Court Opinion

ID: 2818085
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-07-17 12:01:49.890919+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:45:19.883119
License: Public Domain

CORRECTED COPY

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

                            UNITED STATES, Appellee
                                         v.
                       Captain RICARDO J. REYNA-RIVERA
                           United States Army, Appellant

                                      ARMY 20140527

                              Headquarters, Fort Bliss
                        Timothy P. Hayes, Jr., Military Judge
                   Colonel Karen H. Carlisle, Staff Judge Advocate

For Appellant: Major Amy E. Nieman, JA; Captain Patrick A Crocker, JA.

For Appellee: Major A.G. Courie III, JA.

                                         30 June 2015

                                 ----------------------------------
                                  MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                 ----------------------------------

  This opinion is issued as an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as precedent.

CAMPANELLA, Judge:

       A military judge sitting as a general court-martial convicted appellant,
pursuant to his pleas, of one specification of assault consummated by battery and
three specifications of violating a lawful general regulation, in violation of Articles
92 and 128, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §§892 and 928 (2006;
2012) [hereinafter UCMJ]. The military judge sentenced appellant to a dismissal
and confinement for fifteen months. The convening authority approved the sentence
as adjudged and credited appellant with 85 days against his sentence to confinement.

       This case is before us for review pursuant to Article 66, UCMJ. Appellant
submitted a merits pleading to this court but personally raised matters pursuant to
United States v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431 (C.M.A. 1982). We find the matters raised
personally by appellant, as well as one additional matter, warrant discussion and
relief. We conclude that the imposition of a dismissal and fifteen months
REYNA-RIVERA —ARMY 20140527

confinement is inappropriately severe under the circumstances of appellant’s case
and will therefore direct relief in our decretal paragraph.

                                   BACKGROUND

                               The Article 128 Offense

       Appellant was a registered Army nurse working in the post-surgery recovery
unit at Beaumont Army Medical Center at Fort Bliss, Texas. On 5 June 2013,
appellant and a team of nurses and anesthesiologists received a female patient, Mrs.
SH, into the post-operation recovery room for monitoring after her surgery.

      Mrs. SH was initially admitted for surgery to remove an ovarian cyst, but
during the procedure the attending doctor discovered an intestinal adhesion rather
than an ovarian cyst. Accordingly, Mrs. SH underwent laparoscopic surgery through
her abdomen to address the adhesion; an ovarian cyst was not removed at that time.

        Afterwards, while the effects of the general anesthesia were wearing off i n the
post-surgery recovery room, Mrs. SH was given narcotics to relieve her pain from
the procedure. This caused her to nod in and out of consciousness. Following her
initial post-operative pain relief treatment, appellant, as her attending nurse, moved
Mrs. SH to a separate area to monitor her as she recovered. Mrs. SH’s friend, Ms.
D, accompanied Mrs. SH during this movement and was then present in the area to
which appellant moved Mrs. SH.

       Despite appellant’s attempts to ease Mrs. SH’s pain through various methods
including medication, heating pads, and altering her body position, Mrs. SH
continued to complain of pain in her abdominal area. Appellant then donned a
surgical glove, pulled back the blanket covering Mrs. SH’s genital region, and
touched her pelvic area, pubic area, and her vulva. Despite the fact that appellant
indicated during the providence inquiry he was looking for internal or external
bleeding, he did not request specific consent prior to touching Mrs. SH or explain
what he was doing. He also did not follow hospital protocol and failed to request
the presence of a chaperone employed by the hospital to observe the treatment.
Appellant left the room after he touched Mrs. SH.

       Mrs. SH’s friend, Ms. D, did not observe appellant touch Mrs. SH because she
was positioned by Mrs. SH’s head. Mrs. SH , however, immediately told Ms. D after
appellant left the room that appellant had touched her on her vulva. Mrs. SH found
the touching to be offensive and non-consensual and she subsequently filed a formal
complaint of sexual assault through hospital channels.

     Appellant was originally charged with violating Article 120, UCMJ , for
committing a sexual assault by making a fraudulent representation. Prior to trial,

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appellant entered into a pretrial agreement wherein he pleaded guilty to certain
offenses, including Article 128, UCMJ, assault consummated by battery, a lesser-
included offense of Article 120, in exchange for a cap on his sentence to
confinement.

                           The Sexual Harassment Charges

      Between April 2011 and 15 December 2011, appellant made sexually
harassing comments to or in the presence of three coworkers in violation of a local
Fort Bliss general regulation.

       Appellant’s comments to Private First Class (PFC) JH, a subordinate nurse
with whom he worked, included: how pretty she was; how he liked her blond hair,
blue eyes, and when she wore tight jeans; that she should take pictures of herself in
a bikini while on vacation - implying he wanted to see the photos; and, that her
patients liked her because she was pretty. These actions formed a portion of the
basis for Specification 2, Charge II.

