Court Opinion

ID: 2768214
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-09 00:54:05.138475+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:26:24.072195
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES ARMY COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                                        Before
                            SIMS, COOK, and GALLAGHER
                               Appellate Military Judges

                            UNITED STATES, Appellee
                                        v.
                          Sergeant BRANDON A. LOPEZ
                          United States Army, Appellant

                                   ARMY 20090564

                   U.S. Army Infantry Center and Fort Benning
                            James Pohl, Military Judge
                  Colonel Tracey A. Barnes, Staff Judge Advocate

For Appellant: Colonel Mark Tellitocci, JA; Lieutenant Colonel Matthew M. Miller,
JA; Major Bradley Voorhees, JA; Captain Brent A. Goodwin, JA (on brief and
supplemental pleadings).

For Appellee: Major Christopher B. Burgess, JA; Captain Chad M. Fisher, JA;
Major Jennifer H. McGee, JA (on brief).

                                  29 November 2011
                              ----------------------------------
                               SUMMARY DISPOSITION
                              ----------------------------------

Per Curiam:

       A military judge, sitting as a general court-martial, convicted appellant,
pursuant to his pleas, of three specifications of assault and one specification of
adultery, in violation of Articles 128, and 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10
U.S.C. §§ 928 and 934 [hereinafter UCMJ]. Contrary to his pleas, the military judge
found appellant guilty of aggravated sexual assault upon a person substantially
incapacitated, in violation of Article 120, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10
U.S.C. § 920. 1 Appellant was sentenced to a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for
twenty-four months, and reduction to the grade of Private E1. The convening
authority approved the adjudged sentence and granted a waiver of automatic
forfeitures for a period of six months.

1
  Appellant was found not guilty, in accordance with his plea, of one specification
alleging unlawful entry in violation of Article 130a, UCMJ.
LOPEZ — ARMY 20090564

       This case is before us for review pursuant to Article 66, UCMJ, and appellant
has raised two assignments of error. In addition, it is evident that the specification
of Charge IV, setting forth a violation of Article 134, UCMJ, does not expressly
allege a terminal element. We have considered the Article 134 charge and
specification in light of United States v. Fosler, 70 M.J. 225 (C.A.A.F. 2011), and
we have also considered appellant’s assignments of error, the government’s answer,
and the record of trial. We find harmless error by the military judge in the
application of Article 120, UCMJ, 2 and we hold that Charge IV and its specification
state an offense under Article 134, UCMJ.

                             LAW AND DISCUSSION

       Whether a charge and specification state an offense is a question of law that is
reviewed de novo. United States v. Crafter, 64 M.J. 209, 211 (C.A.A.F. 2006).
Together, the charge and specification must “allege every element of the offense
either expressly or by necessary implication, so as to give the accused notice and
protect him against double jeopardy.” Id. (quoting United States v. Dear, 40 M.J.
196, 197 (C.M.A. 1994)). Rule for Courts-Martial 307(c)(3). Where a charge and
specification are not challenged at trial, their language is to be liberally construed.
Roberts, __ M.J. ___, slip op. at 4 (Army Ct. Crim. App. 14 Oct. 2011). Cf. Fosler,
70 M.J. at 230. Additionally, as found in the case before us, “standing to challenge
a specification on appeal [is] considerably less where an accused knowingly and
voluntarily pleads guilty to the offense.” United States v. Watkins, 21 M.J. 208, 210
(C.M.A. 1986).

       In the absence of an objection at trial, we will not set aside a charge and
specification unless it is “so obviously defective that it could not be reasonably
construed to embrace [the] terminal element.” Roberts at 5; United States v.
Watkins, 21 M.J. 208, 209-10 (C.M.A. 1986). A charge and specification initially
challenged on appeal, while being liberally construed, will not be held invalid
“absent a clear showing of substantial prejudice to the accused -- such as a showing
that the indictment is so obviously defective that by no reasonable construction can
it be said to charge the offense for which conviction was had.” Watkins at 209-10
(quoting United States v. Thompson, 356 F.2d 216, 226 (2d Cir. 1965), cert. denied,

2
  The military judge erred in applying an instruction that was inconsistent with
Article 120, UCMJ. However, under the facts of this case, we are satisfied that this
error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The military judge stated the law he
was going to apply and demonstrated a clear and correct understanding as to the
burden resting solely on the government with regards to the defense of consent and
any mistake of fact as to consent. United States v. Medina, 69 M.J. 462, 465
(C.A.A.F. 2011) (citing Martin v. Ohio, 480 U.S. 228, 234 (1987)).  

