Court Opinion

ID: 4294634
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-07-16 22:01:10.794293+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:36:38.928536
License: Public Domain

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

                           No. ACM 39280
                       ________________________

                         UNITED STATES
                             Appellee
                                  v.
                       Anthony R. LIZANA
         Technical Sergeant (E-6), U.S. Air Force, Appellant
                       ________________________

       Appeal from the United States Air Force Trial Judiciary
                        Decided 13 July 2018
                       ________________________

Military Judge: Shelly W. Schools (arraignment); Andrew Kalavanos.
Approved sentence: Dishonorable discharge, confinement for 3 months,
hard labor without confinement for 9 days, forfeiture of $450 pay per
month for one month, and reduction to the grade of E-3. Sentence ad-
judged 25 February 2017 by GCM convened at Joint Base San Antonio-
Lackland, Texas.
For Appellant: Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas W. McCue, USAF; Captain
Meghan Glines-Barney, USAF; Brian L. Mizer, Esquire.
For Appellee: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph J. Kubler, USAF; Lieutenant
Colonel G. Matt Osborn, USAF; Mary Ellen Payne, Esquire.
Before JOHNSON, MINK, and DENNIS, Appellate Military Judges.
Judge DENNIS delivered the opinion of the court, in which Senior
Judge JOHNSON and Judge MINK joined.
                       ________________________

   This is an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as
   precedent under AFCCA Rule of Practice and Procedure 18.4.
                       ________________________
                      United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

DENNIS, Judge:
    Contrary to his pleas, Appellant was convicted of two specifications of
willfully failing to maintain a professional relationship, one specification of
negligently failing to maintain a professional relationship, one specification of
aggravated sexual assault, one specification of assault consummated by a
battery, two specifications of adultery, and two specifications of providing al-
cohol to minors, in violation of Articles 92, 120, 128, and 134, Uniform Code
of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. §§ 892, 920, 928, 934. 1 Officer and en-
listed members sentenced Appellant to a dishonorable discharge, confinement
for three months, hard labor without confinement for one month, forfeiture of
$450 pay per month for one month, and reduction to the grade of E-3. The
convening authority approved only nine days of the adjudged hard labor
without confinement, but otherwise approved the sentence as adjudged.
    Appellant raises a total of seven issues on appeal: (1) whether the mili-
tary judge erred in excusing a panel member over defense objection; (2)
whether there was an improper exclusion of medical personnel from serving
on Appellant’s court-martial panel; (3) whether a member of Appellant’s
court-martial was improperly excused after the court was assembled; (4)
whether the evidence is factually sufficient to establish the penetration ele-
ment of sexual assault where the victim testified that Appellant may or may
not have penetrated her vulva; (5) whether the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA)
erroneously advised the convening authority that she did not have the au-
thority to dismiss the allegation of sexual assault under Article 60, UCMJ; (6)
whether the military judge provided an erroneous reasonable doubt instruc-
tion; and (7) whether the military judge abused his discretion in admitting
uncharged misconduct.
    We find Appellant’s sexual assault conviction factually insufficient, but
affirm the lesser-included offense of abusive sexual contact. We affirm the
other findings of guilt and set aside the sentence. 2

1 Appellant was acquitted of one specification of willfully failing to maintain a profes-
sional relationship, two specifications of maltreatment, two specifications of abusive
sexual contact, one specification of aggravated sexual assault, and three specifica-
tions of assault consummated by a battery, in violation of Articles 92, 93, 120, and
128, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 892, 893, 920, 928.
2   The SJA’s recommendation included the following footnote:
          The convening authority does have the authority to disapprove find-
          ings for offenses committed before 24 June 2014. While the charged
          timeframe for Additional Charge II is 1 April 2014 – 1 August 2015,
          evidence was elicited at trial that 1) the accused did not arrive at 59
(Footnote continues on next page)

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                    United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

                                 I. BACKGROUND
    Appellant arrived at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in 2014. While
serving as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Medical Logistics
Warehouse, Appellant soon developed a reputation for engaging in inappro-
priate behavior with female Airmen under his charge and other female Air-
men subordinate in rank. One of the Airmen reported Appellant’s behavior to
the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The investigation revealed mis-
conduct ranging from providing alcohol to female Airmen under the age of 21
to sexual assault, and ultimately led to the case before this court.

