Court Opinion

ID: 4427240
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-20 18:42:00.72387+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:24:49.059217
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES ARMY COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                                       Before
                           TOZZI, CELTNIEKS, and BURTON
                              Appellate Military Judges

                           UNITED STATES, Appellee
                                        v.
                           Sergeant BIANCA L. KOTH
                          United States Army, Appellant

                                   ARMY 20150179

                       Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division
                         Gregory A. Gross, Military Judge
                  Colonel William D. Smoot, Staff Judge Advocate

For Appellant: Lieutenant Colonel Melissa R. Covolesky, JA; Captain Ryan T.
Yoder, JA (on reply brief); Colonel Mary J. Bradley, JA; Captain Ryan T. Yoder, JA
(on brief).

For Appellee: Colonel Mark H. Sydenham, JA; Lieutenant Colonel A.G. Courie III,
JA; Major Anne C. Hsieh, JA; Captain Jonathan S. Reiner, JA (on brief).

                                    16 March 2017
                              ----------------------------------
                               SUMMARY DISPOSITION
                              ----------------------------------

BURTON, Judge:

      On appeal, appellant alleges her conviction of child endangerment is legally
and factually insufficient because the government failed to prove she was culpably
negligent and subjected her child to a reasonable probability of harm. We disagree.

       A panel of officers and enlisted members sitting as a general court-martial
convicted appellant, contrary to her pleas, of one specification of assault
consummated by a battery upon a child under the age of 16 years and one
specification of child endangerment, in violation of Articles 128 and 134, Uniform
Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §§ 928, 934 (2006 & Supp. IV 2011; 2012 &
Supp. I 2014) [hereinafter UCMJ]. The panel sentenced appellant to a bad-conduct
discharge, confinement for three months, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances.
The convening authority approved the adjudged sentence.

       This case is before us for review pursuant to Article 66, UCMJ. Appellate
defense counsel assigns one error to this court: whether the evidence supporting the
conviction of child endangerment for failure to seek medical treatment is legally and
factually sufficient, where the government failed to present any evidence that
KOTH—ARMY 20150179
appellant should have known of her son’s injuries or that there was a reasonable
probability of harm. After due consideration, we find the assigned error in this case
warrants discussion and partial relief on other grounds. Those matters personally
raised by appellant pursuant to United States v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431 (C.M.A.
1982), are without merit.

                             LAW AND DISCUSSION

       In accordance with Article 66(c), UCMJ, we review issues of legal and factual
sufficiency de novo. United States v. Washington, 57 M.J. 394, 399 (C.A.A.F.
2002). 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, 324 (C.M.A. 1987) (citing Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979));
see also United States v. Humpherys, 57 M.J. 83, 94 (C.A.A.F. 2002). In resolving
questions of legal sufficiency, we are “bound to draw every reasonable inference
from the evidence of record in favor of the prosecution.” United States v. Barner,
56 M.J. 131, 134 (C.A.A.F. 2001). 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, [we] are [ourselves] convinced of the accused’s
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Turner, 25 M.J. at 325.

                           Mens Rea: Culpable Negligence

       On appeal, appellant alleges the government offered “no direct evidence” that
she “was aware of any injuries sustained by [her son,] TK,” and thereby failed to
establish her culpable negligence. On this point, appellant overlooked two important
issues—direct evidence is not required and child endangerment by culpable
negligence is a general-intent offense. Considering first the nature of the evidence,
while direct evidence can establish an appellant’s state of mind, direct evidence is
not required to establish proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Rule for Courts-Martial
[hereinafter R.C.M.] 918(c) (“Findings may be based on direct or circumstantial
evidence.”). Circumstantial evidence, standing alone or together with other
evidence, can prove a fact necessary to establish an element of an offense beyond a
reasonable doubt. R.C.M. 918(c) discussion; see also United States v. Roberts, 59
M.J. 323, 327 (C.A.A.F. 2004); United States v. Caballero, 37 M.J. 422, 425
(C.M.A. 1993); United States v. Hurt, 9 U.S.C.M.A. 735, 763, 27 C.M.R. 3, 31
(1958). Accordingly, a reasonable panel could have been convinced of appellant’s
culpable negligence based on the circumstantial evidence in this case.

