Court Opinion

ID: 4187189
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-07-18 22:02:04.004184+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:02.001340
License: Public Domain

U NITED S TATES AIR F ORCE
             C OURT OF C RIMINAL APPEALS
                         ________________________

                              No. ACM 38961
                         ________________________

                            UNITED STATES
                                Appellee
                                      v.
                          Joshua J. TREBON
                  Major (O-4), U.S. Air Force, Appellant
                         ________________________

        Appeal from the United States Air Force Trial Judiciary
                           Decided 14 July 2017
                         ________________________

Military Judge: Lyndell M. Powell.
Approved sentence: Dismissal and confinement for 7 years. Sentence
adjudged 23 September 2015 by GCM convened at Joint Base Elmen-
dorf-Richardson, Alaska.
For Appellant: Major Annie W. Morgan, USAF.
For Appellee: Major G. Matt Osborn, USAF; Major Mary Ellen Payne,
USAF; Gerald R. Bruce, Esquire.
Before MAYBERRY, JOHNSON, and SPERANZA, Appellate Military
Judges.
Judge SPERANZA delivered the opinion of the court, in which Senior
Judges MAYBERRY and JOHNSON joined.
                         ________________________

    This is an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as
    precedent under AFCCA Rule of Practice and Procedure 18.4.
                         ________________________

SPERANZA, Judge:
   A military judge sitting as a general court-martial found Appellant guilty,
consistent with his pleas pursuant to a pretrial agreement, of willfully diso-
beying a superior commissioned officer’s order to have no contact with Air-
                   United States v. Trebon, No. ACM 38961

man First Class (A1C) CV; violating a lawful general regulation by engaging
in sexual relations with and dating A1C CV; sexually assaulting Senior Air-
man (SrA) JC by causing SrA JC’s penis to penetrate Appellant’s mouth
without SrA JC’s consent; committing abusive sexual contact by touching SrA
JC’s neck, chest, and abdomen with Appellant’s mouth and hand with an in-
tent to gratify Appellant’s sexual desire and without SrA JC’s consent; mak-
ing false official statements to investigators; wrongfully and dishonorably ac-
cusing SrA JC of sexual assault, which under the circumstances constituted
conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman; and fraternizing with SrA CS,
in violation of Articles 90, 92, 120, 107, 133, and 134, Uniform Code of Mili-
tary Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. §§ 890, 892, 920, 907, 933, 934. The military
judge sentenced Appellant to a dismissal and confinement for seven years.
Consistent with the terms of the pretrial agreement, the convening authority
approved the adjudged sentence.
    On appeal, Appellant raises the following errors pursuant to United
States v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431 (C.M.A. 1982): (1) the conditions of his post-
trial confinement rendered his sentence inappropriately severe, entitling him
to sentence relief; (2) his guilty plea to fraternization was improvident; (3) he
was selectively prosecuted; (4) he was denied equal access to witnesses and
evidence; (5) he was denied effective assistance of counsel; (6) he was subject-
ed to pretrial punishment; (7) he is entitled to a new pretrial hearing; and (8)
his sentence is inappropriately severe. We disagree with Appellant’s asser-
tions, find no prejudicial error, and affirm. We address Appellant’s claims re-
lated to his post-trial confinement conditions, his guilty plea to fraterniza-
tion, the effectiveness of his counsel, and the severity of his sentence. We
have considered and reject Appellant’s remaining issues, which neither re-
quire additional analysis nor warrant relief. See United States v. Matias, 25
M.J. 356, 363 (C.M.A. 1987).

                               I. BACKGROUND
    Appellant, an accomplished officer selected for command, was married
with children. Appellant was also involved in a months-long sexual, dating
relationship with A1C CV. In addition to dating and engaging in sexual acts
with A1C CV, Appellant befriended SrA CS, with whom he socialized, drank
alcohol, and went on a three-day camping trip.
    SrA CS was also friends with SrA JC. SrA CS invited SrA JC to a gather-
ing hosted by Appellant. SrA JC interacted with Appellant on approximately
two or three more occasions after being invited to do so by SrA CS.
   Appellant was scheduled to leave Alaska in late November 2014 to take
command of a squadron in Texas. Appellant planned his “going away” party
accordingly and invited numerous people from the base. The “going away”

