Court Opinion

ID: 2767835
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-09 00:43:35.327428+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:09:09.916509
License: Public Domain

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

                            UNITED STATES, Appellee
                                         v.
                         Staff Sergeant HENRY G. BRAVO
                           United States Army, Appellant

                                   ARMY 20130109

                             Headquarters, Fort Carson
                             Kurt Bohn, Military Judge
                   Colonel John S.T. Irgens, Staff Judge Advocate

For Appellant: Colonel Kevin Boyle, JA; Lieutenant Colonel Peter Kageleiry, Jr.,
JA; Major Vincent T. Shuler, JA; Captain Patrick J. Scudieri, JA (on brief).

For Appellee: Colonel John P. Carrell, JA; Lieutenant Colonel James L. Varley, JA;
Captain Sean P. Fitzgibbon, JA (on brief).

                                    27 August 2014

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

CAMPANELLA, Judge:

       A military judge sitting as a special court-martial convicted appellant,
pursuant to his pleas, of three specifications of larceny, in violation of Article 121,
Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 921 (2006) [hereinafter UCMJ]. The
military judge sentenced appellant to a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for six
months, and reduction to the grade of E-1. The convening authority approved the
adjudged sentence.

      This case is before us for review under Article 66, UCMJ. Appellant raises
two assigned errors, one of which requires discussion but no relief. Appellant argues
he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his defense counsel did not
communicate appellant’s willingness to assist the prosecutors in prosecuting others
in exchange for a more favorable pretrial agreement. Appellant also asserts his
counsel was ineffective by not presenting evidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI)
appellant purportedly received while deployed in Afghanistan. We also find the
matters raised personally by appellant pursuant to United States v. Grostefon, 12
M.J. 431 (C.M.A. 1982), have no merit.
BRAVO—ARMY 20130109

                                  BACKGROUND

       While deployed to Afghanistan, appellant and other lower-ranking soldiers
broke into an Army Air Force Exchange Service storage unit on three separate
occasions and stole various items, including electronics, chewing tobacco, and knife
sharpeners. In accordance with his pretrial agreement, appellant pleaded guilty to
three specifications of larceny. In exchange for appellant’s guilty plea, the
convening authority referred appellant’s case to a special court-martial authorized to
adjudge a bad-conduct discharge with no other punishment limitation.

       In a sworn affidavit, appellant now alleges that prior to trial he asked his
defense counsel, Captain (CPT) JH, to tell the prosecutors he was willing to share
information on others involved in the scheme in exchange for a better pretrial
agreement. Appellant states that CPT JH told him he brought the information to the
prosecutor, but the prosecutor did not want or need appellant’s cooperation.
Appellant now believes CPT JH did not discuss with the government appellant’s
willingness to help in other cases.

       Buttressing his assertion that CPT JH did not offer appellant’s cooperation to
the government as an incentive for a better pretrial agreement, appellant submitted
an affidavit from Mr. MH, his civilian defense counsel who handled appellant’s
post-trial and clemency matters. Mr. MH states that after trial, he reached out to the
government to offer information appellant possessed about a co-conspirator named
“Archie.” Mr. MH indicated that the government was interested in the information
and wondered why it had not been provided earlier.

       A trial counsel who joined the government’s prosecutorial team after the
original trial counsel changed duty stations indicated there was some interest in
receiving appellant’s information about “Archie.”

      Appellant now asserts he would not have signed the pretrial agreement if he
“knew” his defense counsel did not discuss his offer to cooperate with the
government.

        Captain JH submitted an affidavit responding to appellant’s claims. He
indicates that before the court-martial, he reached out to the government regarding a
better pretrial agreement for appellant in exchange for appellant’s cooperation in
other cases, but the trial counsel responded that the existing plea offer was the best
deal available to appellant. Captain JH was aware from other defense counsel
representing co-accused in the case that others were already negotiating with the
government and appellant’s information was not needed.

       Supporting defense counsel’s assertions, the government submitted an
affidavit from the trial counsel who prosecuted the case, CPT JM, who confirms CPT

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BRAVO—ARMY 20130109

JH approached him about a better deal but the government was not interested.
Captain JM stated the cases against appellant and his companions were strong and
did not require appellant’s testimony. Furthermore, CPT JM believed appellant’s
status as the senior member among the co-accused was “extremely aggravating” and
that appellant was “in the best position . . . to not only stop the crimes, but to have
prevented them from ever occurring.” Captain JM stated “[t]here was no reason to
negotiate further with Defense or to secure [appellant’s] cooperation against any
other Defendant.”

      Appellant also asserts his defense counsel was ineffective because he did not
introduce evidence that appellant was diagnosed with TBI resulting from mortar fire
in Afghanistan. Appellant describes his treatment but does not provide medical
records to support his allegation. Appellant alleges he informed CPT JH that he had
TBI, but CPT JH advised him that evidence of TBI “would be going against [his]
character and therefore [he] should not bring it up.”

       Captain JH denies appellant told him about specific combat experience or TBI
he suffered as a result of combat. Appellant’s enlisted record brief (ERB) does not
denote appellant receiving a Combat Action Badge, Purple Heart, or any other award
or citation indicating direct combat experience, which may have alerted defense
counsel to possible TBI or valorous acts.