       We next consider the nature of the offense. Appellant was found guilty of
child endangerment by culpable negligence, not by design. Child endangerment, like
other offenses by culpable negligence, is a general-intent offense reviewed under an
objective test. See, e.g., United States v. Gibson, 43 M.J. 343, 346 (C.A.A.F. 1995)
(rejecting a subjective test regarding the appellant’s knowledge of the risk of harm,

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KOTH—ARMY 20150179
and applying an objective test whether a reasonable person would have known of the
risk); United States v. Redding, 14 U.S.C.M.A. 242, 245, 34 C.M.R. 22, 25 (1963)
(finding aggravated assault by culpable negligence even where the government and
defense both agreed the appellant never intended to harm the victim). Therefore, it
is sufficient if, “when viewed in the light of human experience,” a reasonable person
in appellant’s circumstances would have known her negligent omission “might
foreseeably result in harm to [her son.]” Manual for Courts-Martial (2012 ed.)
[hereinafter MCM], pt. IV, ¶ 68a.c.(3)). The panel could have been convinced
appellant was sincerely unaware of the potential harm to her son, while at the same
time concluding her lack of awareness was unreasonable and criminally negligent.
Essentially, the panel could have found appellant’s negligent omission was
accompanied by a culpable disregard for the foreseeable consequences, even if not a
conscious and deliberate disregard.

       Among the available facts and circumstances in evidence for the panel to
consider were the following: TK was only ten years old at the time of the offense;
TK was living at the same address listed on appellant’s military records as her
residence; TK had bruises and other injuries covering approximately 8% of his
body’s surface area; TK’s injuries were visible enough to the school staff to prompt
them to seek immediate medical attention for TK; and the panel had photographic
evidence of TK’s injuries from which they could determine whether appellant’s lack
of awareness amounted to a culpable disregard for TK’s health, safety, and welfare.
Appellant also made several admissions to a special agent from which the panel
could judge her credibility and the reasonableness of her professed lack of
awareness. Specifically, she was aware her son had been punished the day before
the injuries were discovered for eating a popsicle, and was familiar enough with her
son’s extracurricular activities to exclude other potential causes of injury, but
claimed to be unaware of visible physical injuries to her son that were consistent
with assault.

       Essentially—when considering “the conditions surrounding the neglectful
conduct” (e.g., the readily apparent nature of TK’s bruises and self-protective body
posture), “the provisions made for care of the child” (which proved to be insufficient
to make her aware of injuries covering 8% of TK’s body), and “location of the
parent . . . responsible for the child relative to the location of the child (e.g.,
appellant was not deployed to a foreign location, but apparently living in the same
house)—a reasonable panel could have concluded appellant’s negligent omission
was accompanied by a culpable disregard for the foreseeable consequences to TK.
Id.

       Moreover, after careful review of the evidence presented at trial, we are
convinced beyond a reasonable doubt appellant endangered TK’s physical health,
safety, and welfare through culpable negligence. Our finding of culpable negligence
is not a reflexive indictment of any parent that fails “to be omnisciently aware of a
child’s well-being at all times[,]” as appellant cautions. Instead, it is a conclusion
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KOTH—ARMY 20150179
borne of the circumstantial evidence concerning appellant’s negligent omission when
ensuring TK received timely medical care for serious and visible injuries.

     Actus Reus: Endanger by Subjecting to a Reasonable Probability of Harm

       When appellant failed to seek medical care for her ten-year-old son after he
sustained visible injuries covering 8% of the surface area of his body, her negligent
omissions endangered her son—that is, it resulted in a reasonable probability that
her son would be harmed. Within the context of this offense, “the threshold of risk
for ‘endanger’ is conduct that subjects the child to a ‘reasonable probability,’ not
merely a reasonable possibility, of harm.” United States v. Plant, 74 M.J. 297, 300
n.4 (C.A.A.F. 2015). See also MCM, pt. IV, ¶ 68a.c.(5) (defining “endanger” as
subjecting a child to a “reasonable probability of harm.”). “Actual physical or
mental harm to the child is not required.” Id. ¶ 68a.c.(4). Instead, the offense
requires that an appellant’s “actions reasonably could have caused physical or
mental harm or suffering.” Id. We note, as did our superior court, the “threshold of
risk” for proving endangerment (i.e., reasonable probability) is higher than the
threshold for proving culpable negligence (i.e., foreseeability although not
necessarily the natural and probable consequence). Plant, 74 M.J. at 300 n.4.