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                     United States v. Trebon, No. ACM 38961

party consisted of being driven to and drinking alcohol at several bars. Appel-
lant, A1C CV, SrA JC, and SrA CS were among those remaining at the par-
ty’s last stop. SrA JC was visibly, heavily intoxicated by this point and the
group left the bar after being there for just over an hour. SrA JC’s and SrA
CS’s plans to stay the night at a master sergeant’s house fell through when
the master sergeant left the party early and went to sleep. The group’s desig-
nated driver refused to drive SrA JC and SrA CS to SrA CS’s house due to
hazardous weather conditions. Appellant invited SrA JC and SrA CS to stay
the night with him and A1C CV at his house.
    Appellant’s house was essentially empty at this time; his family and fur-
niture had already departed for Texas. So, SrA JC, SrA CS, A1C CV, and Ap-
pellant lay on Appellant’s living room floor to go to sleep. SrA JC and SrA CS
immediately fell asleep. While SrA JC was sleeping, Appellant lifted SrA JC’s
sweatshirt over SrA JC’s face and kissed SrA JC’s neck, chest, and abdomen.
Appellant then unfastened SrA JC’s pants, pulled down SrA JC’s pants,
placed his mouth on SrA JC’s scrotum and penis, and inserted SrA JC’s penis
into his mouth. SrA JC eventually realized what was happening, pulled his
shirt down, and exclaimed, “What the f[**]k.” Appellant responded by rolling
away from SrA JC. SrA JC rearranged his clothing and fell back asleep.
    The next morning, Appellant drove SrA JC and SrA CS to their cars. SrA
JC and SrA CS ate breakfast together. During the meal, SrA JC told SrA CS
that Appellant had assaulted him the night before. SrA JC later reported the
assault to the installation sexual assault response coordinator (SARC). SrA
JC also consented to a sexual assault nurse examination (SANE) that re-
vealed injuries on his penis. The examination included the collection of deox-
yribonucleic acid (DNA) samples from SrA JC’s lower abdomen, chest, neck,
penis, and scrotum. Subsequent analysis revealed the presence of Appellant’s
DNA on SrA JC’s abdomen, chest, neck, penis, and scrotum. 1
    SrA JC and SrA CS stopped communicating with Appellant. Worried, Ap-
pellant sent SrA CS text messages inquiring as to why they ceased communi-
cations with him. Appellant discussed the “going away” party incident with
A1C CV. Appellant sent A1C CV a text message stating that he “sexually as-
saulted a guy” and another text message declaring “Drunk n horny and 3
some with my bf…lay off.”
    Within days of the sexual assault, Air Force Office of Special Investiga-
tions (AFOSI) agents interviewed Appellant. Appellant lied about what oc-
curred at his house the evening of the “going away” party. After the inter-

1   A1C CV’s DNA was also found on SrA JC’s lower abdomen, chest, and scrotum.

                                          3
                  United States v. Trebon, No. ACM 38961

view, Appellant lodged his own complaint with the SARC, asserting that he
was the victim of a sexual assault that evening.
   Appellant’s wing commander ordered Appellant to have no contact with
SrA JC, SrA CS, and A1C CV. However, Appellant willfully disobeyed the or-
der by talking to A1C CV and not reporting this contact to his chain of com-
mand.
    Less than two weeks after receiving and violating the no-contact order,
Appellant completed a written statement in which he falsely accused SrA JC
of sexually assaulting him. Appellant caused this false statement and accusa-
tion to be provided to AFOSI.

                               II. DISCUSSION
A. Post-trial Confinement Conditions
    After trial, Appellant was confined at the Naval Consolidated Brig–
Miramar (Miramar Brig) near San Diego, California. While serving confine-
ment at Miramar Brig, Appellant was segregated with the Male Special
Quarters (MSQ) for just over 200 days until he was transferred to the Mid-
west Joint Regional Correctional Facility at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in Oc-
tober 2016. Accordingly, his access to certain privileges and services was lim-
ited or denied. Appellant filed timely complaints with proper authorities con-
cerning the restrictions placed upon him.
    In general, Appellant complains that his “post-trial confinement condi-
tions were unnecessarily harsh, without necessity or justification, and in vio-
lation of Article 58, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 858.” Specifically, Appellant contends
that he “was kept in segregated confinement conditions, without proper justi-
fication.” He, therefore, reasons:
       Given there was no rational basis or justification for holding
       Appellant in segregation for 203 days, this Court should pro-
       vide the Appellant with meaningful relief, not only to rectify
       the injustice that was done in this case, but also to incentivize
       the government to ensure that military members are confined
       in acceptable conditions.
Citing to Article 66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866(c), and United States v. Gay,
74 M.J. 736, 740-42 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2015), aff’d, 75 M.J. 264 (C.A.A.F.
2016), Appellant asks us to “approve only so much of [his] sentence as calls
for five years confinement and a discharge [sic].”
   This court “may affirm only such findings of guilty and the sentence or
such part or amount of the sentence, as it finds correct in law and fact and
determines, on the basis of the entire record, should be approved.” Article