                                 II. DISCUSSION
A. Panel Member Selection and Excusal
    Appellant asserts that his court-martial was improperly convened. Under-
lying his assertion are three issues pertaining to the selection and excusal of
his panel members: (1) whether the military judge erred in excusing a panel
member over defense objection; (2) whether there was an improper exclusion
of medical personnel from serving on Appellant’s court-martial panel; and (3)
whether a member of Appellant’s court-martial was improperly excused after
the court was assembled. Each of these allegations is based on a series of
events that occurred after a member of Appellant’s panel became ill. We
begin with a detailed summary of the facts giving rise to these issues.
   1. Additional Facts
    Appellant’s court-martial was assembled on Friday, 17 February 2017, af-
ter a panel of five officers and five enlisted members was sworn. Following an
extensive voir dire, one officer and four enlisted members were empaneled to
serve on Appellant’s court-martial. The military judge instructed the panel to
report to the deliberation room the following Monday. Over the weekend, one
of the panel members, Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) EG, began experienc-
ing what he described as “severe pain” in his neck. Thinking the pain would
resolve, he did not seek medical attention. When he awoke on Monday, the

       MLRS until June 2014 and 2) that the kissing occurred on . . . 26 Ju-
       ly. Therefore, and in light of the punitive discharge, the convening
       authority cannot disapprove the findings for Additional Charge II.
Though our decision to set aside Appellant’s sentence renders moot the issue regard-
ing the SJA’s post-trial advice to the convening authority, we note the obvious and
conceded error in applying Article 60, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 860, based on evidence elic-
ited at trial rather than on the charged timeframe. See Note to Rule for Courts-
Martial (R.C.M.) 1107.

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                    United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

pain had not subsided, and he began feeling numbness in his left arm. Never-
theless, he reported to the deliberation room as instructed to ask whether he
could seek medical attention. The military judge granted his request.
    While CMSgt EG was seeking medical treatment, the military judge in-
formed the Government that “because getting new members detailed to a
court often doesn’t turn on a dime, that they may want to consider starting
those wheels to get that turning.” He further instructed them to keep him
apprised as to “where we were in the event excusal occurred.” The deputy
staff judge advocate (DSJA), apparently under the impression that CMSgt
EG had been excused, then engaged with the base legal office about prepar-
ing a member replacement package for the convening authority.
    In preparing the package, the DSJA informed the SJA that the panel had
fallen below quorum. 3 The SJA then requested that the deputy provide her
with “vital statistics on who’s left.” The SJA learned that three of the four
remaining members were from the medical career field and that there were
one major and three master sergeants remaining. At approximately 1159 on
20 February 2017, she submitted the member replacement package to the
convening authority via electronic mail. The package included a document
entitled “Busted Quorum Replacement Members Package” and court member
data sheets for eight potential replacement members. The body of the SJA’s
message read:
       Ma’am,
       US v. Lizana is underway at JBSA-Lackland. The law requires
       at least 5 members. We are down to four because of an injury.
       One [sic] jury right now we have 3 MSgt and one Major. Three
       of the four are medical career fields.
       [The names of eight additional members were listed.]
       They are all available. You have the option, as always, to select
       anyone qualified to serve under the UCMJ.
       The accused asked for 1/3 enlisted. With that in mind, I rec-
       ommend that you select 3 enlisted and one officer OR two en-
       listed and 2 officers.
       Standing by for questions – all the normal paperwork in [sic]
       attached.

3 The quorum required for a general court-martial is five members. Article 29(b)(2),

UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 829(b)(2).

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                   United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

   At approximately 1203, the convening authority responded with the
names of four individuals from the list the SJA provided. The names were
then included on a new convening order, Special Order A-10, dated 20 Febru-
ary 2017. CMSgt EG had not yet been excused. At some point after the pro-
duction of Special Order A-10, the SJA excused one of the members selected,
Master Sergeant (MSgt) HB. Upon receipt of the new convening order and
the excusal memorandum, trial defense counsel filed a Motion to Compel Dis-
covery – Court Member Selection and a Motion to Declare Mistrial, both dat-
ed 20 February 2017.
   The court-martial reconvened Tuesday morning, 21 February 2017. Trial
counsel informed the court that CMSgt EG had engaged in a text message
conversation with the case paralegal on Monday evening. The text message
from CMSgt EG read:
       Right now the pain is quite unbearable. Bottom line, I am not
       on quarters, the Valium has me feeling out of it, and I do not
       feel that I could stay as focused as I would like to. I truly apol-
       ogize for the inconvenience, but I am not able to give 100% at
       this time. Pending any other questions and guidance. FYI, I
       have to follow-up with my PCM in about 3 days if not getting
       better. I will stand by for your guidance in morning. Thanks
       again for working with me ma’am.
    Trial counsel then asked that CMSgt EG be excused. Trial defense coun-
sel objected and requested further inquiry. When CMSgt EG reported to the
witness stand, the military judge noted that he appeared to be in pain. The
military judge also inquired why CMSgt EG had not been placed on quarters.
In response, CMSgt EG indicated that the Valium was “all they could do for
him” because they could not confirm what was causing the pain. He added,
“They did ask me what I did specifically, and since I’m the superintendent of
the squadron, they figure[d] that I’m going to be on a computer and . . . I
think that’s how they based why they didn’t put me on quarters.” CMSgt EG
also confirmed that he had recently taken the Valium and that it made him
“drowsy” and feel “a little drunk.” When asked whether the Valium was help-
ing, CMSgt EG said that he was informed it would take about two to three
days if it was a neck or muscle injury. The military judge then had the follow-
ing exchange with CMSgt EG:
       [MJ]. With how you’re feeling, do you think that you are able
       to sit as a court member? Do you think that you will be able to
       sit and focus on the witnesses and the evidence and the in-
       structions on the law with how you are feeling?

