Court Opinion

ID: 3201718
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-05-09 18:03:26.693651+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:32:30.984320
License: Public Domain

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

                                UNITED STATES, Appellee
                                            v.
                          Staff Sergeant BRIAN W. SCHWISOW
                              United States Army, Appellant

                                      ARMY MISC 20150720

                Headquarters, I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord
                         Jeffery D. Lippert, Military Judge
                 Colonel Randall J. Bagwell, Staff Judge Advocate

For Appellant: Colonel Mark H. Sydenham, JA; Captain Jihan Walker, JA; Captain
Carling M. Dunham, JA (on brief).

For Appellee: Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan F. Potter, JA; Major Andres Vazquez,
Jr., JA; Captain Matthew L. Jalandoni, JA (on brief).

                                         18 February 2016

                -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ACTION ON APPEAL
                       BY THE UNITED STATES FILED PURSUANT TO
                   ARTICLE 62, UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE
                --------------------------------------------------------------------------

CAMPANELLA, Judge:

       Appellee was charged with one specification of desertion, four specifications
of failure to repair, one specification of assaulting a superior officer, one
specification of willfully disobeying a noncommissioned officer, one specification
of violating a lawful general order, one specification of distribution of a controlled
substance, two specifications of possession with intent to distribute a controlled
substance, one specification of possession of a controlled substance, and two 1
specifications of use of a controlled substance in violation of Articles 85, 86, 90, 91,
and 112a, Uniform Code of Military Justice [hereinafter UCMJ], 10 U.S.C. §§ 885,
886, 890, 891, 912a (2012).

1
 The military judge dismissed one specification of use of a controlled substance,
Specification 5 of Charge VI.
SCHWISOW —ARMY 20150720

      On 6 October 2015, a military judge dismissed all charges and specifications,
with prejudice, based on violations of Rule of Courts-Martial 707 [hereinafter
R.C.M.], and Article 10, UCMJ.

      This case is before this court pursuant to a government appeal of the military
judge’s ruling in accordance with Article 62, UCMJ, and R.C.M. 908(a). The
government asserts that the military judge erred in dismissing the charges against
appellee with prejudice by erroneously attributing defense delay to the government,
erroneously balancing the R.C.M. 707 factors for determining whether to dismiss
with prejudice, and erroneously evaluating whether the government proceeded with
reasonable diligence. We agree and reverse the military judge’s ruling to dismiss all
charges and specifications with prejudice.

                                      BACKGROUND

                                      Case Processing

      The following summarizes the key dates and events pertinent to appellee’s
motion to dismiss: 2

                -   4 June 2014: Appellee was placed into pretrial confinement.

                -   11 June 2014: Charges were preferred.

                -   18 June 2014: Defense Counsel requested a R.C.M. 706 board after
                    appellee displays “paranoid” behavior.

                -   27 June 2014: Special Court-Martial Convening Authority
                    (SCMCA) orders a R.C.M. 706 board.

                -   28 July - 8 August 2014: R.C.M. 706 board conducted. The board
                    was unable to complete the examination of appellee given his state
                    of mind at the time of the examination. The board diagnosed
                    appellee with “[u]nspecified schizophrenic spectrum and other
                    psychotic disorder” and an unspecified “substance related disorder,”
                    and concluded he was not competent to stand trial. Due to this
                    diagnosis, the board was unable to make a determination as to
                    whether appellee had a severe mental disease or defect at the time of
                    the alleged criminal misconduct.

2
    The parties stipulated at trial to most of these dates.

                                               2
SCHWISOW —ARMY 20150720

             -   17 August 2014 – General Court-Martial Convening Authority
                 (GCMCA) orders appellee to be placed into custody of the Attorney
                 General at Butner Federal Medical Center (FMC). 3

             -   10 September 2014 – Butner FMC receives appellee for mental
                 health treatment.

             -   9 January 2015 – Appellee is released back to Army custody by
                 Butner FMC.

             -   14 January 2015 – The Article 32 officer sets 21 January 2015 as a
                 preliminary hearing date. Defense requests a delay until 4 February
                 2015.

             -   22 January 2015 – Defense requests an additional delay until 10
                 February 2015.

             -   9 February 2015 – In an email to trial counsel, defense requests a
                 second R.C.M. 706 board, stating in the request “defense is
                 requesting a delay until completion of a R.C.M. 706 board,” and
                 “delay would be attributable to the defense.”