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                  United States v. Trebon, No. ACM 38961

66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866(c). In Gay, this court invoked Article 66(c) to
grant the appellant sentencing relief even in the absence of cruel or unusual
punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment, U.S. CONST. amend. VIII,
and Article 55, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 855. Gay, 74 M.J. at 742. The Court of Ap-
peals for the Armed Forces (CAAF) held that this court did not abuse its dis-
cretion in doing so. Gay, 75 M.J. at 269. However, the CAAF noted that Gay
involved unique facts driven by legal errors in the post-trial process that in-
cluded both a violation of the appellant’s rights under Article 12, UCMJ, 10
U.S.C. § 812, and the ordering of solitary confinement by an Air Force official
where an alternative solution was available. Id. Significantly, the CAAF em-
phasized, “In reaching this conclusion, we do not recognize unlimited authori-
ty of the Courts of Criminal Appeals to grant sentence appropriateness relief
for any conditions of post-trial confinement of which they disapprove.” Id.
    Only in very rare circumstances do we anticipate exercising our Article
66(c) authority to grant sentence relief based upon conditions of post-trial
confinement when there is no violation of the Eighth Amendment or Article
55, UCMJ. United States v. Milner, No. ACM S32338, 2017 CCA LEXIS 84,
at *13 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 7 Feb. 2017) (unpub. op.); United States v. Garcia,
No. ACM 38814, 2016 CCA LEXIS 490, at *14 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 16 Aug.
2016) (unpub. op.); cf. United States v. Nerad, 69 M.J. 138, 145–47 (C.A.A.F.
2010) (holding that despite our significant discretion in reviewing the appro-
priateness of a sentence, this court may not engage in acts of clemency). This
case does not present such circumstances.
    Indeed, Appellant was placed in segregation and formally raised concerns
about the restrictions he faced while segregated in MSQ. However, as ex-
plained by the Commanding Officer of the Miramar Brig, there was both a
rational basis and justification for holding Appellant in segregation for 203
days.
    In March 2016, another prisoner accused Appellant of abusive sexual con-
tact, requiring an investigation in accordance with the Prison Rape Elimina-
tion Action (PREA). PREA standards required Appellant to be separated from
the alleged victim during the investigation. Thus, Appellant was segregated
and placed on Administrative Segregation Pending Investigation/Disciplinary
Action (ASPID) status. ASPID standards restricted or limited Appellant’s ac-
cess to certain privileges and services.
   The investigation uncovered three other prisoners who claimed to have
witnessed or experienced “sexual harassment” by Appellant. Appellant was
ordered to have no contact with these other prisoners. Consequently, move-
ment de-confliction between Appellant and the prisoners involved in the in-
vestigation proved difficult; authorities considered these difficulties when
evaluating Appellant’s segregation. Appellant’s status was periodically re-

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                   United States v. Trebon, No. ACM 38961