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                    United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

       [CMSgt EG]. Sir, my honest filling [sic], like I said, is very --
       and you know with as much time as it is -- and I told the para-
       legal, I believe -- I will do anything that you all ask of me, Sir,
       and I’ll do it with full integrity. It’s just, you know, I want to let
       you all know up front with the medication, you’re not going to
       get 100 percent because it’s just hard.
       [MJ]. So let me ask you this question. If you were -- this was
       your court-martial and you were accused of a crime, how would
       you feel about someone in your condition right now sitting as a
       court member?
       [CMSgt EG]. I think it would be -- personally, I feel it’s unfair
       to both sides. I just think -- is just unfair. I’m not going to give
       you the 100 percent and you’re asking me to do this, but like I
       said, if you ask me, I will probably do whatever you asked me
       to do, Sir.
   The Defense maintained its objection following this exchange, arguing
that CMSgt EG had not been placed on quarters and that there had been “no
showing that a reasonable delay in this case would not put him back to be
able to sit here as a member of this court-martial.” After hearing additional
argument from counsel for both sides, the military judge then excused CMSgt
EG due to his “medical difficulties.”
   After CMSgt EG was excused, the military judge found that because the
convening authority did not have the authority to issue the 20 February 2017
convening order, it was a legal nullity. He also found that the subsequent
memorandum excusing MSgt HB was also null and void.
   A new Special Order A-10 was accomplished the same day, 21 February
2017. It contained three of the four names on the original Special Order A-10.
MSgt HB’s name was not listed.
    On 11 April 2018, this court granted the Government’s motion to attach
declarations from the convening authority and the SJA. The SJA’s declara-
tion contained several attachments, including two memoranda with the sub-
ject “Appointment of Additional Court Members” dated 20 and 21 February
2017, respectively. 4 The 21 February 2017 memorandum included a list of

4 We note that both the 20 February and 21 February 2017 memoranda contain ref-

erence to the authority to replace panel members in accordance with “R.C.M.
505b(2)(B).” This appears to be an administrative error as R.C.M. 505(c)(2)(B) pro-
vides such authority. We find no prejudice. See United States v. Adams, 66 M.J. 255,
259 (C.A.A.F. 2008).

                                         6
                   United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

seven names. The convening authority’s initials appeared next to the three
names later detailed to Appellant’s court-martial through the 21 February
2017 convening order.
   Counsel for both parties were given the opportunity to question and chal-
lenge the additional members. Neither party exercised a challenge. The mili-
tary judge denied Appellant’s request for a mistrial and sat the combined
panel on 22 February 2017.
   2. Discussion
   As previously noted, these facts led to three assignments of error. We ad-
dress each in turn.
       a. Excusing CMSgt EG over defense objection.
    Appellant asserts that CMSgt EG should not have been excused over de-
fense objection. He argues that the military judge should have instead grant-
ed the defense request for a continuance. We disagree.
    We begin by resolving a dispute over the appropriate standard of review.
While we acknowledge that there is a different set of criteria to excuse a
member after assembly than there is to excuse a member for cause during
panel selection, both require the military judge to assess whether good cause
exists for the excusal. R.C.M. 505(c)(2)(A) and R.C.M. 912(f). We review such
decisions for an abuse of discretion. See United States v. Strand, 59 M.J. 455,
458 (C.A.A.F. 2004) (citing United States v. Downing, 56 M.J. 419, 422
(C.A.A.F. 2002) (additional citation omitted)).
     R.C.M. 505(c)(2)(A) provides for the excusal of a member after assembly
for good cause. “‘Good cause’ includes physical disability, military exigency,
and other extraordinary circumstances which render the member . . . unable
to proceed with the court-martial within a reasonable time.” R.C.M. 505(f).
The rule also makes it clear that “‘[g]ood cause’ does not include temporary
inconveniences which are incident to normal conditions of military life.” Id.
Appellant argues that good cause did not exist to relieve CMSgt EG. As out-
lined above, CMSgt EG’s physical disability was well established on the rec-
ord and requires little discussion. Although he was not placed on quarters,
his testimony that he was unable to offer “100 percent” as a court member
and that the medication he was taking to alleviate his pain made him feel “a
little drunk” was more than enough for the military judge to find good cause
under R.C.M. 505(c)(2)(A). Indeed, we have approved excusals with far less
justification. See United States v. Dunston, No. ACM 26243, 1987 CMR LEX-
IS 820, at *4–6 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 23 Nov. 1987) (unpub. op.) (holding that
the military judge did not abuse his discretion in excusing a member who,
during deliberations, reported feeling faint and nauseous and, despite feeling
better, asked to be excused.).

