decisional law in the area is a veritable Sargasso Sea which could not fail to challenge the most intrepid judicial navigator." Albernaz v. United States, 450 U.S. 333, 343, 101 S.Ct. 1137, 1144, 67 L.Ed.2d 275 (1981). Today, fortunately, we are concerned only with an evaluation of the third protection, that being protection against multiple punishments for the same conduct. Because the sentence challenged by the appellant was imposed at a single criminal proceeding, this case is best considered using precedents developed in the context of cumulative punishments and not those dealing with successive prosecutions. See generally Whalen, 445 U.S. at 699, 100 S.Ct. at 1441.
"[T]he question whether punishments imposed by a court after a defendant's conviction upon criminal charges are unconstitutionally multiple cannot be resolved without determining what punishments the Legislative Branch has authorized." Id. at 688, 100 S.Ct. at 1436. (citations omitted). "With respect to cumulative sentences imposed in a single trial, the Double Jeopardy Clause does no more than prevent the sentencing court from prescribing greater punishment than the legislature intended." Missouri v. Hunter, 459 U.S. 359, 366, 103 S.Ct. 673, 678, 74 L.Ed.2d 535 (1983). "If a federal court exceeds its own authority by imposing multiple punishments not authorized by Congress, it violates not only the specific guarantee against double jeopardy, but also the constitutional principle of separation of powers in a manner that trenches particularly harshly on individual liberties." Whalen, 445 U.S. at 689, 100 S.Ct. at 1436 (footnote omitted). Simply put, the Double Jeopardy Clause prohibits cumulative punishments for several offenses arising out of one incident unless the Congress (or the legislative authority) intended that they be separately punished.
As noted by the Court of Military Appeals in Testers, 37 M.J. at 377, the test in the military now for determining whether two offenses are sufficiently distinguishable to permit the imposition of cumulative punishment was stated in Blockburger:
The applicable rule is that where the same act or transaction constitutes a violation of two distinct statutory provisions, the test to be applied to determine whether there are two offenses or only one is whether each provision requires proof of a fact which the other does not____ "A single act may be an offense against two statutes; and if each statute requires proof of an additional fact which the other does not, an acquittal or conviction under either statute does not exempt the defendant from prosecution and punishment under the other."
Blockburger, 284 U.S. at 304, 52 S.Ct. at 182 (quoting Morey v. Commonwealth, 108 Mass. 433 (1871)). However, this elements rule enunciated in Blockburger is a rule of statutory construction. Whalen, 445 U.S. 684, 691, 100 S.Ct. at 1432, 1437. The assumption underlying the rule is that Congress ordinarily does not intend to punish the same offense under two different statutes.
In American Tobacco Co. v. United States, 328 U.S. 781, 66 S.Ct. 1125, 90 L.Ed. 1575 (1946), the defendants sought review of their convictions for conspiracy in restraint of trade and conspiracy to monopolize in violation of sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman AntiTrust Act, contending that separate sentences for these offenses were impermissible because there was "but one conspiracy, namely, a conspiracy to fix prices." 328 U.S. at 788, 66 S.Ct. at 1128. In rejecting this claim, the Court noted the presence of separate statutory offenses and then, relying on Blockburger, upheld the sentences on the ground that "§§ 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act require proof of conspiracies which were reciprocally distinguishable from and independent of each other although the objects of the conspiracies may partially overlap." 328 U.S. at 788, 66 S.Ct. at 1129.
Nor can we accept the proposition that the substantive offenses were merged in the conspiracy____ It has been long and consistently recognized by the Court that the commission of the substantive offense and a conspiracy to commit it are separate and distinct offenses. The power of Congress to separate the two and to affix to each a different penalty is well established. A conviction for the conspiracy may be had though the substantive offense was completed. And the plea of double jeopardy is no defense to a conviction for both offenses. It is only an identity of offenses which is fatal.
Pinkerton v. United States, 328 U.S. 640, 643-44, 66 S.Ct. 1180, 1182, 90 L.Ed. 1489 (1946) (citations omitted).