       Based on the facts in this case, a reasonable panel could have found appellant
subjected her son to a reasonable probability of additional physical harm and
suffering by failing to notice or put into place a mechanism for providing her notice
of serious and readily apparent injuries to her son (i.e., a negligent omission). First,
as previously mentioned, the panel had photographic evidence of the extensive
bruising on TK’s body, from which they could assess the risk of additional harm and
suffering from delayed medical care. Second, the panel heard testimony from the
attending pediatrician, who spoke specifically about the continued pain and suffering
from TK’s injuries. The pediatrician testified she immediately noticed the visible
bruising on TK’s body. When she examined TK, he pulled his arm away and made
“a gasping sound” when she touched his arm. She also noticed a loss of mobility in
TK’s arm “because it was too painful” when he tried to rotate it. Third, the
pediatrician also testified about the risks of additional harm from delayed medical
care for TK’s particular injuries.

       In our analysis, we find some, but not all, of the risks described by the
attending pediatrician constituted a reasonable probability of harm. For example,
there may have been a reasonable possibility the risks associated with TK’s injuries
could have resulted in death or permanent brain injury, but these risks were likely
not a reasonable probability. In contrast, the extensive bruising across TK’s body
and the hard tissue in his arm muscle presented a reasonable probability of internal
bleeding, muscle breakdown, and rhabdomyolysis. Consequently, we are also
convinced beyond a reasonable doubt appellant’s culpable negligence endangered
TK’s physical health, safety, and welfare by subjecting him to a reasonable
probability of additional physical harm and suffering.

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KOTH—ARMY 20150179
                      Prejudice to Good Order and Discipline

       As required pursuant to United States v. Fosler, 70 M.J. 225, 226 (C.A.A.F.
2011), the Specification of Additional Charge II alleged the terminal element of an
Article 134, UCMJ, offense as follows: “such conduct being to the prejudice of good
order and discipline in the armed forces and of a nature to bring discredit upon the
armed forces.” There is insufficient evidence in the record establishing the terminal
element beyond a reasonable doubt as it relates to the effect on good order and
discipline. Therefore, we except the unsupported language from the Specification of
Additional Charge II.
                                  CONCLUSION
      On consideration of the entire record, we AFFIRM only so much of the
Specification of Additional Charge II as finds:

             In that [appellant], U.S. Army, at or near Schofield
             Barracks, Hawaii, on or about 22 April 2014, had a duty
             for the care of [TK], a child under the age of 16 years, and
             did endanger the welfare of said [TK], by failing to seek
             medical care for injuries to his arms, legs, buttocks, and
             head, and that such conduct constituted culpable
             negligence, such conduct being of a nature to bring
             discredit upon the armed forces.

      The remaining findings of guilty are AFFIRMED.

       In evaluating the factors for potential sentence reassessment pursuant to
United States v. Winkelmann, 73 M.J. 11, 15-16 (C.A.A.F. 2013), and United States
v. Sales, 22 M.J. 305, 308 (C.M.A. 1986), we find there is no change to the
sentencing landscape. The gravamen of misconduct has not changed, and the
charges before us are commonly reviewed by this court. Accordingly, the sentence
approved by the convening authority is AFFIRMED. All rights, privileges, and
property, of which appellant has been deprived by virtue of that portion of the
findings set aside by this decision, are ordered restored. See UCMJ arts. 58a(b),
58b(c), 75(a).

      Senior Judge TOZZI and Judge CELTNIEKS concur.

                                          FOR
                                           FORTHE
                                               THECOURT:
                                                   COURT:

                                          MALCOLM H. SQUIRES, JR.
                                           MALCOLM H. SQUIRES, JR.
                                          Clerk of Court
                                           Clerk of Court

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