                                      7
                   United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

    The remaining question is whether CMSgt EG’s ailment could be resolved
within a “reasonable time.” CMSgt EG’s testimony on when his medical issue
would be resolved was at best uncertain. CMSgt EG repeatedly indicated that
his providers could not specify the cause for his pain and thus could not speci-
fy when the pain would resolve. When asked whether it was going to get bet-
ter within a couple of days, CMSgt EG responded that he was not sure. The
military judge was not required to grant a continuance on such a tenuous
possibility. He did not abuse his discretion in excusing CMSgt EG.
       b. Exclusion of medical personnel.
   Appellant asserts that the SJA’s message to the convening authority that
three of the four remaining court members were from the medical career field
was an attempt to stack the court. Specifically, Appellant claims that medical
personnel were improperly excluded from serving on Appellant’s court-
martial. We find no merit in this assertion.
    Whether a panel was properly selected is a question of law we review de
novo. United States v. Dowty, 60 M.J 163, 171 (C.A.A.F. 2004). In Dowty, the
Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF) specified three factors to be
considered in “evaluating the propriety of any screening of servicemembers
for eventual consideration by the [convening authority] for court-martial ser-
vice.” Id. The three factors are: (1) whether there was an improper motive to
pack the member pool; (2) whether there was a systemic exclusion of other-
wise qualified potential members based on an impermissible variable such as
rank, race, or gender; and (3) whether there were good faith attempts to be
inclusive and to require representativeness so that court-martial service is
open to all segments of the military community. Id. (citations omitted); see
United States v. Gooch, 69 M.J. 353, 358 (C.A.A.F. 2011).
     Applying these factors to Appellant’s case, we find no evidence of im-
proper member selection. Article 25(d)(2), UCMJ, requires a convening au-
thority to detail members who are “best qualified for the duty by reason of
age, education, training, experience, length of service, and judicial tempera-
ment.” 10 U.S.C. § 825(d)(2). The SJA testified that she collected and provid-
ed information on the remaining members of the panel to assist the conven-
ing authority in satisfying the Article 25, UCMJ, criteria:
       What I have found with convening authorities in general, in-
       cluding with General Pringle, is that they tend to like to see a
       lot of different career fields, a lot of different ranks represented
       so that they feel like there’s not all just one group of people who
       are doing it; not all lieutenants, not all whatever. Sometimes
       does that happen? Sure, it does. But she does, in replacement

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                  United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

       members, like to try to have a variety of people with a variety
       of experiences qualified under the UCMJ to hear a case.
    The SJA further testified that it was part of her practice to prepare for
such an inquiry from the convening authority. We do not find that the SJA
informing the convening authority that three of the four members who re-
mained on the panel were in the medical career field was done with an im-
proper motive to pack the member pool. Rather, the SJA was simply provid-
ing information she believed the convening authority would need to select
panel members in accordance with Article 25, UCMJ. Likewise, there is no
evidence that identifying how many members were in the medical career field
resulted in a systemic exclusion of otherwise qualified members based on an
impermissible variable. Appellant relies on United States v. Reisbeck, 77 M.J.
154, 158 (C.A.A.F. 2018), where the CAAF dismissed the charges after find-
ing that the member selection process “utilized gender as an important selec-
tion criterion.” But Appellant’s reliance on Reisbeck is inapposite because,
unlike gender, training and experience is a permissible factor for the conven-
ing authority to consider under Article 25, UCMJ. Consideration of the repre-
sented career fields on the panel was not improper.
    Most notably, the SJA did not direct the convening authority to avoid se-
lecting members of the medical career field or any other qualified service-
member. She simply stated, “You have the option, as always, to select anyone
qualified to serve under the UCMJ.” On these facts we find no evidence that
the panel was improperly selected.
       c. Excusing MSgt HB after assembly.
    In his final claim regarding the constitution of his panel, Appellant as-
serts that his court-martial is void because only three of the four members
selected by the convening authority were appointed to serve on Appellant’s
court-martial. For the reasons set forth below, we disagree.
   R.C.M. 505(c)(2)(B) provides:
       New members may be detailed after assembly only when, as a
       result of excusals under subsection (c)(2)(A) of this rule, the
       number of members of the court-martial is reduced below a
       quorum, or the number of enlisted members, when the accused
       has made a timely written request for enlisted members, is re-
       duced below one-third of the total membership.
    The military judge applied this rule and properly found that the Special
Order A-10, dated 20 February 2017, was null and void. Appellant argues
that even if the original version of Special Order A-10 was void, “the record
reflects the unambiguous intent of the [convening authority] that MSgt HB
serve on [Appellant’s] court-martial.” But the 21 February 2017 memoran-

