Court Opinion

ID: 4060382
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-29 19:47:40.039698+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:25:57.050723
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U.S. v. Halford

IN THE CASE OF
UNITED STATES, Appellee
v.
Rodney D. HALFORD, Airman First Class
U. S. Air Force, Appellant
 
No. 98-0325/AF
Crim. App. No. 32280
 
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ARMED
FORCES
Argued December 15, 1998
Decided June 2, 1999

CRAWFORD, J., delivered the opinion of the
Court, in which COX, C.J., and SULLIVAN and EFFRON, JJ., joined. GIERKE,
J., filed an opinion dissenting in part, concurring in part, and concurring
in the result.
 

Counsel
For Appellant: Colonel Douglas H. Kohrt
(argued); Major Carol L. Hubbard (on brief).
For Appellee: Major Kenneth A. Arnold
(argued); Lieutenant Colonel Anthony P. Dattillo and Lieutenant
Colonel Michael J. Breslin (on brief); Colonel Brenda J. Hollis.
Military Judge: Terry J. Woodhouse
 

THIS OPINION IS SUBJECT
TO EDITORIAL CORRECTION BEFORE PUBLICATION.

 

Judge CRAWFORD delivered the opinion of the Court.
Contrary to his pleas, appellant was convicted
by officer members of rape, false official statement, and false swearing,
in violation of Articles 120, 107, and 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice,
10 USC §§ 920, 907, and 934, respectively. The convening authority
approved the sentence of a dishonorable discharge, 2 years confinement,
total forfeitures, and reduction to the lowest enlisted grade. The Court
of Criminal Appeals affirmed.
We granted review on the following issues:

I. WHETHER THE MILITARY JUDGE ERRED BY ADMITTING
THE ACUTE STRESS DISORDER TESTIMONY OF DR. BYRNES BY FAILING TO BALANCE
THE PROBATIVE VALUE OF SUCH TESTIMONY AGAINST THE PREJUDICIAL IMPACT.
II. WHETHER THE MILITARY JUDGE ERRED BY PROHIBITING
THE DEFENSE COUNSEL FROM TESTING THE BASIS OF DR. BYRNES EXPERT OPINION
DURING CROSS-EXAMINATION.

For the reasons set forth below, we find adversely
to appellant on both issues.

FACTS
The rape occurred on Friday night, April 21,
1995. The victim, H, had arrived at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina,
4 days earlier. When she moved into the dorm, she was first met by the
assistant dorm manager, C, who gave her an initial briefing and took her
under his wing. On April 21, C invited her to a party.
After the party, at which H consumed too much
alcohol, she returned to her dorm with appellant, where the sexual intercourse
ensued that resulted in the rape charge against appellant. Later that same
evening, C went to Hs room with two others. When C heard that H had engaged
in sexual intercourse with appellant, C came into the room and started
shoving her and hitting her. Then C and the two others raped H. Appellant
was not present during the incident involving C.
H did not file a rape report with respect to
either incident until later in the following week when she was hospitalized
because of a drug overdose. While being treated at the hospital, she reluctantly
revealed what had transpired on the evening of the rapes.
During opening statements, defense counsel
set forth their theory that H could not be believed because of "inconsistencies,
retractions and lack of physical evidence." The defense contended that
H was seen by various psychologists and psychiatrists at the hospital concerning
the "problems" she said she was having in dealing with these incidents.
During these visits, H was uncooperative and refused to talk about the
incidents.
At trial, the Government offered evidence from
Dr. Steven Byrnes, a psychologist who treated H. The Government argued
that H's non-verbal conduct and statements to Dr. Byrnes, including her
emotional avoidance, crying, withdrawal, and refusal to give details, were
the result of acute stress disorder. The defense objected "that his testimony
as to diagnosis is irrelevant.... We have proffered to the Government that
we are not intending to call any expert witnesses. If indeed we did, I
do believe then that conflicting diagnosis would be proper for rebuttal.
At this point I do not believe that any diagnosis by Dr. Byrnes is proper
for the Governments case-in-chief." Later, the defense again indicated
that Dr. Byrnes testimony "regarding diagnosis, etc. is pure bolstering
and is not relevant, especially in regard to any symptomalogy [sic] with
regards [sic] to others he has treated.... We dont believe that there
is a medical exception hearsay criteria either. That is the only argument
I have, Sir, but we believe that the medical hearsay and the expert diagnosis
should not be allowed." The defense did not object on the basis that Dr.
Byrnes testimony, under Mil. R. Evid. 403, Manual for Courts-Martial,
United States (1995 ed.), would be substantially more prejudicial than
probative. The judge found that the evidence was admissible under the medical
exception.
The defense contends that the prosecution offered
Dr. Byrnes testimony to show that H "acted like a rape victim." Final
Brief at 5. The defense also argues that the judge abused his discretion
under Mil. R. Evid. 403.
The Government argues that, even if the expert
testimony was inadmissible, its receipt into evidence should be considered
harmless. Appellants admissions in his May 10, 1995 statement, coupled
with the testimony of the victim and the other witnesses placing appellant
in the victims room, provided ample evidence of rape. Additionally, the
military judge gave limiting instructions on the use of Dr. Byrnes testimony.