Moreover, it is not material that overt acts charged in the conspiracy counts were also charged and proved as substantive offenses. "If the overt act be the offence which was the object of the conspiracy, and is also punished, there is not a double punishment of it." The agreement to do an unlawful act is even then distinct from the doing of the act.
Id. at 644, 66 S.Ct. at 1182 (citation omitted).
In Gore v. United States, 357 U.S. 386, 78 S.Ct. 1280, 2 L.Ed.2d 1405 (1958), the Supreme Court rejected the opportunity to abandon Blockburger as the test to apply in determining whether Congress intended to impose multiple punishments for a single act which violates several statutory provisions. In Gore, the Court stated that Congress had, through its legislative powers, enacted three distinct provisions in connection with the selling of illicit drugs. The petitioner violated these three independent provisions and was prosecuted and punished for all three' as separate wrongdoings, despite the fact the violations occurred in a single transaction of selling drugs. In reaffirming Blockburger, the Court explained that "[t]he fact that an offender violates by a single transaction several regulatory controls devised by Congress as means for dealing with a social evil as deleterious as it is difficult to combat does not make the several different regulatory controls single and identic." 357 U.S. at 389, 78 S.Ct. at 1283.
In the case of Whalen v. United States, supra, a defendant was convicted of rape and first-degree murder (felony murder) for killing the same victim in the perpetration of the rape and was sentenced to two consecutive terms of imprisonment for the two offenses. The Supreme Court held the consecutive sentences violated the Fifth Amendment guarantee against double jeopardy. In so holding the Court noted that a provision of the Code for the District of Columbia, where the crimes were committed, provided that punishments could not be imposed for two offenses arising out of the same transaction unless each required "proof of a fact which the other does not." Id. 445 U.S. at 693, 100 S.Ct. at 1438. "Under the laws enacted by Congress for the governance of the District of Columbia, rape and lolling a human being in the course of any of six specified felonies, including rape, are separate statutory offenses." Id. at 686, 100 S.Ct. at 1434 (emphasis added). A rape and a killing committed in the course of the rape under the statute were thus not separately punishable, because a conviction for killing in the course of a rape could not be obtained without proving all the elements of rape in all instances. "Accordingly, where two statutory provisions proscribe the 'same offense,' they are construed not to authorize cumulative punishments in the absence of a clear indication of contrary legislative intent." Id. at 692, 100 S.Ct. at 1438.
In Albernaz, the petitioners were involved in a conspiracy, the objectives of which were to import marijuana (a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 963 (1976)) and then to distribute it (a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 (1976)). They were charged and convicted under these two separate statutory provisions, each of which authorized a separate punishment, and received consecutive sentences. The petitioners did not dispute that their conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana violated two statutory provisions. Father, they claimed that it was not clear,
whether Congress intended to authorize multiple punishment for violation of these two statutes in a case involving only a single agreement or conspiracy, even though that isolated agreement had dual objectives. Petitioners argued that because Congress has not spoken with the clarity required for this Court to find an "unambiguous intent to impose multiple punishment," [a court] should invoke the rule of lenity and hold that the statutory ambiguity on this issue prevents the imposition of multiple punishment. Petitioners further contend that even if cumulative punishment was authorized by Congress, such punishment is barred by the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
450 U.S. at 336, 101 S.Ct. at 1141. In its analysis, the Supreme Court noted that separate offenses with separate penalty provisions, contained in distinct subchapters of the act, were involved and that each dealt with a separate harm. The provisions were unambiguous on their face, and each authorized punishment for a violation of its terms. The Court thus concluded that Congress' intent was clear and that each could be separately punished.
"[S]imply because two criminal statutes may be construed to proscribe the same conduct under the Blockburger test does not mean that the Double Jeopardy Clause precludes the imposition, in a single trial, of cumulative punishments pursuant to those statutes. The rule of statutory construction noted in Whalen is not a constitutional rule requiring courts to negate clearly expressed legislative intent. Thus far, we have utilized that rule only to limit a federal court's power to impose convictions and punishments when the will of Congress is not clear____ Legislatures, not courts, prescribe the scope of punishments."