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                     United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

dum now attached to the record appears to reflect a different intent, namely,
the convening authority’s unambiguous intent to personally select three
members other than MSgt HB. Although MSgt HB’s name did not appear on
the 21 February 2017 memorandum, the convening authority was given the
opportunity to select any other qualified individual. The convening authority
did not choose to list MSgt HB. We find that the 21 February 2017 memoran-
dum reflects the personal selections made by the convening authority in ac-
cordance with Article 25, UCMJ, and R.C.M. 505(c)(2)(B). Stated another
way, Appellant’s court-martial was properly convened.
B. Factual Sufficiency of Sexual Assault Charge
    Appellant asserts that the evidence is factually insufficient to sustain his
conviction for aggravated sexual assault. Specifically, he contends that the
testimony was insufficient to prove the required element of penetration. We
agree.
   1. Additional Facts
    On or about 28 February 2015, Senior Airman (SrA) MH joined Appellant
and then-SrA JV for an evening out at XTC Nightclub. The club had a Bring
Your Own Drink policy allowing patrons to bring their own alcoholic beverag-
es into the nightclub. The group took advantage of the policy by bringing a
bottle of vodka to share. SrA MH had the largest share and eventually be-
came ill. When she felt the need to throw up, she left the nightclub. Appellant
walked her to SrA JV’s Jeep where he encouraged her to throw up, patted her
head, and rubbed her back. Sometime after SrA MH threw up, SrA JV re-
turned to the Jeep. SrA JV and Appellant then attempted to take SrA MH to
her apartment. Upon their arrival, she refused to get out of the car. Accord-
ing to SrA MH, she “didn’t want them to see her apartment” so she “laid back
in the Jeep and tried to sleep.”
    SrA JV then decided to get a hotel room for the evening in an effort to
avoid driving the long distance back home. After SrA JV paid for the room,
SrA MH got out of the Jeep, went inside and laid on one of the two beds. SrA
JV laid on the other bed and fell asleep. Appellant later came into the room,
got into the bed with SrA MH, and began touching her. What happened next
is best described through SrA MH’s testimony during direct examination:
       Q.     After [Appellant] got in bed with you, did anything else
              happen?
       A.     Yes.
       Q.     What happened next?
       A.     He started touching me more, talking to me, telling me
              things, touching me.

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                        United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

          Q.      Where did he touch you?
          A.      All over; kind of, you know, roaming.
          ...
          Q.      And you said he was saying things; you do remember
                  what he was saying?
          A.      “You're so beautiful.” I remember that. I don’t remember
                  much else. I do remember at one point he said he was
                  wanting to have sex and said, “I know you’re on your pe-
                  riod,” because he had felt the string down there.
          Q.      Let’s talk about that. He felt the string down there.
                  What do you mean by that?
          A.      He had his hands down my pants in my crotch area.
          Q.      Did his fingers actually go up into your vagina?
          A.      They were there, I don't know if it was -- how far he
                  pushed or didn't, but his hand was there.
          Q.      When you say there, where was it?
          A.      Like over my crotch area.
          Q.      Did his fingers touch the opening of your crotch area?
          A.      I don’t remember exactly if it was on top or ... I can’t say
                  for a 100 percent.
  Appellant had left the hotel room by the next morning, but later sent SrA
MH a message through Facebook. 5 They then had the following exchange:
          [Appellant (APP):] I wanted to formally apologize for last night.
                 It was fun but I hope you feel ok.
          [MH:] I don’t remember much.
                  ...
          [APP:] How do you feel?
          [MH:] Like hell.
                  ...

5   Facebook is an online social media and social networking service.

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                    United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