             -   10 February 2015 – Trial counsel formally submits a request to the
                 convening authority to conduct a second R.C.M. 706 board.

             -   12 February 2015 – Convening authority approves the request for a
                 R.C.M. 706 board with a forty-five-day deadline.

             -   17 February 2015 – Trial counsel asks personnel at Madigan Army
                 Medical Center (MAMC) to obtain appellee’s medical records from
                 Butner FMC.

             -   18 February 2015 – Trial counsel contacts appellee’s doctor at
                 Butner FMC to facilitate obtaining appellee’s medical records for
                 the R.C.M. 706 board.

             -   19 February 2015 – Butner FMC personnel request appellee to
                 provide a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
                 (HIPPA) waiver to release his records to MAMC.

3
  The Butner FMC is a United States federal prison in North Carolina for male
inmates of all security levels who have special health needs including behavioral
health. It is part of the Butner Federal Correctional Complex and is operated by the
Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice.

                                          3
SCHWISOW —ARMY 20150720

        -   20 February 2015 – Trial counsel asks defense counsel to obtain a
            HIPPA waiver from appellee.

        -   24 February 2015 – Trial counsel follows up on the status of the
            HIPPA waiver request with defense counsel

        -   26 February 2015 – Defense counsel sends appellee’s HIPPA waiver
            to Butner FMC.

        -   4 March 2015 – Trial counsel contacts the R.C.M. 706 board for an
            update on the status of the board and offers his assistance.

        -   30 March 2015 – Trial counsel asks MAMC personnel for an update
            on the progress of the R.C.M. 706 board.

        -   15 April 2015 – R.C.M. 706 board receives appellee’s medical
            records.

        -   4 May 2015 – R.C.M. 706 board conducts its review.

        -   13 May 2015 – R.C.M. 706 board completed its report, ninety-one
            days after the convening authority’s order. The board finds appellee
            did not suffer from a severe mental disease or defect at the time of
            the alleged misconduct. The board changes its psychiatric diagnosis
            to “amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder, in remission” and
            “amphetamine-related use disorder, in a controlled environment.”

        -   20 May 2015 – Trial counsel emails defense counsel asking him if
            appellee is going to waive his Article 32 hearing.

        -   27 May 2015 – Trial Counsel emails a stipulation of fact to defense
            counsel based on pretrial negotiations.

        -   31 May 2015 – Trial counsel asks defense counsel when he would
            be able to meet with appellee to review the stipulation of fact.

        -   3 June 2015 – Trial counsel coordinates with the unit to arrange a
            meeting between appellee and his defense counsel.

        -   5 June 2015 – Defense counsel reviews the stipulation of fact with
            appellee.

        -   8 June 2015 – Trial counsel asks defense counsel whether appellee
            is going to enter into a pretrial agreement to determine if the Article

                                      4
SCHWISOW —ARMY 20150720

            32 should be scheduled. Defense counsel responds that there is an
            issue with the stipulation of fact but they are “close.”

        -   26 June 2015 – Government received an individual military counsel
            (IMC) request for appellee’s prior defense counsel. Government
            sends an e-mail to defense counsel stating they need to submit an
            offer to plead guilty within five days or the government would no
            longer be pursuing a pretrial agreement.

        -   30 June 2015 – Government learns appellee is not going to offer to
            plead guilty.

        -   1 July 2015 – A new Article 32 officer is appointed. Government
            states they are ready to proceed on 2 July 2015. Article 32 officer
            states it is unreasonable to proceed on 2 July 2015 because defense
            would have no time to request witnesses or evidence and sets the
            hearing for 7 July 2015. The convening authority also grants
            appellee’s IMC request.

        -   7 July 2015 – Defense submits a request for delay. The Article 32
            officer grants the request.

        -   15 July 2015 - Defense requests an additional week delay stating
            appellee intends to hire civilian counsel.

        -   20 July 2015 - Civilian defense counsel sends an email releasing the
            IMC defense counsel. Defense counsel stated sixty-one days of
            delay should be attributable to the defense because he needed time
            to prepare.

        -   21 July 2015 – Convening authority attributes 7 July - 18 August
            2015 delay to the defense.

        -   18 August 2015 – The Article 32 is conducted. Defense makes a
            demand for speedy trial.

        -   27 August 2015 – Charges are referred.

        -   8 September 2015 – The date the government requests arraignment
            on the electronic docket notification (EDN)

        -   17 September 2015 - Appellee is arraigned.