Missouri v. Hunter, 459 U.S. at 368, 103 S.Ct. at 679. In allowing consecutive punishments, the Supreme Court held that a single transaction can give rise to distinct offenses under separate statutes without violating the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment, even if the single transaction is a conspiracy, so long as the intent of the legislature is clear. Here, the Court found that the two statutory provisions involved different aims, that the legislative intent to allow separate punishments was clear, and that both clearly satisfied the Blockburger test.
In Albemaz the Court concluded that the intent of Congress to punish as separate offenses was reinforced by the fact that the two conspiracy statutes were directed to separate evils presented by drug trafficking. " 'Importation' and 'distribution' of marihuana impose diverse societal harms, and . Congress has in effect determined that a conspiracy to import drugs and to distribute them is twice as serious as a conspiracy to do either object singly." 450 U.S. at 343, 101 S.Ct. at 1144.
From these decisions we conclude that the Blockburger test, as further interpreted in Schmuck, is alive and well in the area of cumulative punishment. Further, Albemaz indicates cumulative punishment may be imposed even if Blockburger is not met, provided congressional intent to impose such cumulative punishment is clear.
DECISION
Turning to the facts of the case before us, we note that communicating a threat and obstruction of justice each contains an element of proof that the other does not. The elements of communicating a threat under Article 134, UCMJ are:
(1) That the accused communicated certain language expressing a present determination or intent to wrongfully injure the person, property, or reputation of another person, presently, or in the future;
(2) That the communication was made known to that person or to a third person;
(3) That the communication was wrongful; and
(4) that, under the circumstances, the conduct of the accused was to the prejudice of good order, and discipline in the armed forces or was of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces.
MCM, Part IV, ¶ 110b. The elements of obstructing justice, on the other hand, are:
(1) That the accused wrongfully did a certain act;
(2) That the accused did so in the ease of a certain person against whom the accused had reason to believe there were or would be criminal proceedings pending;
(3) That the act was done with the intent to influence, impede, or otherwise obstruct the due administration of justice; and
(4) that, under the circumstances, the conduct of the accused was to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces or was of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces.
MCM, Part IV, ¶ 96b. As the Government notes in its pleadings both communicating a threat and obstructing justice are listed in the MCM as offenses under Article 134, UCMJ, and that there are only two statutory elements of Article 134 offenses: (1) the accused did or failed to do a certain act; and (2) the accused's conduct was to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces or was of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces. MCM, Part IV, ¶ 60(b). However, we agree with the Government that the "elements" approach under Article 134 should be applied to the elements of the offense as recognized and prescribed by the President in the Manual for Courts-Martial. See generally United States v. Wheeler, 40 M.J. 242, 246-17 (C.M.A.1994); United States v. Foster, 40 M.J. 140 (C.M.A.1994); United States v. Schoolfield, 40 M.J. 132 (C.M.A.1994); United States v. Guerrero, 28 M.J. 223, 226-27 (C.M.A.1989); United States v. Herron, 39 M.J. 860, 864 (N.M.C.M.R.1994) (Mollison, S.J. concurring).
The Government, in its pleadings, likewise contends that the appellant's case is unlike that presented in Whalen where the felony murder statute incorporated six specific felonies into the language of the statute. 445 U.S. at 695, 100 S.Ct. at 1439. We agree. In the ease before us, no specific offenses are necessary to be proved in order to establish obstruction of justice. The elements of an obstruction of justice offense clearly do not include or incorporate any reference to the communication of a threat. If the President intended to incorporate certain predicate offenses into the elements of obstruction of justice, we believe he would have caused them to be listed. See, e.g., MCM, Part IV, ¶ 54b (different types of assaults specifically delineated) and 54e (maximum punishment for each type of assault specifically set out).
As the Court of Military Appeals noted in Teters, one does not use the "pleadings-and-proof 'means' test," in determining multiplicity. 37 M.J. at 378. Rather one looks at the "elements of the statutes violated and not to the pleadings or proof of these offenses." Id. at 377 (citing United States v. Dixon, — U.S. -, -, 113 S.Ct. 2849, 2851, 125 L.Ed.2d 556 (1993)).
