Court Opinion

ID: 8572011
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-23 15:12:25.904737+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:53:55.206232
License: Public Domain

Opinion of the Court
Homer Ferguson, Judge:
The accused’s unauthorized absence from his organization, terminated by apprehension, resulted in his subsequent conviction of desertion, in violation of Article 85, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 USC § 885. The accused pleaded guilty to the lesser included offense of absence without leave, in violation of Article 86 of the Code, supra, 10 USC § 886.
The conviction of desertion must be set aside. The instructions were similar to those in United States v Soccio, 8 USCMA 477, 24 CMR 287. The record is returned to The Judge Advocate General of the Army for reference to a board of review. The board, in its discretion, may affirm the lesser offense of absence without leave and reassess the entire sentence, or it may order a rehearing on the desertion charge.
Chief Judge Quinn concurs.
Judge Latimer dissents.