        -   22 September 2015 – Defense files its motion to dismiss

                                     5
SCHWISOW —ARMY 20150720

                 6 October 2015 – The military judge dismisses all charges and
                 specifications with prejudice.

                        Litigation of the Speedy Trial Motion

       At trial, the accused moved to dismiss all charges and specifications for lack
of a speedy trial. The military judge granted the motion and found there were 242
days between the date of appellee’s return from Butner FMC to the date the
government requested for arraignment (9 January – 8 September 2015). 4 Instead of
making specific findings on the entire time period, the military judge only stated the
dates he deemed relevant for purposes of what days were attributable to the
government.

      The military judge stated 136 days were attributable to the government as
follows:

             -   9-21 January 2015 – appellee’s return to custody through the date
                 the Article 32 officer set for the preliminary hearing – thirteen days.

             -   12 February - 13 May 2015 – the R.C.M. 706 board, excluding the
                 forty-five days permitted by the convening authority – forty-six
                 days.

             -   13 May - 7 July 2015 – pretrial negotiations - fifty-six days. 5

             -   19-21 August 2015 – Article 32 officer’s preparation of the report –
                 three days.

             -   22-27 August 2015 – Article 32 report completed to referral of
                 charges – six days.

             -   27 August – 8 September 2015 – referral of charges to arraignment
                 – twelve days.

       In the military judge’s written findings of fact, the military judge stated the
government did not receive notice from Butner FMC that appellee had been returned
to a state of competency nor did they seek such confirmation, but instead began

4
  A new 120-day clock started on 9 January 2015 when appellee was released back to
the military from Butner FMC.
5
 The military judge previously counted 13 May 2015 so pretrial negotiations
actually constituted fifty-five days.

                                           6
SCHWISOW —ARMY 20150720

negotiating with defense for a pretrial agreement immediately after his release from
Butner FMC. The military judge concluded that when the defense
suggested/requested a second R.C.M. 706 inquiry as part of the pretrial negotiations,
“the government acquiesced to the defense suggestion/request.” “However, it was
the government which actually requested the SPCMCA [to] order a second R.C.M.
706 inquiry on 12 February 2015.”

      The military judge went to extreme length both on the record during the
motions hearing and in his written findings to state that he believed the second
R.C.M. 706 board was unnecessary. He stated appellee was competent to stand trial
based on his release from Butner FMC.

       The convening authority ordered the R.C.M. 706 board to be completed within
forty-five days. It took ninety-one days to complete the second R.C.M. 706 board.
The military judge noted that the government did not ask for an extension past the
forty-five days allotted by the SPCMCA. The military judge concluded that the
government provided “no sufficient explanation for why the second R.C.M. 706
Inquiry took 91 days.” Thus, he attributed the additional forty-six days to the
government.

       During the pendency of the case, two urinalysis samples, the basis for the two
specifications of wrongful use of a controlled substance, in violation of Article
112a, UCMJ were destroyed. Pursuant to the operations policy of the United States
Army Drug Laboratory at Tripler Medical Center, these samples were destroyed a
year after they were tested because neither the government nor the defense took
measures to preserve them. The military judge denied defense’s motion to abate the
proceedings based on the destruction of these samples.

                              LAW AND DISCUSSION

      R.C.M. 707 provides that the “accused shall be brought to trial within
120 days after the earlier of: (1) preferral of charges; (2) the imposition of restraint
under R.C.M. 304(a)(2)-(4); or (3) entry on active duty under R.C.M. 204.” R.C.M.
707(a)(1)-(3).

       The rule allows authorized personnel to approve delays, and therefore
“exclude” time from the R.C.M. 707 120-day clock. R.C.M. 707(c). Prior to
referral, any request for pretrial delay must be submitted to either the convening
authority, the Article 32 officer (if the convening authority has properly delegated
delay authority), or “if authorized under regulations prescribed by the Secretary
concerned, to a military judge for resolution.” R.C.M. 707(c)(1); United States v.
Lazauskas, 62 M.J. 39, 41-42 (C.A.A.F. 2005); R.C.M. 707(c)(1) discussion. After
referral, only a military judge can approve any pretrial delay. R.C.M. 707(c)(1).