viewed in accordance with standard procedure. In conducting such a review,
authorities considered “changes in [Appellant’s] program plan[,] the safety of
his victim and witnesses[,] and maintaining the good order and discipline of
the facility.”
    The commanding officer at the time “founded” the PREA allegation
against Appellant and forwarded the case to the applicable Air Force conven-
ing authority for potential disposition. The convening authority decided not to
pursue court-martial proceedings against Appellant and returned the case to
the Miramar Brig for “final adjudication.” Appellant received a Disciplinary
Report for the “inappropriate sexual touching charge, for which he was found
guilty[.]” Appellant was “awarded 30 days Full Loss of Privileges and 20 days
Loss of Good Conduct Time.” Moreover, “[t]he significant time [Appellant]
had spent in [segregation] was taken into account and he was awarded a le-
nient punishment for [the] level of offense.” The PREA findings resulted in
specific treatment requirements for Appellant. However, because the prisoner
victim and witnesses were either attending, or scheduled to attend, the same
treatment, the facility could not “manage [Appellant] away from his victim
and witnesses who [were] part of those treatment groups or [would] be.” Ac-
cordingly, the decision was made to transfer Appellant to Leavenworth in or-
der to avoid “compromising both [Appellant’s] treatment as well as the effec-
tiveness of his victim’s treatment.”
    The conditions Appellant complains of—contrary to his assertions—were
rationally and reasonably imposed to serve a legitimate purpose: the investi-
gation and adjudication of additional allegations of sexual misconduct com-
mitted against another prisoner. Moreover, these conditions ensured the in-
tegrity of the investigation and the safety of a victim and witnesses, as well
as preserved good order and discipline within the confinement facility. We
decline to exercise our extraordinary Article 66(c) power to grant sentence
relief under such circumstances.
B. Guilty Plea (Fraternization)
   Prior to trial, Appellant stipulated to the following facts:
       [Appellant] met SrA [CS] while both were assigned to [the
       same squadron]. [Appellant] and SrA [CS] became friends
       based on common interests such as hunting and fishing. SrA
       [CS] joined the accused for social events in Eagle River, Alaska,
       including steak night on Friday nights at the Veterans of For-
       eign Wars (VFW) bar. Eventually, on Friday nights, SrA [CS]
       and [Appellant] would drink alcohol at the VFW, drink alcohol
       at Tips bar, and then drink alcohol at the Homestead Bar. They
       called this the “Eagle River Circuit.” SrA [CS] also had dinner

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                  United States v. Trebon, No. ACM 38961

      at [Appellant’s] house on a handful of occasions. On one occa-
      sion, [Appellant] and SrA [CS] traveled to Prince William
      Sound, Alaska, for a bear-hunting trip. Although other individ-
      uals were invited, nobody else was able to go. The trip lasted
      two to three days. [Appellant] and SrA [CS] borrowed a small
      boat from a friend and anchored in Prince William Sound to
      hunt. They drank alcohol and slept in the same cabin in sepa-
      rate beds on the boat. No sexual activity took place between
      [Appellant] and SrA [CS].
      [Appellant] was a commissioned officer and knew that SrA [CS]
      was an enlisted airman. [Appellant] admits that such fraterni-
      zation violates the custom of the Air Force that officers shall
      not fraternize with enlisted members on terms of military
      equality. [Appellant] admits his conduct was to the prejudice of
      good order and discipline.
   Appellant pleaded guilty to the following:
      knowingly fraterniz[ing] with [SrA CS], an enlisted person, on
      terms of military equality, to wit: consuming alcoholic beverag-
      es together while socializing at off-base bars, socializing at each
      other’s homes, and camping alone together for multiple days, in
      violation of the custom of the United States Air Force that of-
      ficers shall not fraternize with enlisted persons on terms of mil-
      itary equality, such conduct being to the prejudice of good order
      and discipline in the armed forces.
   In conducting his providence inquiry with Appellant, the military judge
advised Appellant that by pleading guilty to this offense Appellant was ad-
mitting that the following elements were true and accurately described what
Appellant did:
      First element, is that [during the charged timeframe], you were
      a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force.
      Second element, is that within the state of Alaska, on divers
      occasions, [during the charged timeframe] you fraternized on
      terms of military equality with [SrA CS], an enlisted person, by
      consuming alcoholic beverages together while socializing at off-
      base bars, socializing at each other’s homes, and camping alone
      together for multiple days.
      The third element is that you then knew [SrA CS] to be an en-
      listed member.

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                   United States v. Trebon, No. ACM 38961