       During the same time frame, appellant sexually harassed Sergeant (SGT) SS
by stating in the break room with others present that SGT SS was “in heat like a dog
due to her menstrual cycle.” This action formed a portion of the basis for
Specification 4, Charge II.

       On another occasion, in a hospital setting in the presence of SGT SS, PFC JH,
and Second Lieutenant (2LT) LL, appellant commented about the size and
genuineness of a female hospital visitor’s breasts. This incident formed the basis for
Specification 3, Charge II, and was also common to the other two violations of
Article 92, UCMJ.

      On 21 February 2012, for his violations of Fort Bliss Regulation 27-5
prohibiting sexual harassment, appellant was given a general officer letter of
reprimand that was filed permanently in his official military personnel file . In the
aftermath of Mrs. SH’s complaint, the government resurrected the sexual harassment
incidents and charged appellant , inter alia, with three specifications of violating the
Fort Bliss regulation.

                            LAW AND DISCUSSION

          1. Sexual Harassment – Unreasonable Multiplication of Charges

      “What is substantially one transaction should not be made the basis for an
unreasonable multiplication of charges against one person.” Rule for Courts-Martial
307(c)(4). The prohibition against the unreasonable multiplication of charges
“addresses those features of military law that increase the potential for overreaching

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in the exercise of prosecutorial discretion.” United States v. Campbell, 71 M.J. 19,
23 (C.A.A.F. 2012) (quoting United States v. Quiroz, 55 M.J. 334, 337 (C.A.A.F.
2001)). In Quiroz, our superior court listed five factors to guide our analysis of
whether charges have been unreasonably multiplied:

             (1) Did the accused object at trial that there was an
             unreasonable multiplication of charges and/or
             specifications?;

             (2) Is each charge and specification aimed at distinctly
             separate criminal acts?;

             (3) Does the number of charges and specifications
             misrepresent or exaggerate the appellant’s criminality?;

             (4) Does the number of charges and specifications
             [unreasonably] increase the appellant’s punitive
             exposure?; and

             (5) Is there any evidence of prosecutorial overreaching or
             abuse in the drafting of the charges?

55 M.J. 338-39 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

       Appellant pleaded guilty to three specifications of violating Article 92,
UCMJ, for sexual harassment in violation of a lawful general regulation. The record
clearly indicates appellant sexually harassed PFC JH on divers occasions
(Specification 2, Charge II). The record also establishes appellant sexually harassed
SGT SS on at least two occasions (Specification 4, Charge II). With regards to the
specification related to 2LT LL (Specification 3, Charge II), the government alleges
sexual harassment on divers occasions by appellant; however, only one occasion of
sexual harassment is contained both in the stipulation of fact and articulated during
the colloquy by appellant. This single occasion is the comment appellant made in
the presence of SGT SS, PFC JH, and 2LT LL regarding the size and genuineness of
a hospital visitor’s breasts. This comment was included as part of the foundation for
all three Article 92 violations against the three victims.

       The unit of prosecution in such a case would ordinarily be the utterance of the
sexually harassing comment on each occasion—not the number of persons who were
present or within earshot on each occasion. While there may be multiple victims of
a particular comment, there is only one criminal transaction for each instance for
which the actor should be punished. To charge otherwise would exaggerate an
actor’s criminality. As such, applying the Quiroz factors to the evidence at hand, we
will except the word “divers” from Specification 4, Charge II, and allow the

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conviction for that specification to rest solely on the separate comment directed at
SGT SS regarding menstruation. We need not adjust Specification 2, Charge II,
because even without the comment common to each specification, there are still
multiple occasions during which appellant sexually harassed PFC JH. L astly, we
will except the word “divers” from Specification 3, Charge II as the evidence does
not support more than one occasion.

                   2. Sentence Appropriateness and Reassessment

     In his matters submitted pursuant to Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431, appellant asserts
that his sentence is inappropriately severe. We agree.

     We “may affirm only such findings of guilty and the sentence or such part or
amount of the sentence, as [we find] correct in law and fact and determine[], on the
basis of the entire record, should be approved.” UCMJ art. 66(c). We assess
sentence appropriateness by considering the particular appellant, the nature and
seriousness of the offenses, the appellant's record of service, and all matters
contained in the record of trial. United States v. Healy, 26 M.J. 394, 395-96
(C.M.A. 1988); United States v. Snelling, 14 M.J. 267, 268 (C.M.A. 1982).
Although we are accorded great discretion in determining whether a particular
sentence is appropriate, we are not authorized to engage in exercises of clemency.
United States v. Nerad, 69 M.J. 138, 146 (C.A.A.F. 2010).

      Applying these standards to the present case, we find appellant's sentence
inappropriately severe. We have given individualized consideration to this
particular appellant including the timing, circumstances, and nature of the offenses
to which he pleaded guilty. Specifically, the government allowed app ellant to plead
guilty to an assault consummated by battery – not an Article 120, UCMJ, offense.
The battery described by appellant was not sexual in nature, and instead was by
virtue of not garnering consent from the patient, violating hospital protocol, and
acknowledging Mrs. SH found the touching offensive.