Obstruction of justice does not require proof of an individual communicating a present intent to injure and, in certain situations, may not require proof of any underly ing offense. Communication of a threat does not contain as an element an intent to "influence, impede, or otherwise obstruct the due administration of justice" which is required to establish an obstruction of justice offense. Since each offense requires proof of a different element, the Blockburger test is met. See also United States v. Gill, 40 M.J. 835 (A.F.C.M.R.1994)
There is, however, one last step to determine whether offenses are constitutionally separate, and that is "whether there are any other indications of contrary intent on Congress' part which can overcome the Blockburger presumption of separateness." Teters, 37 M.J. at 378. Article 79, UCMJ, speaks of lesser included offenses as "offenses necessarily included in the offense charged." 10 U.S.C. § 879 (1988) (emphasis added). To us, "one offense is not 'necessarily included' in another unless the elements of the lesser offense are a subset of the elements of the charged offense." United States v. Foster, 40 M.J. 140, 142 (C.M.A. 1994) (quoting Schmuck 489 U.S. at 716, 109 S.Ct. at 1450). Thus, necessarily included, means whenever the greater offense is charged, a lesser included offense will always be present, irrespective of how the greater offense is pled. In comparing greater and lesser offenses, we look only to the statutory or generic elements of the offense charged.
Additionally, we believe that there is yet another method in determining the legislative intent regarding the offenses before us. In the absence of specific requirements set out in the Code, Article 36(a), UCMJ, delegates to the President the authority to prescribe "[p]retrial, trial, and post-trial procedures, including modes of proof' in courts-martial and "so far as . practicable, [to] apply the principles of law and the rules of evidence generally recognized in the trial of criminal cases in the United States district courts," so long as not "inconsistent" with the Code. 10 U.S.C. § 836(a) (1988). The President lists two lesser included offenses to a charge of communicating a threat: provoking speeches or gestures under Article 117, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 917, and attempts under Article 80, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 880. See MCM, Part IV, ¶ HOd. However, the President, under obstruction of justice, simply states as lesser included offenses: "None." MCM, Part IV, ¶96d. The list 'of lesser included offenses may not be all inclusive. MCM, Part IV, ¶ 2(b)(4). Nonetheless, as the promulgator of the Article 134 offenses under the Code, the President has clearly expressed his intent that there are no offenses necessarily included within an obstruction of justice charge.
In Article 56, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 856 (1988), the Congress delegated to the President the authority to prescribe the limits of court-martial punishment. We also note that as to multiplicity the Manual provides that "[w]hen the accused is found guilty of two or more offenses, the maximum authorized punishment may be imposed for each separate offense____ [0]ffenses are not separate if each does not require proof of an element not required to prove the other." R.C.M. 1003(c)(1)(C).
Finally, we note that the offenses of making a threat and obstructing justice each address a separate evil or societal harm. See Albernaz, 450 U.S. at 343, 101 S.Ct. at 1144. Obstruction of justice is concerned with the protection of the administration of justice in the military. United States v. Long, 2 C.M.A. 60, 65, 6 C.M.R. 60, 65 (1952). The prohibition against threats is geared to protecting the physical and mental well-being of individuals. Thus, based on the Blockburger test, the Congressional intent found in Article 79, UCMJ, and the Presidential intent as expressed in the Manual, we conclude that communication of a threat and obstruction of justice are not multiplicious for findings, even in a particular case, as here, where the threat factually must be proved in order to prove the obstruction of justice.
MULTIPLICITY FOR SENTENCING
The nature of a multiplicity for findings determination drives the determination of whether two offenses are separately punishable. If the offenses are separate for findings, then they are separate for punishment for the raison d'etre for a multiplicity analysis is to determine whether an accused may be punished separately for several offenses arising out of the same misconduct. '"A single act may be an offense against two statutes; and if each statute requires proof of an additional [element] which the other does not, an acquittal or conviction under each statute does not exempt the defendant from the prosecution and punishment under the other.' " Blockburger, 284 U.S. at 304, 52 S.Ct. at 182 (citing with approval Morey v. Commonwealth, 108 Mass. 433) (emphasis added).