       The fourth element is that such fraternization violated the cus-
       tom of the Air Force that officers shall not fraternize with en-
       listed members on terms of military equality.
       And the fifth element is that, under the circumstances, your
       conduct was to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the
       armed forces.
    The military judge defined “conduct prejudicial to good order and disci-
pline” as “conduct which causes a reasonably direct and obvious injury to
good order and discipline.” The military judge further explained to Appellant:
       Not all contact or association between officers and enlisted per-
       sons is an offense. Whether the contact or association in ques-
       tion is an offense depends on the surrounding circumstances.
       Factors that should be considered include whether the conduct
       has compromised the chain of command, resulted in the ap-
       pearance of partiality, or otherwise undermined good order,
       discipline, authority, or morale. The facts and circumstances
       must be such as to lead a reasonable person, experienced in the
       problems of military leadership, to conclude that good order
       and discipline in the armed forces have been prejudiced by the
       tendency of your conduct to compromise the respect of enlisted
       persons for the professionalism, integrity, and obligations of an
       officer.
    Appellant affirmed that he understood the elements and definitions and
confirmed he had no questions about any of them. Appellant admitted that
the elements accurately described what he did. Appellant believed and ad-
mitted that the elements and definitions taken together correctly described
what he did. Nevertheless, Appellant now argues that “[t]here was no evi-
dence admitted that others were aware of the relationship[,]” thus, “[t]he mil-
itary judge failed to conduct sufficient inquiry into the element of conduct be-
ing prejudicial to good order and discipline.” Appellant consequently contends
that we should set aside this fraternization conviction because “[t]he record is
absent of evidence showing Appellant’s conduct relating to SrA CS had a di-
rect and palpable injury on good order and discipline in [the] armed forces.”
    In addition to the stipulation of fact, the military judge relied upon his in-
quiry with Appellant to determine whether an adequate factual basis for Ap-
pellant’s plea to this charge existed. During the inquiry, Appellant explained
he “had a relationship with [SrA CS] where I allowed that relationship to go
down to military equality between the two of us, on a more than familiar ba-
sis allowed by the standards of the Air Force.”

                                        8
                   United States v. Trebon, No. ACM 38961

    Appellant first described his relationship with SrA CS as a “mentor rela-
tionship” centered on “[c]ommon interests, hunting, fishing, kind of took him
under my wing.” Accordingly, Appellant “[t]ook [SrA CS] hunting and fishing
on quite a few occasions.” However, Appellant claimed this relationship
“crossed the line [when] we started socializing at bars. More hunting trips,
etc., with one individual.” Appellant further explained that he invited SrA CS
to social events and that his conduct “[e]quated down to equality,” and he
“started treating [SrA CS] as a peer.”
   Appellant’s explanation led to the following exchanges with the military
judge:
       MJ: Okay. Was that because you were, did you consider him a
       friend, essentially?
       ACC: Our relationship developed into being friends, sir, yes.
       MJ: Now when you were socializing, if you and [SrA CS] were
       alone together, was there still kind of that military relationship
       between the two of you or did that kind of dissolve a little bit
       and become more of him calling you Josh or anything like that?
       ACC: There was occasion sir when he did use my first name.
       MJ: And did you correct him or did you allow that to occur?
       ACC: Sometimes but not always.
       ....
       MJ: Okay. And, again, when you engaged with him on those oc-
       casions was it kind of, was it Major to Airman or was it more
       Josh to [C]?
       ACC: It was more buddies, sir.
       MJ: Did you guys engage in the same things that normal
       friends talk about, conversations and just friendly----
       ACC: Yes, sir. We had a lot of common interests.
    The military judge and Appellant next discussed the three-day bear hunt-
ing trip Appellant took with SrA CS. Appellant maintained that the two en-
joyed the trip as “[e]qual hunting buddies, sir. Surviving out in the wild.”
    Appellant clarified his belief that he fraternized with SrA CS on terms of
military equality by stating, “When you start allowing somebody to use your
first name, sir, you’re giving them an equal position with you. You just threw
out a custom and courtesy that keeps a separation between the two of you.”
Appellant also explained that his conduct was detrimental to good order and
discipline because “[i]t could show preferential treatment to the unit. It could

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                   United States v. Trebon, No. ACM 38961