DISCUSSION  ISSUE I
Expert testimony in sexual abuse cases may
take many forms. The expert may offer evidence that the characteristics
demonstrated by the victim lead to a diagnosis of "rape-trauma- syndrome
. . . [which] is probative . . . on the issue of consent by the victim."
United
States v. Carter, 26 M.J. 428, 429 (CMA 1988). Or, the expert may testify
that certain behavioral characteristics are consistent with a "rape trauma
model." United States v. Houser, 36 M.J. 392, 394-96 (CMA), cert.
denied,
510 U.S. 864 (1993); see also United States v. Reynolds, 29 M.J. 105,
111 (CMA 1989)("[T]he plain rule of law is that an experts testimony concerning
rape-trauma syndrome" is admissible);
United States v. Lee, 28
M.J. 52, 54-55 (CMA 1989)(admitted testimony to show victim suffered from
post-traumatic stress disorder);
United States v. Snipes, 18 M.J.
172 (CMA 1984)(expert may testify victims behavior is typical of abused
child). However, the expert may not testify concerning the credibility
of the victim or other witnesses, absent a proper foundation under Mil.
R. Evid. 405. See, e.g.,
United States v. Harrison,
31 M.J. 330 (CMA 1990); United States v. Arruza, 26 M.J. 234 (CMA 1988).
When the defense, in the first instance, attacked
Hs credibility by noting her inconsistencies, retractions, and refusal
to talk about the crime, the Government was allowed to explain that these
behavioral characteristics occur in many cases of non-consensual sexual
encounters. See, e.g., United States v. Rynning, 47
M.J. 420, 422 (1998) (When appellant raised the issue that late and incomplete
reporting showed lack of credibility, the Government "was entitled to rehabilitate
their principal witness by explaining how her behavior did not necessarily
undermine her credibility."); United States v. Pollard, 38 M.J. 41,
48 (CMA 1993) (reluctance to report); United States v. Houser, supra
(delayed report). Also, Dr. Byrnes did not express an opinion as to Hs
credibility or that the aforementioned factors showed that the crime was
committed.
As noted above, the defense objected that Dr.
Byrnes' testimony was pure bolstering and not admissible under Mil. R.
Evid. 803(4) or the 700 Rules. The defense did not object under Mil. R.
Evid. 403. Mil. R. Evid. 103(a)(1) requires "a timely objection ... stating
the specific ground of objection, if the specific ground was not apparent
from the context." The failure to object under Mil. R. Evid. 403 constitutes
waiver in the absence of plain error. United States v. Nelson, 25
M.J. 110, 112 (CMA 1987), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 1061 (1988).
We hold that the admission of Dr. Byrnes testimony by the military judge
did not constitute plain error. United States v. Powell, 49 M.J. 460
(1998).
Once the defense indicates that its theory
is to attack the victim's credibility, it is appropriate for the prosecution
to put the victims inconsistencies and retractions and the refusal to
cooperate in context. Under this theory, the probative value of Dr. Byrnes
testimony outweighed any prejudice to appellant. In United States v.
Combs, 39 M.J. 288, 290-91 n.1 (CMA 1994), we said that when an expert's
testimony is admitted, the

analytical model ... requires that the following
be established:
 
(A) the qualifications of the expert, Mil.R.Evid.
702; (B) the subject matter of the expert
testimony,
Mil.R.Evid. 702; (C) the basis for the expert
testi-
mony, Mil.R.Evid. 703; (D) the legal relevance
of
the evidence, Mil.R.Evid. 401 and 402; (E)
the
reliability of the evidence, United States
v. Gipson,
24 M.J. 246 (CMA 1987), and Mil.R.Evid. 401;
and (F)
whether the "probative value" of the testimony
out-
weighs other considerations. Mil.R.Evid. 403.
[Houser, supra] at 397. See also
United States v. Banks, 36 M.J. 150, 161 (CMA 1992).

Even though the defense did not make a specific
objection under Mil. R. Evid. 403, we can presume that the judge performed
the proper weighing analysis under the circumstances. In any event, the
defense had the opportunity to argue to the court members that the victim's
acute stress disorder occurred when C returned to H's room with two others
and raped her. Thus, we further hold that there was no prejudice under
the circumstances. See United States v. Powell, supra.