              I was REALLY drunk last night. I’m just glad nothing
              too crazy happened. U were trying really hard.
       [APP:] That is why I apologized. I feel really bad about it. I was
              wasted but I will never tell anyone about last night. No
              worries. Some crazy stuff happened but you are right
              nothing too bad. You are a very beautiful woman.
              ...
       [MH:] I prefer to lock the whole thing away and never think
             about it again. I’m just glad we didn’t have sex.
              ...
       [APP:] Look I won’t say s**t and we can act like it never hap-
              pened. Hopefully we can hang out some other time.
       [MH:] I just think it was s**tty of you to try 1 your still mar-
             ried 2 [TMS] is my best friend. Yes we talk about every-
             thing.
    At the close of the Government’s case-in-chief, trial defense counsel moved
for a directed verdict of not guilty pursuant to R.C.M. 917. Trial defense
counsel argued, inter alia, that the Government had failed to prove penetra-
tion of SrA MH’s vulva. The motion was denied; the military judge found
there was “some evidence” that one could reasonably infer that Appellant
“penetrated [SrA MH’s] vulva with his fingers.”
   2. Discussion
    We review issues of factual sufficiency de novo. Article 66(c), UCMJ, 10
U.S.C. § 866(c); United States v. Washington, 57 M.J. 394, 399 (C.A.A.F.
2002). Article 66(c), UCMJ, provides us the authority to approve only those
findings of guilt we determine to be correct. “The test for factual sufficiency
‘is whether, after weighing the evidence and making allowances for not hav-
ing personally observed the witnesses,’ [we ourselves are] ‘convinced of the
[appellant]’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.’” United States v. Reed, 54 M.J.
37, 41 (C.A.A.F. 2000) (quoting United States v. Turner, 25 M.J. 324, 325
(C.M.A. 1987)). In this unique appellate role, we apply neither the presump-
tion of innocence nor guilt, but rather make our own “independent determi-
nation as to whether the evidence constitutes proof of each required element
beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Washington, 57 M.J. at 399.
   In order to convict Appellant for aggravated sexual assault, the Govern-
ment was required to prove two elements beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) that
Appellant committed a sexual act upon SrA MH, and (2) that he did so by
penetrating her vulva with his fingers without her consent. A “sexual act” is

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                    United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

defined as “the penetration, however slight, of the vulva . . . by any part of
the body or by any object, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, or de-
grade any person or to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person.” Ar-
ticle 120(g)(1)(B), UCMJ.
    The evidence of penetration at trial was largely elicited from SrA MH. On
this issue her testimony was clear; she could not confirm whether Appellant
penetrated her vagina with his fingers. She could only confirm that he
touched her. We have said before that where the evidence simply indicates
that the accused touched a victim’s vagina or genital area, “the requisite ele-
ment of penetration has not been established. Such language neither proves
nor negates penetration. Instead, it simply creates an ambiguity of proof.”
United States v. Milliren, 31 M.J. 664, 665 (A.F.C.M.R. 1990); see also United
States v. Robles, No. ACM 36744, 2007 CCA LEXIS 284, *4–5 (A.F. Ct. Crim.
App. 30 Jul. 2007) (unpub. op.). When confronted with such an ambiguity, we
sustain a conviction “only where there is some evidence, albeit circumstantial
or interpretive, from which the court can conclude that penetration occurred.”
Milliren, 31 M.J. at 665. The Government points to two facts upon which we
could rely in finding circumstantial evidence of penetration. First, Appellant
knew that SrA MH was on her period after having apparently felt her tam-
pon string. Second, SrA MH testified that she was wearing “leather tights” on
the evening of her encounter with Appellant. These facts taken together, the
Government argues, constitute circumstantial evidence of penetration, “how-
ever slight.” We are not persuaded.
    The evidence that Appellant felt her tampon string—a string designed to
extend outside the vulva—does nothing more than confirm what SrA MH al-
ready testified; Appellant touched her vagina. In Robles, we declined the
Government’s invitation to infer penetration based on the victim’s testimony
that appellant’s tongue was on her vagina and appellant’s admission that he
had “oral sex” with the victim. Robles, unpub. op. at *4–5. Here, the Govern-
ment asks us to infer penetration based on the victim’s clothing and tampon
string. We decline to do so. We are left with an ambiguity of proof which re-
quires us to set aside the finding of guilt as to Specification 3 of Charge III.
    We next consider whether the evidence is sufficient to establish Appel-
lant’s guilt as to the lesser-included offense of abusive sexual contact in viola-
tion of Article 120(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 920(c). 6 Unlike her testimony re-

6At trial defense counsel’s specific request, the military judge instructed the mem-
bers they could consider abusive sexual contact as a lesser-included offense if they
were convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant caused SrA MH bodily
harm by touching SrA MH’s vulva with his fingers without her consent.

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                   United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