be assumed preferential treatment to the unit.” Appellant asserted that “at
the time [he had] a lot of pull amongst a lot of organizations on this base” and
others members of SrA CS’s unit “would probably think he was getting a ben-
efit, the gift of having an officer for a friend.”
   Appellant later acknowledged that other military members, to include
SrA CS’s enlisted roommates, knew Appellant, an officer, was friends with
SrA CS and such knowledge could have impacted good order and discipline.
   At the end of his inquiry with Appellant on this offense, the military judge
asked, “Do counsel for either side that any additional inquiry is required?”
Trial defense counsel responded, “No, Your Honor.”
    We review a military judge’s decision to accept a guilty plea for an abuse
of discretion. United States v. Blouin, 74 M.J. 247, 251 (C.A.A.F. 2015). “The
test for an abuse of discretion in accepting a guilty plea is whether the record
shows a substantial basis in law or fact for questioning the plea.” United
States v. Moon, 73 M.J. 382, 386 (C.A.A.F. 2014) (citing United States v. Pas-
sut, 73 M.J. 27, 29 (C.A.A.F. 2014)). The military judge must question the ac-
cused under oath about the offenses to ensure there is an adequate factual
basis for a guilty plea. Rule for Courts-Martial 910(e); see Article 45(a),
UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 845(a). “It is an abuse of discretion for the military judge
to accept a guilty plea without an adequate factual basis . . . .” United States
v. Weeks, 71 M.J. 44, 46 (C.A.A.F. 2012).
    Having examined the entire record, we find no substantial basis to ques-
tion Appellant’s guilty plea. See United States v. Jordan, 57 M.J. 236, 239
(C.A.A.F. 2002). Appellant was convinced of and able to describe the facts
necessary to establish his guilt of the offense, as charged. See United States v.
Murphy, 74 M.J. 302, 308 (C.A.A.F. 2015). Appellant—an O-4 assigned to the
installation’s Inspector General’s office and formerly assigned to the same
unit as SrA CS—held a personal friendship with his “equal,” E-4 hunting
buddy, SrA CS. The friendship between “Josh” (Appellant) and C (SrA CS)
was known to other military members. This relationship, under the facts es-
tablished within the record, was prejudicial to good order and discipline.
Thus, the military judge did not abuse his discretion in accepting Appellant’s
guilty plea to fraternization.
C. Effectiveness of Counsel
    Appellant pleaded guilty pursuant to a pretrial agreement he freely en-
tered into with the convening authority. In exchange for Appellant’s guilty
plea to certain offenses, inter alia, the convening authority agreed to with-
draw and dismiss with prejudice the Additional Charge and its four specifica-
tions alleging Appellant committed various sexual offenses against A1C CV.

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                  United States v. Trebon, No. ACM 38961

The convening authority also agreed to disapprove any confinement in excess
of seven years.
    Appellant signed the offer for pretrial agreement, affirming that he was
“satisfied with [his] defense counsel” and “consider[ed] them competent to
represent [him] in this court-martial.” Appellant further affirmed that his
defense counsel fully advised him of “the nature of the charges against [him],
the possibility of . . . defending against them, any defense which might apply,
and the effect of the guilty plea.” Appellant asserted that he “fully un-
derst[ood]” his trial defense counsel’s advice.
    In accepting Appellant’s pleas, the military judge explained each element
of each offense to which Appellant pleaded guilty along with the definitions
pertinent to each offense. In each instance, Appellant agreed that he under-
stood the elements of each offense and did not have any questions about any
of them. Moreover, Appellant agreed that his plea of guilty admitted that the
elements accurately described what he did. Appellant also stated that he be-
lieved and admitted that the elements and definitions taken together correct-
ly described what he did. After discussing each offense and the factual bases
for his pleas with Appellant, the military judge addressed the terms of the
pretrial agreement with Appellant.
    The military judge found that Appellant fully understood the pretrial
agreement and again received affirmative responses from Appellant that he
had enough time to discuss his case with counsel, did in fact consult with
counsel and receive the full benefit of their advice, was satisfied that his
counsel’s advice was in his best interest, and was satisfied with his defense
counsel. Furthermore, Appellant stated he was pleading guilty voluntarily
and of his own free will, no one had made any threat or tried to force him to
plead guilty, he had no questions as to the meaning or effect of his guilty
plea, he fully understood the meaning and effect of his guilty plea, that he
understood that even if he believed he was guilty he had the legal and moral
right to plead not guilty and to place upon the government the burden of
proving his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and still wanted to plead guilty
to the charges and specifications. His defense counsel similarly informed the
court that he had enough time and opportunity to discuss the case with Ap-
pellant.
   The military judge found Appellant guilty, consistent with his pleas, and
the Additional Charge and its specifications were dismissed with prejudice.

