Court Opinion

ID: 4585965
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-11-13 02:00:56.1659+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:47:56.287861
License: Public Domain

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

                                No. ACM 39713
                           ________________________

                              UNITED STATES
                                  Appellee
                                        v.
                       Cameron D. SUNDSTRUM
              Senior Airman (E-4), U.S. Air Force, Appellant
                           ________________________

        Appeal from the United States Air Force Trial Judiciary
                         Decided 12 November 2020
                           ________________________

Military Judge: Rebecca E. Schmidt.
Sentence: Sentence adjudged on 6 May 2019 by GCM convened at Malm-
strom Air Force Base, Montana. Sentence entered by military judge on
21 May 2019: Bad-conduct discharge, confinement for 8 months, and
reduction to E-1.
For Appellant: Major Rodrigo M. Caruço, USAF.
For Appellee: Lieutenant Colonel Brian C. Mason, USAF; Major Jessica
L. Delaney, USAF; Mary Ellen Payne, Esquire; Alexis N. Dorner (legal
intern). 1
Before LEWIS, D. JOHNSON, and CADOTTE, Appellate Military
Judges.
Senior Judge LEWIS delivered the opinion of the court, in which Judge
D. JOHNSON and Judge CADOTTE joined.
                           ________________________

1 Ms. Dorner was at all times supervised by an attorney admitted to practice before
this court.
                  United States v. Sundstrum, No. ACM 39713

    This is an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as
    precedent under AFCCA Rule of Practice and Procedure 30.4.
                       ________________________
LEWIS, Senior Judge:
    A general court-martial composed of a military judge convicted Appellant
in accordance with his pleas and pursuant to a pretrial agreement (PTA) of two
specifications of attempting to use and distribute 1-propionyl-lysergic acid di-
ethylamide (1P-LSD), one specification of wrongful possession of a controlled
substance (psilocybin), and two specifications of wrongfully using and distrib-
uting 4-Acetoxy-N-N-dimethyltryptamine (4-AcO-DMT), 2 in violation of Arti-
cles 80, 112a, and 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C.
§§ 980, 912a, 934. 3 The military judge sentenced Appellant to a bad-conduct
discharge, confinement for eight months, and reduction to the grade of E-1.
    When action was taken on the sentence, the convening authority granted a
deferment of mandatory forfeitures from 14 days after the announcement of
sentence until the date of the entry of judgment (EoJ) and waived the manda-
tory forfeitures for a period of six months, release from confinement, or expira-
tion of term of service, whichever is sooner, for the benefit of Appellant’s wife.
The military judge signed the EoJ two days after the convening authority’s
decision, on 21 May 2019. The parties did not file any post-trial motions with
the military judge. On 7 June 2019, the court reporter certified the record of
trial. On 24 June 2019, the record of trial was docketed with our court. 4

2The use and distribution of 4-AcO-DMT were on divers occasions. We note that 1P-
LSD and 4-AcO-DMT were not controlled substances at the time of the offenses so a
charged element of the Article 134, UCMJ, offenses was that Appellant’s conduct was
prejudicial to good order and discipline and of a nature to bring discredit upon the
armed forces.
3 References to the punitive articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)
are to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States (2016 ed.). All other references to
the UCMJ and the Rules for Courts-Martial are to the Manual for Courts-Martial,
United States (2019 ed.).
4 We find no facially unreasonable delay when this case was docketed with us 34 days
after entry of judgment in light of our recent decision in United States v. Livak, ___
M.J. ___, No. ACM S32617, 2020 CCA LEXIS 315, at *6–7 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 14 Sep.
2020). Overall, it took 49 days from the date Appellant was sentenced to the date his
case was docketed with our court. This is well below the aggregate standard threshold
of 150 days established in United States v. Moreno, 63 M.J. 129, 142 (C.A.A.F. 2006)
and Appellant does not claim a Moreno due process violation. Appellant also does not
claim that we should grant relief for excessive post-trial delay under United States v.
Tardif, 57 M.J. 219, 224 (C.A.A.F. 2002) and we find no relief warranted.