garding penetration, SrA MH was clear and consistent in her testimony that
Appellant repeatedly touched her without her consent. Notably, Appellant’s
subsequent Facebook messages apologizing for his behavior corroborated her
account that touching occurred without her consent. Although this evidence
proved insufficient to establish penetration, we are ourselves are convinced of
Appellant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt for the offense of abusive sexual
contact against SrA MH.
    Because we find the lesser-included offense factually sufficient, we must
resolve whether to reassess Appellant’s sentence. This court has “broad dis-
cretion” in deciding to reassess a sentence to cure error and in arriving at the
reassessed sentence. United States v. Winckelmann, 73 M.J. 11, 15 (C.A.A.F.
2013). We may reassess a sentence only if able to reliably determine that, ab-
sent the error, the sentence would have been “at least of a certain magni-
tude.” United States v. Harris, 53 M.J. 86, 88 (C.A.A.F. 2000) (citation omit-
ted). Applying the factors enumerated in Winckelmann, we are not convinced
we can reliably make such a determination. Winckelmann, 73 M.J. at 15–16.
Accordingly, we set aside rather than reassess the sentence.
C. Uncharged Misconduct Evidence
   Appellant alleges that the military judge erred in admitting evidence that
Appellant placed SrA MH’s hand on his penis during the hotel room incident
previously discussed. We disagree.
   1. Additional Facts.
    According to SrA MH, Appellant grabbed her hand and placed it on his
penis just after touching her vaginal area. Trial defense counsel objected to
this testimony as uncharged misconduct under Military Rule of Evidence
404(b). Trial counsel did not identify one of the enumerated exceptions under
Mil. R. Evid. 404(b)(2), instead arguing, as the Government maintains on ap-
peal, that “the Accused placing her hand on his penis is part of the facts and
circumstances of the charged offense because it all kind of happened in one
encounter as they were in the hotel room together.” The military judge like-
wise found that the evidence was “facts and circumstances of the charged
misconduct” and informed the parties that he would “certainly entertain a
limiting instruction.” No such instruction was requested or given.
    During his findings argument, trial counsel made a single mention of the
uncharged misconduct while outlining the events taking place between Ap-
pellant and SrA MH in the hotel room.
   2. Discussion.
   We review a military judge’s decision to admit or exclude evidence for an
abuse of discretion. United States v. White, 69 M.J. 236, 239 (C.A.A.F. 2010)

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                   United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

citation omitted). The abuse of discretion standard is a strict one, calling for
more than a mere difference of opinion. The challenged action must be arbi-
trary, fanciful, clearly unreasonable, or clearly erroneous. Id. (quoting United
States v. Lloyd, 69 M.J. 95, 99 (C.A.A.F. 2010)).
    Mil. R. Evid. 404(b) is a rule of inclusion, not exclusion. United States v.
Humpherys, 57 M.J. 83, 90 (C.A.A.F. 2002). The critical question in determin-
ing admissibility under Mil. R. Evid. 404(b) is “whether the evidence of the
misconduct is offered for some purpose other than to demonstrate the ac-
cused’s predisposition to crime and thereby to suggest that the factfinder in-
fer that he is guilty, as charged, because he is predisposed to commit similar
offenses.” United States v. Castillo, 29 M.J. 145, 150 (C.M.A. 1989) (citation
omitted); see also United States v. Reynolds, 29 M.J. 105, 109 (C.M.A. 1989)
(establishing a three-part test is used to determine whether uncharged acts
are admissible under Mil. R. Evid. 404(b)). “It is unnecessary, however, that
relevant evidence fit snugly into a pigeon hole provided by Mil. R. Evid.
404(b).” Castillo, 29 M.J. at 150.
   The military judge found the evidence to be facts and circumstances of the
charged misconduct. Appellant asserts that the military judge’s decision to
admit the evidence as “facts and circumstances” erroneously applied “the law
governing the presentation of uncharged misconduct . . . during sentencing.”
We disagree. It is well-settled that uncharged misconduct which is “inextri-
cably related in time and place to the offenses charged” is distinguished from
other uncharged misconduct. United States v. Thomas, 11 M.J. 388, 392
(C.M.A. 1981); see also United States v. Anderson, 36 M.J. 963, 982
(A.F.C.M.R. 1993) (holding that a limiting instruction is not required when
uncharged misconduct is “part and parcel” of the offense charged). To hold
that such evidence is inadmissible would “provide an inducement to prefer
more charges in order to avoid lack of continuity in the evidence received.”
Thomas, 11 M.J. at 393. Like the Court of Military Appeals, “we are not anx-
ious to provide an added inducement for overcharging.” Id.
    We find the evidence of Appellant placing SrA MH’s hand on his penis
“interwoven” in the res gestae of the offense, and as such, was properly admit-
ted by the military judge for a legitimate non-propensity purpose. See United
States v. Metz, 34 M.J. 349, 351 (C.M.A. 1992).
D. Instructional Error
   The military judge gave the following instruction in advising the members
how to deliberate on findings: “If, based on your consideration of the evidence,
you are firmly convinced that the Accused is guilty of the offenses charged,
you should find him guilty.” As he did at trial, Appellant asserts that the mil-

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                       United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

itary judge’s instruction lowered the proof requirement to “a standard be-
tween preponderance and reasonable doubt.” We disagree.
      1. Additional Facts.
   During a hearing outside the presence of members, the military judge
sought input from counsel on the appropriate instructions to be given to the
members. Trial defense counsel requested the military judge deviate from the
standard Air Force instruction on reasonable doubt and instead provide the
standard Army instruction. 7 Specifically, trial defense counsel took issue with
two components of the Air Force instruction: (1) its use of the term “firmly
convinced” in defining reasonable doubt; and (2) its direction that, if the
members were “firmly convinced” they “must” find the accused guilty. The

