Court Opinion

ID: 4427124
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-20 18:19:04.968375+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:29.209668
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES ARMY COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                                          Before
                              BURTON, HAGLER, and FLEMING
                                 Appellate Military Judges

                             UNITED STATES, Appellee
                                         v.
                   Private First Class DEONTRAY D. COLEMAN
                           United States Army, Appellant

                                     ARMY 20170013

                    Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division (Rear) (Provisional)
                               Jacob D. Bashore, Military Judge
                   Lieutenant Colonel Scott E. Linger, Staff Judge Advocate

For Appellant: Colonel Mary J. Bradley, JA; Major Julie L. Borchers, JA; Captain Zachary A.
Szilagyi, JA (on brief).

For Appellee: Lieutenant Colonel Eric K. Stafford, JA; Captain Meredith M. Picard, JA; Captain
Jessika M. Newsome, JA (on brief).

                                       5 October 2018

                                 ---------------------------------
                                 SUMMARY DISPOSITION
                                 ---------------------------------

FLEMING, Judge:

      In this appeal, we provide appellant relief by dismissing, as recommended by
the military judge, one specification of failure to obey an order.

       A military judge sitting as a general court-martial convicted appellant,
pursuant to his pleas, of one specification of failure to go to his place of duty, two
specifications of disrespect toward a superior commissioned officer, one
specification of insubordinate conduct toward a noncommissioned officer, and one
specification of failure to obey an order, in violation of Articles 86, 89, 91 and 92,
Uniform Code of Military Justice [UCMJ], 10 U.S.C. §§ 886, 889, 891, and 892
(2012). The military judge convicted appellant, contrary to his pleas, of one
specification of attempted unpremeditated murder, one specification of failure to
obey an order, and two specifications of willfully discharging a firearm under
circumstances to endanger human life, in violation of Articles 80, 92, and 134,
UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 880, 892, and 934. The convening authority approved the
COLEMAN – ARMY 20170013

adjudged sentence of a dishonorable discharge, ten years and eight months
confinement, and a reduction to the grade of E-1. Appellant was credited with two
hundred and fifty-five days of confinement against the sentence to confinement.

       This case is before us for review pursuant to Article 66, UCMJ. Appellant
raises two assignments of error which do not warrant discussion or relief. Appellant
personally raises three matters pursuant to United States v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431
(C.M.A. 1982), one of which warrants discussion and relief.

                                  BACKGROUND
       The military judge convicted appellant, contrary to his pleas, of disobeying an
order from his First Sergeant (1SG) not to leave a building (Specification 2 of
Charge V).

       Appellant’s 1SG testified appellant was having emotional issues during a
counseling session with his company commander. Prior to the counseling session,
appellant expressed a desire to go to the hospital to receive behavioral health
assistance. In the middle of the counseling session, 1SG took appellant to a separate
conference room so appellant could calm down. While talking to the 1SG, appellant
expressed a desire to see a mental health doctor. After appellant expressed this
desire, he attempted to leave the conference room. Appellant’s 1SG ordered
appellant not to leave the building, but appellant departed and went to the hospital
for mental health assistance.

       Immediately after announcing findings, the military judge stated “[t]o the
extent that the convening authority or any other authority has the authority to
dismiss Specification 2 of Charge V, I recommend that such authority dismiss
Specification 2 of Charge V.” The military judge did not provide a reason for his
recommendation.

        During the post-trial phase, the staff judge advocate’s recommendation
(SJAR) to the convening authority did not mention the military judge’s
recommendation to dismiss Specification 2 of Charge V. Appellant’s submission
under Rules for Courts-Martial 1105 and 1106 references the military judge’s
recommendation and requests the convening authority to dismiss the specification.
The staff judge advocate’s addendum to the SJAR states “Defense Counsel requests
. . . you dismiss Specification 2 of Charge V,” but fails to state the military judge
recommended dismissal of the specification.

       On the basis of this record, where the military judge, the finder-of-fact,
recommended the dismissal of a specification and the government failed in writing
twice to notify the convening authority of the military judge’s recommendation, we
exercise our authority under Article 66(c), UCMJ to dismiss the specification.

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COLEMAN – ARMY 20170013

                                   CONCLUSION

      On consideration of the entire record, the finding of guilty of Specification 2
of Charge V, failure to obey an order, in violation of Article 92, UCMJ, is SET
ASIDE and that specification is DISMISSED. The remaining findings of guilty are
AFFIRMED.

       We reassess the sentence in accordance with the principles of United States v.
Wincklemann, 73 M.J. 11 (C.A.A.F. 2013) and United States v. Sales, 22 M.J. 305,
307-08 (C.M.A. 1986). We are confident the military judge would have adjudged a
sentence at least as severe as the approved sentence absent the error. An attempted
unpremeditated murder conviction alone carries a maximum sentence of a
dishonorable discharge, confinement for life with the eligibility of parole, and
reduction to E-1. The maximum punishment for Specification 2 of Charge IV is a
bad-conduct discharge, six months of confinement, and reduction to E-1. In light of
the sentence received and the gravamen of the remaining offenses of which appellant
was convicted, we AFFIRM the approved sentence. 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 art. 58b(c) and
75(a).

      Senior Judge BURTON and Judge HAGLER concur.

                                           FOR THE COURT:
                                           FOR THE COURT:

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

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