RETROACTIVITY
The Court of Military Appeals applied its new view of multiplicity retroactively to the accused in Teters. Moreover, subsequent appellate cases indicate that for questions of cumulative punishments under the double jeopardy analysis, Teters will be applied retroactively. See United States v. Barnes, 38 M.J. 72, 73 (C.M.A.1993); United States v. Albrecht, 38 M.J. 627, 629 (A.F.C.M.R.1993). We will follow the same rule. Accord Griffith v. Kentucky, 479 U.S. 314, 327, 107 S.Ct. 708, 715, 93 L.Ed.2d 649 (1987).
CAVEAT
From the above discussion it is clear that a single act may result in an accused being charged, convicted, and punished for several different violations of the UCMJ. Congressional and presidential intent remains paramount in determining whether an accused may be punished for more than one offense resulting from a single act or incident. Nevertheless, it should be clear that "[w]hat is substantially one transaction should not be made the basis for an unreasonable multiplication of charges against one person." R.C.M. 307(c)(4) discussion. As Judge Cox noted so well in Foster:
There is another elementary concept of justice which none of us should forget, when one act of an accused violates several penal statutes. It is that there is prosecutorial discretion to charge the accused for the offense(s) which most accurately describe the misconduct and most appropriately punish the transgression(s). United States v. Teters notwithstanding, military judges must still exercise sound judgment to ensure that imaginative prosecutors do not needlessly "pile on" charges against a military accused. A fair result remains not only the objective, but indeed the justification of the military justice system.
40 M.J. at 144 n. 4 (citations omitted). In the case before us, we determine that there has been no such undue multiplication.
OTHER ISSUES IN THE CASE
Assignment of Error I: SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE OF GUILT CONCERNING OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AND WRONGFUL COMMUNICATION OF THREATS.
Under Article 66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866(e), a Court of Criminal Appeals has the duty of determining not only the legal sufficiency of the evidence but also its factual sufficiency. The test for legal sufficiency is "whether, considering the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, a reasonable factfinder could have found all the essential elements beyond a reasonable doubt." United States v. Turner, 25 M.J. 324 (C.M.A.1987) (citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979)). The test for factual sufficiency is "whether, after weighing the evidence in the record of trial and making allowances for not having personally observed the witnesses, the members of the Court of Military Review are themselves convinced of the accused's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." Turner, 25 M.J. at 325.
Private First Class G provided the testimony supporting the appellant's conviction of obstructing justice and communicating threats. Record at 17-25. Clearly, if that testimony was truthful, there is no real issue concerning the appellant's guilt. At trial and in his brief to this Court, the appellant attacks the credibility of PFC G by showing that PFC G made statements prior to trial that contradicted his testimony (e.g., he initially lied to investigators by telling them the appellant only hit the victim, Lance Corporal B, with the pipe after a scuffle between the victim and the appellant, and he told LCpl S that the incident occurred just as the appellant earlier described it). Additionally, the appellant emphasizes certain inconsistencies between the testimony of PFC G and the victim concerning what was done with the victim's wallet after he was hit on the head with the pipe.
Based on our evaluation of the entire record, we are convinced that PFC G testified truthfully at trial. Thus, applying the legal standards of review stated above, we are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the appellant committed the offenses alleged in Charge II and Charge III (obstruction of justice and communication of threats). The first assignment of error is without merit.
Assignment of Error III: TRIAL COUNSEL'S ARGUMENT ON FINDINGS.
The appellant did not testify on the merits to Charges II and III. During closing argument, after stressing the importance of PFC G's testimony, the trial counsel stated:
We believe we have proved that beyond a reasonable doubt that the only people that were there and able to prove the threats is in fact the witness that was brought in which is PFC [G]. There is no one else who could come in and prove the case. They were the only two that were there when the language was communicated. The accused pleaded not guilty and we believe that PFC [G] has shown to the Court beyond a reasonable doubt that he was threatened____
Record at 38-34.