      The maximum sentence to confinement for this offense is six months. The
three other violations of a general regulation constitute the weight of the remaining
maximum possible sentence to confinemen t of six additional years. As a result, a
minimum of nine months of appellant’s sentence to confinement was based solely on
those violations, for which appellant already received a general officer letter of
reprimand filed in his official file two years earlier. There was no evidence
presented by the government that appellant continued such behavior after he was
reprimanded. We also considered appellant’s service record, including his twenty-
four years of otherwise honorable combined enlisted and officer service, his
deployment history, evidence in extenuation and mitigation, the impact on Mrs. SH,
the impact on appellant and his family members from the loss of his retirement
income, and all other matters contained in the record of trial . See, e.g., United

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REYNA-RIVERA —ARMY 20140527

States v. Boyd, 55 M.J. 217, 221 (C.A.A.F. 2001); United States v. Luster, 55 M.J.
67, 70-71 (C.A.A.F. 2001). Based on these considerations, we find the approved
sentence inappropriately severe for this offender and these offenses.

                                   CONCLUSION

The findings of guilty to the Specification of Charge I and Specification 2 of Charge
II are AFFIRMED.

      Specification 3 of Charge II is amended to read as follows:

             In that Captain Ricardo J. Reyna-Rivera between on or
             about 1 April 2011 and on or about 15 December 2011, at
             or near Fort Bliss, Texas, did violate a lawful regulation,
             to wit: paragraph 6-2d, Fort Bliss Regulation 27-5, dated 1
             March 2011, by wrongfully making a sexual comment in
             front of Second Lieutenant L.L.

      Specification 4 of Charge II is amended as follows:

             In that Captain Ricardo J. Reyna-Rivera between on or
             about 1 April 2011 and on or about 15 December 2011, at
             or near Fort Bliss, Texas, did violate a lawful regulation,
             to wit: paragraph 6-2d, Fort Bliss Regulation 27-5, dated 1
             March 2011, by wrongfully making a sexual comment in
             front of Sergeant S.S.

      The remaining findings of guilty, as amended, are AFFIRMED.

       Reassessing the sentence on the basis of the errors noted, the amended
findings, the entire record, and in accordance with the principles of United States v.
Sales, 22 M.J. 305 (C.M.A. 1986) and United States v. Winckelmann, 73 M.J. 11
(C.A.A.F. 2013), we AFFIRM only so much of the sentence as provides for six
months confinement. We find this sentence purges t he error in appellant’s case and
is also appropriate. All rights, privileges, and property of which appellant has been
deprived by virtue of that portion of the findings and sentence set aside by this
decision, are ordered to be restored. See UCMJ arts. 58b(c) and 75(a).

      Judge CELTNIEKS concurs.

Senior Judge TOZZI, concurring in part, dissenting in part:

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REYNA-RIVERA —ARMY 20140527

      I concur with the majority opinion regarding the findings in this case. I
respectfully dissent from the ruling of the majority affirming only so much of the
sentence as provides for six months confinement.

       Appellant pleaded guilty to one specification of assault consummated by
battery and three specifications of violating a lawful general regulation, in violation
of Articles 92 and 128*, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §§892 and 928
(2006; 2012) [hereinafter UCMJ]. The assault specification consisted of appellant
intentionally and unlawfully touching the vulva of Mrs. SH . The affirmed
specifications for violating a lawful general regulation essentially consist of
incidents of sexual harassment. Appellant entered into a pretrial agreement with the
convening authority capping his confinement at 15 months but leaving him exposed
to a possible dismissal. After hearing and observing appellan t during trial, and
considering all relevant sentencing evidence, to include appellant’s service record
and the victim impact testimony of Mrs. SH, the military judge sentenced appellant
to a dismissal and 15 months confinement. Appellant thus received a sentence in
line with his pretrial agreement, which left him exposed to the possible punishment
of a dismissal.

       Considering the entire record and the totality of the circumstances, I do not
find appellant’s sentence inappropriately severe. The fact that appellant received an
administrative reprimand in the past for his conduct charged as Article 92 , UCMJ,
violations in this case is not dispositive. Appellant certainly knew that he had been
administratively reprimanded for his incidents of sexual harassme nt when he entered
his pretrial agreement with the convening authority in this case. Appellant pleaded
guilty to offenses that included potential punishment of dismissal and six and one -
half years confinement. Considering the entire record the sentence o f the military
judge was not inappropriately severe. I would affirm the sentence as adjudged , and
approved by the convening authority.

                                        FOR
                                         FORTHE
                                             THECOURT:
                                                COURT:

                                        MALCOLMH.
                                        MALCOLM     H.SQUIRES,
                                                       SQUIRES,JR.
                                                                JR.
                                        Clerkof
                                        Clerk ofCourt
                                                Court

*Corrected

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