DISCUSSION - ISSUE II
On cross-examination, trial defense counsel
attempted to impeach Dr. Byrnes testimony that the victim was suffering
from acute stress disorder. The defense asked whether he was aware that
the victim saw Dr. Cheevers, a psychiatrist at the hospital. At this point,
the prosecutor objected. At a subsequent Article 39(a)1
session, defense counsel explained that they wanted to impeach Dr. Byrnes
based on the inconsistent diagnoses of Dr. Byrnes, Dr. Cheevers, and Dr.
Nelson. The defense proffered that the other two doctors had diagnosed
H as suffering from borderline personality disorder, but did not suggest
that they had specifically ruled out acute stress disorder.
The defense proffered that Dr. Cheevers' and
Dr. Nelson's opinions were presumably in Hs file. Defense counsel argued
that they wanted to test the basis for Dr. Byrnes expert opinion by asking
him about the other doctors opinions in the same case. The judge sustained
the objection, recommending that the defense bring in those doctors to
give a different opinion.
Defense counsel never proffered that they wanted
to ask Dr. Byrnes if he had read all of Hs medical records, if he was
aware of the diagnoses made by Drs. Cheevers and Nelson, or whether he
relied on those diagnoses. See Mil. R. Evid. 703. In the absence
of these questions, the defense did not lay an adequate foundation for
the impeachment and the judge was correct in precluding the testimony that
the defense counsel sought based on their proffers.
We agree with the court below that the opinions
of the other two psychiatrists were hearsay and not admissible. See
Mil. R. Evid. 801(c); United States v. Neeley, 25 M.J. 105 (CMA 1987).
The defense did not ask the required foundational questions to determine
whether Dr. Byrnes relied upon other documents or opinions in reaching
his conclusion. If he had relied upon them, then those opinions would have
been a proper subject of cross-examination. Mil. R. Evid. 703 allows an
expert to consider "facts or data in the particular case upon which [the]
expert bases an opinion or inference [which] may be those perceived by
or made known to the expert, at or before the hearing. If of a type reasonably
relied upon by experts in the particular field in forming opinions or inferences
upon the subject, the facts or data need not be admissible in evidence."
Absent a proper foundation, it was not established that the other doctors'
opinions were of the "type reasonably relied upon by experts." Thus, we
hold that the judge did not abuse his discretion in precluding cross-examination
of Dr. Byrnes about the opinions of Drs. Cheevers and Nelson.
The decision of the United States Air Force
Court of Criminal Appeals is affirmed.
FOOTNOTE:
1 Uniform Code of
Military Justice, 10 USC § 839(a).
 
 
GIERKE, Judge (dissenting in part, concurring
in part, and concurring in the result):
With respect to Issue I, I disagree with the
majoritys conclusion that defense counsels failure to make a specific
reference to Mil. R. Evid. 403 waived any error in the admission of Dr.
Byrnes testimony. In United States v. Harris, 46 M.J. 221, 225 (1997),
this Court held that a hearsay objection was sufficient to avoid forfeiture
of a Mil. R. Evid. 403 issue. In my view, the defense objection that Dr.
Byrnes testimony was not relevant was sufficient to preserve the issue
whether it had sufficient relevance to satisfy Mil. R. Evid. 403. Furthermore,
because the military judge failed to set out his reasons for determining
that the probative value of Dr. Byrnes testimony outweighed its prejudicial
impact, his ruling is not entitled to the deference normally accorded to
a trial judges rulings under Mil. R. Evid. 403. Id.
In my view, the military judge erred by admitting
Dr. Byrnes testimony. The victim testified that the dormitory manager,
Chris, with whom she had an ongoing sexual relationship, invited her to
a party in the dormitory room of his friend, Shayne. She testified that
she consumed three or four wine coolers during a period of about an hour
and a half, and that Chris spiked her last drink with Jim Beam bourbon.
She testified that she became so intoxicated that she had difficulty standing,
and that she argued with Chris after consuming the spiked drink, because
he would not give her a "straight answer" whether he was married. Appellant
helped her back to her dormitory room, where she fell asleep on the sofa.
She testified that, sometime later, appellant moved her onto the bed, undressed
her, and had intercourse with her. While appellant was on top of her, she
heard Chris and Shayne outside her room, and she called out to Chris. Chris
and Shayne tried to push open the door, but appellant held it closed. Chris
returned to his room, but Shayne pushed the door open and told appellant
to leave. After appellant left, the victim told Shayne that she had been
raped, but that she did not intend to report it because she was "drinking
under age." She testified that Shayne departed and she went to sleep.
The victim testified further that, at about
2:00 or 2:30 a.m., Chris and two other men came to her room, where Chris
accused her of "f---ing Rodney [appellant]." She testified that she had
not seen the other two men before. Finally, she testified that Chris hit
her in the ribs and threw her onto the bed, and that all three men gang
raped her.
Based on this testimony, Dr. Byrnes testimony
was not relevant to the victims failure to report appellants conduct.
The evidence of record reflects that Chris and his two friends were the
primary source of her trauma. According to her own testimony, her failure
to report appellants misconduct was due to her reluctance to report that
she had been drinking alcohol at a party when she was underage, not that
she was traumatized. In my view, the prejudicial impact of blaming appellant
for the emotional distress inflicted by Chris and his friends outweighed
the minimal probative value of the evidence.
I agree with the majority, however, that admission
of the testimony was harmless error, in light of the other evidence that
was properly admitted and the military judges limiting instructions.
With respect to Issue II, I agree with the
majority that the military judge did not abuse his discretion by refusing
to allow the defense to "smuggle" in the opinions of Drs. Cheevers and
Nelson. See United States v. Harris, supra.
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