                                            7
SCHWISOW —ARMY 20150720

       The decision to approve or disapprove a delay is reviewed for an abuse of
discretion. See Lazauskas, 62 M.J. at 41 (citing R.C.M. 707(c)); See also United
States v. Arab, 55 M.J. 508, 512 (Army Ct. Crim. App. 2001). There must be “good
cause” for the delay and the length of time requested must be “reasonable” based on
the facts and circumstances of each case. United States v. Thompson, 46 M.J. 472,
475 (C.A.A.F. 1997); see also R.C.M. 707(c)(1) discussion; R.C.M. 707(c) analysis
at A21-42.

      If there is a violation of R.C.M. 707, the next step is to determine if there is an
Article 10, UCMJ speedy trial issue. Whether an accused has received a speedy trial
is a question of law that is reviewed de novo. United States v. Doty, 51 M.J. 464,
465 (C.A.A.F. 1999). “The military judge’s findings of fact are given ‘substantial
deference and will be reversed only for clear error.’” Id. at 465 (quoting United
States v. Taylor, 487 U.S. 326, 337 (1988)).

     Article 10, UCMJ, does not require “constant motion, but reasonable diligence
in bringing the charges to trial.” United States v. Wilson, 72 M.J. 347, 351
(C.A.A.F. 2013) (quoting United States v. Mizgala, 61 M.J. 122, 127). “Brief
periods of inactivity in an otherwise active prosecution are not unreasonable or
oppressive.” United States v. Kossman, 38 M.J. 258, 262 (C.M.A. 1993) (quoting
United States v. Tibbs, 15 U.S.C.M.A. 350, 35 C.M.R. 322, 325 (1965).

     Although Article 10 imposes a more stringent speedy trial standard than the
Sixth Amendment, the factors from Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514 (1972), structure
the examination of “facts and circumstances surrounding an alleged Article 10
violation.” United States v. Cossio, 64 M.J. 254, 256 (C.A.A.F. 2007) (quoting
Mizgala, 61 M.J. at 127); United States v. Birge, 52 M.J. 209, 212 (C.A.A.F. 1999).
The Barker factors are “(1) the length of the delay; (2) the reasons for the delay; (3)
whether the appellant made a demand for a speedy trial; and (4) prejudice to the
appellant.” Birge, 52 M.J. at 212 (quoting Barker, 407 U.S. at 530). The Supreme
Court explained that it regarded none of the four factors as either a necessary or a
sufficient condition to the finding of a deprivation of the right of speedy trial.
Barker, 407 U.S. at 533. The Supreme Court pointed out that the four factors are
related and must be considered together with other relevant circumstances in the
“difficult and sensitive balancing process.” Id.

                                    R.C.M 707 Analysis

      In the present case, we find the military judge erred when he asserted that a
second R.C.M. 706 inquiry was not necessary. Even if appellee had been competent
to stand trial, the second question posed by the first R.C.M. 706 inquiry still
remained unanswered – specifically, did appellant suffer from a severe mental
disease or defect rendering him unable to appreciate the nature or quality of the
wrongfulness of his actions at the time they occurred. The first R.C.M. 706 inquiry

                                            8
SCHWISOW —ARMY 20150720

was never completed because appellee was found incompetent to stand trial.
Additionally, there was no evidence of a competency determination when he was
released from Butner FMC. The military judge erred when he conflated concepts of
“competency” and “mental responsibility.”

     Further, we find that the military judge erred when he asserted that the
government, not the defense, requested the second R.C.M. 706 inquiry. The
government merely administratively facilitated defense’s request to the convening
authority. The defense plainly asserted in their request that they would be
responsible for the delay in conducting the second R.C.M. 706 inquiry. It would be
a windfall to the defense to allow appellee to benefit from receiving that which they
specifically requested while agreeing to the delay.

      Under the circumstances, it would have been wholly inappropriate for the
government to deny defense’s request for a second R.C.M. 706 inquiry. The time it
took to complete the second R.C.M. 706 board was also reasonable under the
circumstances because there was difficulty in the board obtaining appellee’s medical
records from Butner FMC and it is clear from the record the government was
actively assisting the board throughout the process. We also note during the ninety-
one day period it took for completion of the second R.C.M. 706 board that appellee
made no demand for speedy trial or voiced complaints about the delay. Thus, we
find the military judge abused his discretion in failing to grant the delay and exclude
the time to conduct the second R.C.M. 706 board from the R.C.M. 707 120-day
clock.

    After considering the military judge’s errors, we find only eighty-nine days 6
should have been attributable to the government. 7

                           Article 10 Speedy Trial Analysis

     Assuming, arguendo, there was a violation of R.C.M. 707, we still find, after
balancing the Barker v. Wingo factors, that appellee’s Article 10 right to a speedy trial
was not violated.