                              LAW AND DISCUSSION

       The Sixth Amendment guarantees an accused the right to the effective
assistance of counsel. United States v. Gooch, 69 M.J. 353, 361 (C.A.A.F. 2011)
(citing United States v. Gilley, 56 M.J. 113, 124 (C.A.A.F. 2001)). To establish that
his counsel was ineffective, appellant must demonstrate “both (1) that his counsel's
performance was deficient, and (2) that this deficiency resulted in prejudice.”
United States v. Green, 68 M.J. 360, 361-62 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (citing Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984)).

       We review both prongs of the Strickland test de novo. United States v.
Mazza, 67 M.J. 470, 474 (C.A.A.F. 2009) (citing United States v. Anderson, 55 M.J.
198 (C.A.A.F. 2001); United States v. Wean, 45 M.J. 461, 463 (C.A.A.F. 1997)).
Under the first prong, appellant must show “counsel made errors so serious that
counsel was not functioning as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth
Amendment.” Strickland, 466 U.S. 687. When challenging the performance of trial
defense counsel, the appellant “bears the burden of establishing the truth of the
factual allegations that would provide the basis for finding deficient performance.”
United States v. Tippit, 65 M.J. 69, 76 (C.A.A.F. 2007) (citation omitted).
Generally, appellate courts “will not second-guess the strategic or tactical decisions
made at trial by defense counsel.” Mazza, 67 M.J. at 475 (citations omitted).

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BRAVO—ARMY 20130109

        The prejudice prong of the test for ineffective assistance of counsel requires a
showing that the “counsel's errors were so serious as to deprive the [accused] of a
fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687. The test is
whether “there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional
errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable
probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id.
at 694.

       “On appellate review, there is a ‘strong presumption’ that counsel was
competent.” United States v. Grigoruk, 56 M.J. 304, 306–07 (C.A.A.F. 2001) (citing
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689); United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. 648, 658 (1984). To
determine whether appellant has overcome this presumption of competence, we
apply the three-part test articulated by our superior court’s predecessor in United
States v. Polk:

                   1. Are the allegations true, and, if so, is there a
             reasonable explanation for counsel's actions?

                   2. If the allegations are true, did counsel's
             performance fall measurably below expected standards?

                    3. Is there a reasonable probability that, absent the
             errors, there would have been a different outcome?

      32 M.J. 150, 153 (C.M.A. 1991).

       As a threshold matter, we must determine whether the multiple affidavits here
are in material factual conflict. See United States v. Ginn, 47 M.J. 236, 248
(C.A.A.F. 1997) (establishing several factors which determine whether an
evidentiary hearing is warranted). Applying the Ginn factors, we conclude that an
evidentiary hearing is not warranted and that appellant has not met his burden of
establishing ineffective assistance of counsel.

      a. Pretrial Negotiations

       There is no material factual dispute regarding the pretrial negotiations.
Appellant asked CPT JH to reach out to the prosecutors about his willingness to
cooperate in other cases. Captain JH swears that he did so and prosecutors were not
interested in appellant’s cooperation. The affidavit from the trial counsel
corroborates CPT JH’s affidavit in this regard, and the affidavits from the attorneys
who only began work on the case during the post-trial phase do not establish
material factual conflicts, because they never worked on pretrial negotiations.
Appellant admits that CPT JH relayed this to him. Appellant’s affidavit expresses
doubts as to whether CPT JH spoke with the prosecutors, but the record and
appellate pleadings “‘compellingly demonstrate’ the improbability of” those doubts.

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BRAVO—ARMY 20130109

Id. The evidence does not support CPT JH’s performance fell measurably below
expected standards when negotiating with the government.

      b. Combat Experience and TBI

       Appellant fails to provide documentary evidence establishing a TBI diagnosis
or direct combat exposure resulting in valorous awards. The only evidence in the
record and appellate filings of TBI or combat experience is appellant’s sworn
statement. Appellant notes he could have submitted supporting documents but has
not submitted documents to this court. Appellant’s ERB does not reflect that
appellant received a Purple Heart or a Combat Action Badge. Captain JH denies
appellant’s accusation.

       Our superior court has stated, “[i]n most ineffectiveness cases, an accused is
in the best position to identify relevant information and present it to the appellate
court. When factual information is central to an ineffectiveness claim, it is the
responsibility of the defense to make every feasible effort to obtain that information
and bring it to the attention of the appellate court.” United States v. Moulton, 47
M.J. 227, 230 (C.A.A.F. 1997) (emphasis added); cf. United States v. Russell, 48
M.J. 139, 141 (C.A.A.F. 1998) (when claiming ineffective assistance of counsel for
failure to present the testimony of a particular witness, an appellant must
specifically allege the precise substance of the witness’ missing testimony). Part of
every feasible effort would be providing supporting evidence in support of his claim
of TBI as a result of his combat experience. Without this factual predicate,
appellant has not met his burden under Strickland.

                                   CONCLUSION

      Upon consideration of the entire record, the findings of guilty and the
sentence as approved by the convening authority are AFFIRMED.

      Senior Judge TOZZI and Judge CELTNIEKS concur.

                                       FOR
                                       FOR THE
                                           THE COURT:
                                               COURT:

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

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