In evaluating the appellant's claim that the trial counsel's argument requires disapproval of the findings of guilty, we ask two key questions: (a) Did the appellant waive — or forfeit — his right to complain about the comment? (b) Was "plain error" committed?
As emphasized recently in United States v. Causey, 37 M.J. 308, 311 (C.MA. 1993), a defense counsel normally has the responsibility to object to improper argument so that appropriate action may be taken by the military judge. See R.C.M. 919(e). The rule is designed, in part, to prevent defense counsel from remaining silent, making no objection, and then raising the issue on appeal for the first time, long after any possibility of curing the problem has vanished. Such a rule encourages "all trial participants to seek a fair and accurate trial the first time around." United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152, 163, 102 S.Ct. 1584, 1592, 71 L.Ed.2d 816 (1982). Additionally, the failure of a defense counsel to object supports the inference that any error committed at the time was deemed "to be of little consequence." United States v. Grandy, 11 M.J. 270, 275 (C.M.A.1981).
The "plain error doctrine" is normally invoked only to rectify those errors that "seriously affect the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings." Causey, 37 M.J. at 311 (quoting United States v. Fisher, 21 M.J. 327, 328 (C.M.A.1986)). It is only "to be used sparingly, solely in those circumstances in which a miscarriage of justice would otherwise result." Id. (quoting United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. at 163 n. 14, 102 S.Ct. at 1592 n. 14); cf. United States v. Olano, — U.S. -, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993).
A comment on an accused's failure to testify is error. Griffin v. California, 380 U.S. 609, 85 S.Ct. 1229, 14 L.Ed.2d 106 (1965). A comment that evidence is uncontradieted has been held improper where the evidence is a conversation between two people, the witness and an accused who did not testify at trial. United States v. Cazenave, 28 C.M.R. 536, 543 (A.B.R.1959). To require reversal, the comment must be naturally and necessarily taken by the court as a comment on the failure of the accused to testify. United States v. Gordon, 14 C.M.A. 314, 34 C.M.R. 94 (1963); see also United States v. James, 24 M.J. 894, 896 (A.C.M.R.1987).
We have carefully evaluated the argument of the trial counsel, noting its wording, its relationship to the evidence pre sented, the lack of objection by the defense counsel to the argument, and the fact that the experienced military judge was, apparently, not moved to comment on the record concerning the argument. These factors lead us to three conclusions. First, we cannot conclude that the comment must have been naturally and necessarily taken by the judge as a comment on the failure of the accused to testify. Second, under the circumstances, the defense counsel's failure to object constituted waiver of any possible objection to the argument, or, alternatively, a forfeiture of the right to complain before this Court. Third, if there was error committed, it was not "plain error" requiring reversal of the appellant's conviction. Thus, the third assignment of error is without merit.
Assignment of Error IV: THE APPELLANT'S ATTACK ON THE PROVIDENCE INQUIRY.
Normally, an appellant's claim of error concerning findings based on guilty pleas states that (1) something is omitted in the guilty plea inquiry, such as an advisement or a particular question, and/or (2) the appellant stated a matter or matters legally or factually inconsistent with the plea of guilty, or otherwise introduced evidence inconsistent with a plea of guilty. If the claim falls into the first category, we will examine the entire record to ascertain whether the appellant was adequately advised and whether his admissions reasonably support the conclusion that the plea is factually accurate. If it falls into the second category, we will examine the entire record to determine whether there is a reasonable ground for finding an inconsistency between the plea and the appellant's statements. We will not reverse findings based on a mere possibility of a conflict. At the bottom line, the rejection of a plea requires that the record of trial show a substantial basis in law and fact for questioning the guilty plea. See United States v. Vega, 39 M.J. 79 (C.M.A.1994); United States v. Irons, 34 M.J. 807 (N.M.C.M.R.1992); R.C.M. 910(h).