                                          2
                United States v. Sundstrum, No. ACM 39713

    Appellant’s counsel submitted his case to us without a specific assignment
of error, but Appellant personally raises one issue: whether his sentence is in-
appropriately severe, pursuant to United States v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431
(C.M.A. 1982). We find no error that materially prejudiced Appellant’s sub-
stantial rights and affirm the findings and sentence

                               I. BACKGROUND
    Appellant arrived at his second permanent duty station, Malmstrom Air
Force Base (AFB), Montana, on 31 August 2017. According to Appellant, while
undergoing some difficult personal circumstances, Appellant developed an in-
terest in psychedelic substances in an effort to focus on something other than
his personal problems. Appellant participated in multiple discussions of this
topic with other Airmen in his squadron, some of which were in the unit’s
breakroom.
    In mid-October 2017, one of the Airmen involved in the drug use discus-
sions, Airman First Class (A1C) DB, obtained illegal, psychedelic mushrooms
while on leave in Chicago, Illinois. On 1 November 2017, A1C DB returned
from leave to his on-base residence with the mushrooms. Subsequently, more
breakroom discussions occurred and A1C DB told his fellow Airmen about his
recent acquisition of mushrooms. Appellant expressed an interest in using
some.
    On 19 December 2017, Appellant texted A1C DB and asked if “all those
shrooms” had been used because Appellant wanted to “trip” into the New Year.
A1C DB responded that he still had some mushrooms and offered them to Ap-
pellant for free. That same day, Appellant went to A1C DB’s on-base house and
obtained a plastic bag that was one-quarter full of the mushrooms. At trial,
Appellant admitted the mushrooms he obtained contained some amount of
psilocybin. Once Appellant had the mushrooms, he placed them in his car and
returned to his off-base home. What happened to the mushrooms after Appel-
lant returned home was not addressed in Appellant’s trial. Appellant only con-
firmed that there was never any forensic testing performed on them.
    A second member of Appellant’s unit, A1C CH, also shared Appellant’s in-
terest in psychedelic drugs. The two watched YouTube videos about psyche-
delic experiences, including while at work in the breakroom. Appellant and
A1C CH agreed to share the cost for Appellant to purchase a “research chemi-
cal” called 4-AcO-DMT, from a Canadian company’s website. The website
warned that 4-AcO-DMT was “for laboratory use only” and “not approved for
human consumption.” Appellant’s research showed that ingesting this sub-
stance produced similar effects to using psilocybin mushrooms. Using a cryp-

                                       3
                  United States v. Sundstrum, No. ACM 39713

tocurrency, 5 Appellant succeeded in purchasing 4-AcO-DMT. A package con-
taining 4-AcO-DMT, in white powder form, was delivered to Appellant’s off-
base residence.
    With the substance in hand and A1C CH visiting his home, Appellant used
a kitchen scale to weigh precise amounts of 4-AcO-DMT. Appellant explained
to the military judge how important the weighing process was because “some-
body could easily ingest too much” and if they did, from Appellant’s under-
standing, “they would just go into a psychotic state, depending on the person.”
   After the weighing was complete, Appellant swallowed the powder and
drank water. Within 30 minutes Appellant felt the effects of using the sub-
stance. Appellant stipulated that patterns looked different than normal, colors
were more vibrant, events were funnier, and noises sounded deeper-pitched to
him. On this same occasion, Appellant distributed some of his 4-AcO-DMT
powder to A1C CH who also ingested it.
    At a later point, Appellant and A1C CH described their use of 4-AcO-DMT
to three additional Airmen in their squadron, which led to later social gather-
ings at Appellant’s house where he used more 4-AcO-DMT and distributed it
to these Airmen. Appellant ordered more of the substance from the Canadian
company, doubling the original amount for this second order, and some of the
Airmen paid him to defray the cost. One of the Airmen said ingesting the sub-
stance made him “make uncontrollable grunting noises.”
    The website Appellant used to buy 4-AcO-DMT also sold another sub-
stance, 1P-LSD, in “tabs” on a perforated sheet of paper. Appellant’s research
showed that use of 1P-LSD was expected to impair depth and time perception
and to distort perception of the shape and size of objects, movements, colors,
sound, and touch. It took Appellant several tries, but eventually he bought ten
tabs of what he thought was 1P-LSD. He used one tab and distributed one tab
to A1C CH. Both hoped to feel the psychedelic effects described above. Neither
felt any effects. At a later date, another Airman retrieved one of the tabs from
Appellant’s cabinet and ingested it. This Airman did not feel any effects either.
This led Appellant to conclude that the substance he ingested and distributed
to A1C CH was not 1P-LSD, and this conclusion accounted for his plea of guilty

5 Cryptocurrency is any form of currency that only exists digitally, that usually has no
central issuing or regulating authority but instead uses a decentralized system to rec-
ord transactions and manage the issuance of new units, and that relies on cryptog-
raphy to prevent counterfeiting and fraudulent transactions. Cryptocurrency Defini-
tion, MERRIAM-WEBSTER.COM, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/
cryptocurrency (last visited 27 Oct. 2020).