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LOPEZ — ARMY 20090564

384 U.S. 964 (1966)(internal quotation marks omitted)). Appellant has failed to
make such a showing.

       In this case, appellant did not complain that Charge IV and its Specification
failed to state an offense by objecting at trial, in his post-trial submissions to the
convening authority, or in his pleadings before this court. The charge sets forth a
violation of Article 134, UCMJ, and the specification states the date, location, the
identity of the participants, their pertinent status, and the wrongful act. See, e.g.,
United States v. Dear, 40 M.J. 196, 197 (C.M.A. 1994)(holding a maltreatment
specification provided notice because “it set[] forth the Article of the Code, name of
the victim, the time frame of the offense, and the comments alleged to have been
made by appellant”). Accordingly, this allegation necessarily implies that
appellant’s conduct was prejudicial to good order and discipline and service
discrediting.

       Furthermore, there is ample evidence in the record that appellant was on
notice of the charge and specification against him. Appellant negotiated a pretrial
agreement, pled guilty to the specification with the benefit of advice from his trial
defense counsel, and was advised by the military judge of the elements of adultery
—to include the terminal elements—after which appellant described how his conduct
was both prejudicial to good order and discipline and service discrediting.

       We hold that the adultery charge was not so obviously defective that it could
not be reasonably construed to embrace this terminal element. Roberts at 5. There
is no reason to conclude appellant was misled or that he might otherwise suffer
prosecution for these same offenses twice. He received notice of the offenses
against which he had to defend and protection against double jeopardy.

       One administrative error in the record warrants correction. Record of trial
pages 14-16 were erroneously sealed as part of a M.R.E. 412 motion. Pages 14-16
set forth the military judge’s ruling on a defense motion pertaining to Article 120,
UCMJ, and introductory discussion leading to M.R.E. 412 hearing and must be
unsealed. We will take appropriate action in the decretal paragraph.

                                   CONCLUSION

      On consideration of the entire record, we hold the findings of guilty and the
sentence as approved by the convening authority are correct in law and fact. 3
Accordingly, the findings of guilty and the sentence are affirmed.
3
    We note a nonprejudicial error by the military judge. The record reflects the
military judge advised the appellant as to each of the three specifications of assault
that the “bodily harm was done without unlawful force or violence” instead of

                                                                        (continued . . .)
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LOPEZ — ARMY 20090564

      We have also considered the 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.

      Record of trial pages 14-16 shall be unsealed and the Clerk of Court shall
provide copies to the lead counsel for appellant and appellee.
                                       FOR THE COURT: 
                                       FOR THE COURT:

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

(. . . continued)
advising appellant that the “bodily harm was done with unlawful force or violence.”
However, the definition rendered by the military judge of assault correctly advised
that “an assault is an attempt or offer with unlawful force or violence to do bodily
harm to another.” He further correctly defined “battery” as “an unlawful and
intentional application of force or violence to another.” Additionally, both the
colloquy between the military judge and the appellant and the stipulation of fact
demonstrate a correct and clear understanding of all the elements of assault.
Accordingly, “we are satisfied from the totality of the proceedings that the trial
judge complied with the Care requirement that he ‘explain the elements’” and we
find no error materially prejudicial to appellant’s substantial rights. See UCMJ art.
59(a); United States v. Footman, 13 M.J. 827, 829 (A.C.M.R. 1982)(citing United
States v. Care, 18 U.S.C.M.A. 535, 542, 40 C.M.R. 247, 254 (1969)).  

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