During the providence inquiry, the military judge asked the appellant six questions about his intention and received affirmative responses to each question. ("Did you intend to hit him at the time?" "Did you intend to hit him with the pipe?" "Did you intend to hit him hard?" "Did you intend to cause bodily harm to him?" Then — after a four line definition of grievous bodily harm— "[d]id you intend to inflict that type of bodily harm upon [LCpl B] at the time?" "Did you intend to inflict, perhaps, a deep cut upon his head?") Record at 10.
The appellant now contends that the military judge was obligated to explain to the appellant the defense of voluntary intoxication because of references in the record to the fact that the appellant had been drinking alcoholic beverages before he hit his victim with a pipe (e.g., the appellant's unsworn statement includes a comment that he believed the incident would not have occurred but for the alcohol he had consumed, and other witnesses testified that the appellant had made statements to them indicating that he had hit the victim because he was not sober). See Record at 18, 30, 44, 57, 64. First, in evaluating this contention, we observe that when the appellant was placed under oath and quizzed at length by the military judge concerning his intention when he swung the pipe at the victim's head, he steadfastly maintained that he had the specific intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. Second, we note that the other references in the record to the appellant's consumption of alcohol on the night of his assault on the victim are attributed to witnesses who were exposed to the appellant's post-trial rationalizations for his actions (e.g., the appellant's platoon sergeant testified that the appellant told him that he "was real intoxicated when he did it____ That he wouldn't do it if he were sober." Record at 57).
Based on the appellant's unequivocal statements during the providence inquiry concerning his intention, and the circumstances surrounding his statements concerning his consumption of alcohol, we conclude that the military judge had no obligation to reopen the providence inquiry and specifically explain the defense of voluntary intoxication. Indeed, in our opinion, the appellant's statements were quintessential statements of a rationalization made to minimize his culpabil ity. See United States v. Penister, 25 M.J. 148, 153 (C.M.A.1987) (Cox, J., concurring). Thus, the fourth assignment of error is without merit.
CONCLUSION
We thus conclude that the findings and sentence are correct in law and fact and that no error materially prejudicial to the substantial rights of the appellant was committed. Accordingly, the findings and sentence, as approved on review below, are affirmed.
Senior Judge ORR and Judges KEATING, McLAUGHLIN and DeCICCO concur.
Judge CLARK did not participate.
. I. THERE IS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO FIND APPELLANT GUILTY BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT OF CHARGE II AND CHARGE III AND THE SPECIFICATIONS THEREUNDER.
II. THE MILITARY JUDGE ERRED IN DENYING THE DEFENSE MOTION FOR A FINDING OF MULTIPLICITY AS TO CHARGE II AND SPECIFICATION 1 OF CHARGE III.
III. TRIAL COUNSEL'S CLOSING ARGUMENT ON THE MERITS IMPLIEDLY COMMENTED ON APPELLANT'S EXERCISE OF HIS RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT GUARANTEED BY THE FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND ARTICLE 31, UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE, 10 U.S.C. § 831.
IV. APPELLANT'S PLEA TO CHARGE I AND ITS SPECIFICATION IS IMPROVIDENT WHERE THE MILITARY JUDGE FAILED TO ASCERTAIN THAT APPELLANT WAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY INTOXICATED TO NEGATIVE [sic] THE SPECIFIC INTENT REQUIRED FOR THE AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ALLEGED.
. As our Air Force brethren noted in United States v. Weymouth, 40 M.J. 798 (A.F.C.M.R. 1994), a multiplieious offense is not necessarily a lesser-included offense but a lesser-included offense is always multiplieious with the greater offense. The doctrine of lesser included offenses
permits a conviction on a diminished charge when the prosecutions proof is lacking on an element of the charged crime. Inherent in this doctrine is an accused's Sixth Amendment right to notice before trial of the charge brought. Consequently, a lesser-included offense does not constitutionally exist unless the charged offense provides notice to the accused that a conviction may lie for the included offense.
Weymouth, at 801 (citations omitted). Multiplicity, on the other hand, "focuses on whether Con gress intended to subject an accused to multiple convictions and punishments for the same act or course of conduct." Id., at 801. However, the double jeopardy clause prohibits conviction and punishment for both the greater and the lesser-included offense. Brown v. Ohio, 432 U.S. 161, 165-69, 97 S.Ct. 2221, 2225-27, 53 L.Ed.2d 187 (1977).