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                        United States v. Trebon, No. ACM 38961

    Prior to deliberating on an appropriate sentence, the military judge dis-
cussed Appellant’s post-trial and appellate rights. Appellant’s trial defense
counsel affirmed that Appellant was advised orally and in writing of his post-
trial and appellate rights. 2 In turn, Appellant confirmed that he was advised
of these rights, including his right to submit specific matters for the conven-
ing authority’s consideration prior to action. Appellant had no questions
about his post-trial and appellate rights.
    After trial, Appellant was personally provided a memorandum from the
base legal office with the subject “Submission of Matters to the Convening
Authority—United States v. Maj Joshua J. Trebon.” This memorandum ad-
vised Appellant of his right to submit matters for the convening authority’s
consideration prior to initial action 3 and to consult with his defense counsel
to determine whether to submit such matters.
    Appellant acknowledged the time and date he received this memorandum.
In addition, Appellant certified that he “consulted with [his] defense counsel
concerning [his] right to submit matters for the convening authority’s consid-
eration before the convening authority takes action in [his] case.” Appellant
indicated that he did not waive this right and intended to submit such mat-
ters to the convening authority.

2 Appellate Exhibit VII is the written advice provided to Appellant by his defense
counsel, which included Appellant’s affirmation that his defense counsel “satisfactori-
ly answered any and all questions [Appellant] had about [his] post-trial and appellate
rights.”
3   The memorandum specifically advised Appellant that these matters may include:

          a. Allegations of errors affecting the legality of the findings or sen-
          tence in your case.

          b. Portions or summaries of your [Record of Trial (ROT)], or copies of
          evidence introduced at trial.

          c. Matters in mitigation that were not available for consideration at
          your trial.

          d. Clemency recommendations by any court member, the military
          judge, or any other person.

          e. Any other matter you or your counsel believe the convening author-
          ity should be aware of before taking action in your case, whether or
          not available or introduced into evidence at you trial.

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                  United States v. Trebon, No. ACM 38961

    Appellant requested, and the convening authority granted, deferral of au-
tomatic forfeitures until action. Later, Appellant acknowledged receipt of the
staff judge advocate recommendation (SJAR). Consistent with his indorse-
ment of the memorandum, Appellant submitted matters for the convening
authority’s consideration. Appellant’s submission included his request for
“leniency and consideration, and grant [sic] any and all forms of clemency you
deem appropriate under the given circumstances in accordance with the
UCMJ, impact to the victim [SrA JC], the strains on my family, and the true
and dedicated officer I once was and still feel I can be again.” Appellant sup-
ported his request with various character statements. Appellant asserted no
legal errors at the time.
    Now, on appeal, Appellant maintains that “[h]ad [his] defense counsel ad-
vised him of the matters addressed in [his several declarations], Appellant
would not have accepted a pre-trial [sic] agreement and would have litigated
the allegations against him.” Appellant lodges a variety of complaints
through several declarations, including claims that his trial defense counsel
did not advise him on the outcome of the second preliminary hearing into
A1C CV’s allegations; they failed to advise about the defense of mistake of
fact; they failed to advise him about the elements of the offenses to which he
pleaded guilty; they failed to advise him about his rights under Article 13,
UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 813; they failed to properly advise him of his rights to
clemency; and they “coerced [him] into making an uninformed [pretrial
agreement] decision.”
    We ordered and received declarations from Appellant’s trial defense coun-
sel in response to his claims. Trial defense counsel’s declarations addressed
the specific allegations raised by Appellant in his declarations.
    The Sixth Amendment guarantees Appellant the right to effective assis-
tance of counsel. United States v. Gilley, 56 M.J. 113, 124 (C.A.A.F. 2001). In
assessing the effectiveness of counsel we apply the standard set forth in
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984), and begin with the pre-
sumption of competence announced in United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. 648,
658 (1984). See Gilley, 56 M.J. at 124 (citing United States v. Grigoruk, 52
M.J. 312, 315 (C.A.A.F. 2000)).
    Accordingly, we “will not second-guess the strategic or tactical decisions
made at trial by defense counsel.” United States v. Mazza, 67 M.J. 470, 475
(C.A.A.F. 2009). When Appellant “attacks the trial strategy or tactics of the
defense counsel, [he] must show specific defects in counsel’s performance that
were ‘unreasonable under prevailing professional norms.’” Id. (quoting United
States v. Perez, 64 M.J. 239, 243 (C.A.A.F. 2006)). We review allegations of
ineffective assistance of counsel de novo. United States v. Gooch, 69 M.J. 353,
362 (C.A.A.F. 2011) (citing Mazza, 67 M.J. at 474).

