Court Opinion

ID: 2768374
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-09 00:56:58.77693+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:12:15.673569
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES ARMY COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

                                   Before
                        HOLDEN, HOFFMAN and SULLIVAN
                          Appellate Military Judges

                           UNITED STATES, Appellee
                                     v.
                          Private E1 EARL R. POLAN
                        United States Army, Appellant

                                ARMY 20080024

                           Headquarters, Fort Drum
                        David L. Conn, Military Judge
          Lieutenant Colonel Michael P. Ryan, Staff Judge Advocate
    Lieutenant Colonel Michelle L. Ryan, Staff Judge Advocate (post-trial
                                  addendum)

For Appellant:  Major Teresa L. Raymond, JA; Captain Alison L. Gregoire,
JA.

For Appellee:  Lieutenant Colonel Francis C. Kiley, JA.

                               21 August 2008

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

Per Curiam:

      This case is before us for review under Article 66, Uniform Code of
Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §866 [hereinafter UCMJ].  Although appellant’s
case was submitted to us on the merits, we find error in the findings of
the court-martial as described below.

      A military judge sitting as a special court-martial convicted
appellant, contrary to his pleas, of unauthorized absence terminated by
apprehension (AWOL) in violation of Article 86, UCMJ.  The termination date
for appellant’s AWOL was charged as 13 September 2007 and the military
judge found appellant guilty as charged.  The record demonstrates, however,
appellant was arrested on 29 August 2007 and held by civilian authorities
solely on a felony deserter warrant at the request of military authorities.
 Accordingly, the correct termination date for appellant’s AWOL should be
29 August 2007.  See Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, (2005 ed.),
Part IV, para 10.c.(10)(d) and (e); see also United States v. Lanphear, 23
C.M.A. 338, 340, 49 C.M.R. 742, 744 (1975) (AWOL terminated when civilian
authorities made appellant available for delivery to military authorities).
                                  DECISION

      We amend the finding of guilty in the Specification of Charge I to
reflect the earlier termination date of 29 August 2007 and affirm the
finding of guilty to Charge I and its Specification as amended.

      We have considered those matters personally raised by appellant
pursuant to United States v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431 (C.M.A. 1982), and find
them to be without merit.  Reassessing the sentence on the basis of the
error noted and the entire record, and applying the principles of United
States v. Sales, 22 M.J. 305 (C.M.A. 1988) and United States v. Moffeit, 63
M.J. 40, 43 (C.A.A.F. 2006), including Judge Baker’s concurring opinion,
the sentence is affirmed.

                                  FOR THE COURT:

                                  MALCOLM H. SQUIRES, JR.
                                  Clerk of Court