. See United States v. Wheeler, 40 M.J. 242, 247 (C.M.A.1994).
. See footnote 1, supra.
. The appellant was also charged with robbery under Article 122, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 922 (1988) (Charge I). Pursuant to his pleas, however, he was found guilty of the lesser included offense of assault by intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm in violation of Article 128, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 928 (1988). The Government elected not to go forward on the greater offense.
. Specification 1 of Charge II reads in pertinent part that the appellant did "on or about 16 January 1992, wrongfully endeavor to impede an investigation by communicating to the said Private First Class [G] a threat 'to physically injure his wife and himself' unless he, the said Private First Class [G], provided false information to Naval Investigative Service Agents during the course of their investigation."
Specification 2 of Charge II reads in part that the appellant did "on or about 16 January 1992, wrongfully communicate to Private First Class [G], a threat to injure the a [sic] aforesaid Private First Class [G] by saying to him 'I'm going to fuck you up.'"
. The appellant pled guilty pursuant to a pretrial agreement which required the convening authority to suspend confinement in excess of 36 months for a period of 12 months from the date of trial. The suspension of confinement in excess of 18 months was apparently a grant of clemency by the convening authority not required by the pretrial agreement.
. 10 U.S.C. § 879 (1988). Conviction of lesser included offense.
An accused may be found guilty of an offense necessarily included in the offense charged or of an attempt to commit either the offense charged or an offense necessarily included therein.
. Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 31(c) states:
(c) Conviction of Lessfer] Offense. The defendant may be found guilty of an offense necessarily included in the offense charged or of an attempt to commit either the offense charged or an offense necessarily included therein if the attempt is an offense.
. The U.S. Supreme Court has sometimes disallowed subsequent prosecutions where offenses are closely related even when the offenses are not multiplicious for findings. In In re Nielsen, 131 U.S. 176, 9 S.Ct. 672, 33 L.Ed. 118 (1889), the Supreme Court held that a conviction of a Mormon on a charge of cohabiting with his two wives over a 2ii year period barred a subsequent prosecution for adultery with one of them on the day following the end of that period. Strict application of the Blockburger test would have permitted imposition of consecutive sentences had the charges been consolidated in a single proceeding. Conviction for adultery required proof that the defendant had sexual intercourse with one woman while married to another; conviction for cohabitation required proof that the defendant lived with more than one woman at the same time. In Ashe v. Swenson, 397 U.S. 436, 90 S.Ct. 1189, 25 L.Ed.2d 469 (1970), where an acquittal on a charge of robbing one of several participants in a poker game established that the accused was not present at the robbery, the Court held that the principles of collateral estoppel embodied in the Double Jeopardy Clause barred later prosecutions of the accused for robbing the other victims. '[T]he [Supreme] Court in both cases held the separate offenses to be the 'same' for purposes of protecting the accused from having to " 'run the gauntlet' a second time." Brown v. Ohio, 432 U.S. at 166 n. 6, 97 S.Ct. at 2226 n. 6.
. The Blockburger test is not the only standard for determining whether successive prosecutions impermissibly involve the same offense. Even if two offenses are sufficiently different to permit the imposition of consecutive sentences, successive prosecutions will be barred in some circumstances where the second prosecution requires the relitigation of factual issues already resolved by the first.
Brown, 432 U.S. at 166 n. 6, 97 S.Ct. at 2226 n. 6 (emphasis added).
. We note that Article 79, UCMJ, refers to the offense "charged" and not to a "pleading" or "specification" the latter two terms which might be considered synonymous. We believe such usage was intentional. The Manual for Courts-Martial indicates that "[a] charge states the article of the code, law of war, or local penal law of an occupied territory which the accused is alleged to have violated." R.C.M. 307(c)(2). A specification, or pleading, however, is simply "a plain, concise, and definite statement of the essential facts constituting the offense charged." R.C.M. 307(c)(3).