7   The standard Air Force reasonable doubt instruction reads,
          A “reasonable doubt” is a conscientious doubt based upon reason and
          common sense, and arising from the state of the evidence. . . . In crim-
          inal cases, the government’s proof must be more powerful than that.
          It must be beyond a reasonable doubt. Proof beyond a reasonable
          doubt is proof that leaves you firmly convinced of the accused’s guilt.
          There are very few things in the world that we know with absolute
          certainty, and in criminal cases, the law does not require proof that
          overcomes every possible doubt. If, based on your consideration of the
          evidence, you’re firmly convinced that the accused is guilty of any of-
          fense charged, you must find [the accused] guilty. If, on the other
          hand, you think there is a real possibility the accused is not guilty,
          you must give [the accused] the benefit of the doubt and find [the ac-
          cused] not guilty.
Air Force Benchbook, Dep’t of the Air Force, Air Force Benchbook, ch. 2, § V, para. 2-
5-12 (2016) (emphasis added).
The standard Army reasonable doubt instruction reads,
          A “reasonable doubt” is not a fanciful or ingenious doubt or conjec-
          ture, but an honest, conscientious doubt suggested by the material ev-
          idence or lack of it in the case. It is an honest misgiving generated by
          insufficiency of proof of guilt. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt means
          proof to an evidentiary certainty, although not necessarily to an abso-
          lute or mathematical certainty. The proof must be such as to exclude
          not every hypothesis or possibility of innocence, but every fair and ra-
          tional hypothesis except that of guilt. The rule as to reasonable doubt
          extends to every element of the offense(s), although each particular
          fact advanced by the prosecution, which does not amount to an ele-
          ment, need not be established beyond a reasonable doubt. However, if
          on the whole evidence, you are satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of
          the truth of each and every element, then you should find the accused
          guilty.
Military Judges’ Benchbook, Dept. of the Army Pamphlet 27-9 at 53 (10 Sep. 2014).

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                   United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

military judge partially granted the request, modifying the word “must” to
“should.” The military judge did not alter the phrase “firmly convinced.”
   2. Discussion.
    Whether a military judge appropriately instructed a court-martial panel
is a question of law we review de novo. United States v. McClour, 76 M.J. 23,
25 (C.A.A.F. 2017) (citations omitted). McClour involved a similar but dis-
tinct dispute regarding the Air Force and Army instructions on reasonable
doubt. The issue in McClour was whether the phrase “you must find him
guilty” constituted a directed verdict. The CAAF found no plain error in the
absence of a defense objection. Here, on the other hand, Appellant repeats an
objection made by trial defense counsel that defining reasonable doubt as be-
ing “firmly convinced” lessens the Government’s burden. Citing State v. Pe-
rez, 90 Haw. 113, 129 (Haw. Ct. App. 1998), Appellant argues that the mili-
tary judge’s use of the phrase “firmly convinced” is “associated in the law
with the lesser burden of clear and convincing evidence, as to communicate
something less than the highest burden under the law, that of ‘beyond a rea-
sonable doubt.’” We are not persuaded.
    The Air Force instruction used by the military judge, including its use of
the phrase “firmly convinced,” is taken verbatim from the Federal Judiciary
Center’s Pattern Criminal Jury Instructions. Notably, the Air Force adopted
the instruction following a recommendation from the Court of Military Ap-
peals in United States v. Meeks, 41 M.J. 150, 157 n.2 (C.M.A. 1994) (citing
Victor v. Nebraska, 511 U.S. 1, 27 (1994) (Ginsburg, J., concurring in part
and concurring in the judgment)). The CAAF recently took the opportunity to
reiterate its approval of the instruction. McClour, 76 M.J. at 25. We find no
reason to disagree. The military judge provided “instructions necessary for
the members to arrive at an intelligent decision concerning [A]ppellant’s
guilt.” United States v. Green, 62 M.J. 501, 503 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2005)
(quoting United States v. Baker, 57 M.J. 330, 333 (C.A.A.F. 2002)). We agree
with Justice Ginsburg’s interpretation of the instruction that “[t]he ‘firmly
convinced’ standard for conviction, repeated for emphasis, is further en-
hanced by the juxtaposed prescription that the jury must acquit if there is a
‘real possibility’ that the defendant is innocent.” Victor, 511 U.S. at 27.
   We find that the military judge’s reasonable doubt instruction in this case
was appropriate.

                               III. CONCLUSION
    The finding of guilty as to sexual assault in Specification 3 of Charge III is
set aside. The lesser-included offense of abusive sexual contact and the re-
maining findings are correct in law and fact, and no other error materially

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                  United States v. Lizana, No. ACM 39280

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, as modi-
fied, are AFFIRMED. The sentence is SET ASIDE.
   The record of trial is returned to The Judge Advocate General for remand
to an appropriate convening authority who may order a rehearing. Article
66(e), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866(e).

                    FOR THE COURT

                    CAROL K. JOYCE
                    Clerk of the Court

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