6
 The military judge also erred when he counted the day, 13 May 2015, twice when
adding together the total days attributable to the government.
7
  Even if there was an R.C.M. 707 violation, dismissal with prejudice was not
appropriate under the circumstances because appellee was charged with desertion,
assaulting a superior commissioned officer, and possession and distribution of drugs,
which are serious offenses; the defense contributed to the circumstances leading to
the dismissal by requesting several delays; prosecution of appellee would not result
in a “manifest injustice;” and the prejudice to appellee is minimal. See R.C.M. 707
(d)(1).

                                           9
SCHWISOW —ARMY 20150720

     1) Length of delay.

    During the period of 4 June 2014 to 17 September 2015, excluding the time
appellee was at Butner FMC, appellee was in pretrial confinement for 349 days.

     2) Reasons for delay

     Throughout the process, the government has acted with reasonable diligence to
bring appellee to trial. In fact, the actions outlined by the government, including
lengthy e-mail exchanges, phone calls, coordination attempts, and requests for
information to move the process forward, indicate a clear pattern of action on the
part of the government. Moreover, the two R.C.M. 706 boards, appellee’s
commitment to Butner FMC, the IMC request, and several changes in counsel have
complicated processing this case. 8 In fact, the government’s coordination with
Butner FMC to obtain appellee’s records (fifty-seven days), which included trial
counsel’s coordination with defense counsel to obtain appellee’s HIPPA waiver (six
days), was something the government had little control over. The defense was also
responsible for several periods of delay during this period. 9

     3) Whether appellee made a demand for a speedy trial

     Appellee demanded a speedy trial on 18 August 2015, after requesting a second
R.C.M 706 board and accepting the time it would take to complete it as defense
delay, on top of numerous other defense requests for delay. Appellee demanded
speedy trial extremely late in the pretrial process.

     4) Prejudice to appellee

     The Supreme Court has identified the following interests which must be
considered when testing for prejudice in the speedy trial context: (i) to prevent
oppressive pretrial incarceration; (ii) to minimize anxiety and concern of [appellee];
and (iii) to limit the possibility that the defense will be impaired. “Of these, the

8
  Appellee fired his detailed military defense counsel (Captain (CPT) P) soon after
charges were preferred against him. Another military defense counsel (CPT K) was
appointed shortly after that, and CPT G took over appellee’s case when CPT K was
released. A few weeks later, appellee made an IMC request for CPT K to resume
representation. The government granted appellee’s IMC request, but then appellee
hired civilian counsel and CPT K was released a second time. Government counsel
also changed throughout the duration of the processing of this case.
9
 Appellee requested five separate Article 32 delays, including a delay to hire
civilian counsel, and delays for the R.C.M. 706 boards.

                                          10
SCHWISOW —ARMY 20150720

most serious is the last, because the inability of a defendant adequately to prepare
his case skews the fairness of the entire system.” Barker, 407 U.S. at 532.

     With respect to prejudice from the conditions of his incarceration, we note that
although the record attempts to establish the negative aspects of his confinement and
the conditions therein, the balance weighs against concluding that the conditions
were "oppressive" for purposes of prejudice under Article 10. See Id. Appellee did
not raise any formal or informal complaint about his confinement conditions or
otherwise request a change in conditions during the period at issue.

     The pretrial delay did have an impact on the availability of potentially
favorable defense evidence in this case – appellee’s urine samples. Although the
military judge ruled that this evidence was not essential to a fair trial, and both
parties share some responsibility for the destruction of it, not having access to this
evidence does prejudice appellee. However, after balancing the factors identified by
the Supreme Court, we find that prejudice, if any, was minimal. 10

     Considering all the circumstances in the case, we find that appellee was not
denied his Article 10 right to a speedy trial.

                                   CONCLUSION

      Based upon our review of the record, the appeal of the United States is
granted. The military judge’s ruling to dismiss all charges and specifications is
vacated and the record will be returned to the military judge for action not
inconsistent with this opinion.

      Senior Judge TOZZI and Judge CELTNIEKS concur.

                                        FOR THE COURT:

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

10
  Additionally, it is important to note that this only affects one remaining charge
and specification, Specification 6 of Charge VI. The military judge’s dismissal of
Specification 5 of Charge VI, is unaffected by our decision because it was for
separate grounds and it occurred prior to the military judge’s Article 10 ruling.

                                          11