                                      13
                     United States v. Trebon, No. ACM 38961

   We utilize the following three-part test to determine whether the pre-
sumption of competence has been overcome:
        1. Are appellant's allegations true; if so, “is there a reasonable
        explanation for counsel's actions”?
        2. If the allegations are true, did defense counsel’s level of ad-
        vocacy “fall measurably below the performance . . . [ordinarily
        expected] of fallible lawyers”?
        3. If defense counsel was ineffective, is there “a reasonable
        probability that, absent the errors,” there would have been a
        different result?
Gooch, 69 M.J. at 362 (quoting United States v. Polk, 32 M.J. 150, 153
(C.M.A. 1991)).
    The record in Appellant’s case and the declarations of trial defense coun-
sel refute Appellant’s ineffective assistance of counsel allegations. 4 Trial de-
fense counsel’s explanations and actions in this case were reasonable, and
their level of advocacy well within the performance ordinarily expected of fal-
lible lawyers. Accordingly, we find trial defense counsel competently repre-
sented Appellant. Appellant’s counsel were presumed to be competent and
Appellant failed to overcome that presumption. 5
D. Sentence Severity
     After being convicted of the offenses to which he pleaded guilty, Appellant
faced a maximum sentence of a dismissal, 57 years of confinement, and for-
feiture of all pay and allowances. The military judge sentenced Appellant to a
dismissal and seven years of confinement. In exchange for Appellant’s
agreement to plead guilty to certain offenses, inter alia, the convening au-
thority agreed to approve no confinement in excess of seven years. According-
ly, the convening authority approved the adjudged sentence.

4Having applied the principles announced in United States v. Ginn, 47 M.J. 236, 248
(C.A.A.F. 1997), and considered the entire record of Appellant’s trial, a guilty plea
during which he expressed his satisfaction with trial defense counsel, we find we can
resolve the issues raised by Appellant without additional fact-finding.
5 In addition to the specific claims identified in this opinion, we considered all other
ineffective assistance of counsel claims raised by Appellant in his declarations and
briefs pursuant to Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431. We reject those remaining claims as they
require no additional analysis nor warrant relief. See Matias, 25 M.J. at 363.

                                          14
                   United States v. Trebon, No. ACM 38961

    Now, Appellant seeks sentence relief, positing that “[d]espite the fact that
[his] sentence is the result of a pretrial agreement, the confinement that [he]
has received as a result of his sentence is disproportionate to the charged of-
fenses.” Appellant asks us to “focus on the career accomplishments for which
[he] has been recognized.” He maintains that his “unjustly severe” sentence
“should be reduced to represent the actual crime [sic] committed in relation to
the evidence in extenuation and mitigation presented.”
   We review sentence appropriateness de novo. United States v. Lane, 64
M.J. 1, 2 (C.A.A.F. 2006). “We assess sentence appropriateness by consider-
ing the particular appellant, the nature and seriousness of the offenses, the
appellant’s record of service, and all matters contained in the record of trial.”
United States v. Anderson, 67 M.J. 703, 705 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2009). Al-
though we are accorded great discretion in determining whether a particular
sentence is appropriate, we are not authorized to engage in exercises of clem-
ency. Nerad, 69 M.J. at 146.
    We have given individualized consideration to Appellant, the nature and
seriousness of the offenses, Appellant’s record of service, and all other mat-
ters contained in the record of trial. We disagree with Appellant and find that
his sentence of a dismissal and seven years of confinement does “represent
the actual crime[s] in relation to the evidence in extenuation and mitigation.”
Appellant admitted to committing the “actual crimes” of sexual assault, abu-
sive sexual contact, making false official statements to investigators, conduct
unbecoming an officer for falsely accusing an Airman of sexually assaulting
him, disobeying an order, violating a regulation, and fraternization. Appel-
lant’s sentence was not inappropriately severe based on the facts and circum-
stances of his case.

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                    United States v. Trebon, No. ACM 38961

                                 III. CONCLUSION
    The findings of guilt and the sentence are correct in law and fact and no
error materially prejudicial to the substantial rights of Appellant occurred.
Articles 59(a) and 66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 859(a), 866(c). Accordingly, the
findings and sentence are AFFIRMED. 6

                  FOR THE COURT

                  KURT J. BRUBAKER
                  Clerk of the Court

6Appellant noted that the Court-Martial Order (CMO) erroneously identifies the Ad-
ditional Charge as violating “Article 12.” This appears to be merely a typographical
error and Appellant claimed no prejudice as a result of this error; however, we direct
promulgation of a corrected CMO to remedy this mistake.

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