                                           4
                  United States v. Sundstrum, No. ACM 39713

to only attempting to use and distribute 1P-LSD. 6 Appellant threw away the
rest of the 1P-LSD tabs.
    As Appellant and others in his squadron openly discussed psychedelic
drugs, at some point their activities came to the attention of the Air Force Of-
fice of Special Investigations (AFOSI) through one or more confidential inform-
ants. On 1 August 2018, Appellant consented to a search of his cell phone and
residence. A search of Appellant’s cell phone revealed text messages exchanged
with A1C DB before Appellant obtained the mushrooms from A1C DB. The cell
phone search also uncovered electronic messages from the Canadian company
including receipts for the orders of 4-AcO-DMT and what was identified as 1P-
LSD. Two scales were also seized from the search of Appellant’s residence, one
of which belonged to Appellant, and the other to A1C CH. Forensic testing of
Appellant’s scale revealed Appellant’s fingerprints on the scale along with 4-
AcO-DMT residue.

                                  II. DISCUSSION
    Appellant argues that the length of confinement and the bad-conduct dis-
charge that were adjudged demonstrate “that the court-martial failed to ade-
quately consider Appellant’s record of service and the minimal nature of the
charges.” Appellant requests a reduction in both his confinement and his pu-
nitive discharge. Appellant does not ask us to compare his sentence with the
sentences of others or allege that any other cases are closely related to his. See
United States v. Lacy, 50 M.J. 286, 288 (C.A.A.F. 1999). The Government ar-
gues that the sentence is not inappropriately severe.
A. Law
    We review issues of sentence appropriateness de novo. United States v.
Lane, 64 M.J. 1, 2 (C.A.A.F. 2006) (citing United States v. Cole, 31 M.J. 270,
272 (C.M.A. 1990)). We may affirm only as much of the sentence as we find
correct in law and fact and determine should be approved on the basis of the
entire record. Article 66(c), UCMJ. “We assess sentence appropriateness by
considering the particular appellant, the nature and seriousness of the of-
fense[s], the appellant’s record of service, and all matters contained in the rec-
ord of trial.” United States v. Sauk, 74 M.J. 594, 606 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2015)
(alteration in original) (citing United States v. Anderson, 67 M.J. 703, 705 (A.F.
Ct. Crim. App. 2009)). Although we have great discretion to determine whether

6 In the PTA, the convening authority agreed to dismiss with prejudice the words “on
divers occasions” after the military judge accepted Appellant’s pleas of guilty to at-
tempting to use and distribute 1P-LSD one time.

                                          5
                United States v. Sundstrum, No. ACM 39713

a sentence is appropriate, we have no authority to grant mercy. United States
v. Nerad, 69 M.J. 138, 146 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (citation omitted).
B. Analysis
    Appellant does not explain why he believes that the military judge failed to
adequately consider Appellant’s record of service before adjudging the sen-
tence. We see no support for Appellant’s general assertion from the record of
trial. “Military judges are presumed to know the law and to follow it absent
clear evidence to the contrary.” United States v. Rodriguez, 60 M.J. 87, 90
(C.A.A.F. 2004) (citation omitted). There is no evidence, let alone clear evi-
dence, that the military judge did not fully consider the admitted evidence be-
fore her prior to announcing sentence. We briefly describe our view of that ev-
idence.
    Appellant’s performance reports, some of which are very strong, were ad-
mitted as prosecution exhibits along with a personal data sheet showing his
prior overseas service. No disciplinary actions were admitted as personnel rec-
ords under R.C.M. 1001(b)(2). The Government called two witnesses from Ap-
pellant’s current squadron to testify during sentencing. On cross-examination,
trial defense counsel elicited favorable opinions regarding Appellant’s rehabil-
itation potential from the two witnesses.
     The military judge admitted favorable character statements as defense ex-
hibits. Some of those character statements were written by members of Appel-
lant’s current squadron and others were from those who knew him at his first
duty assignment. Various photographs were admitted as defense exhibits and
showed Appellant’s upbringing, family, significant events from his personal
life and military career, and coins that he had received. Appellant made a writ-
ten unsworn statement and a shorter oral unsworn statement. Appellant ac-
cepted responsibility and apologized to the unit for his actions. On the whole,
Appellant presented a solid sentencing case centered on his acceptance of re-
sponsibility and an unblemished career.
    Appellant argues that the charges are minimal in nature. We disagree. We
have reviewed the particular circumstances of Appellant’s case and the nature
of the offenses. Appellant’s interest in psychedelic drugs for a few months in
late 2017 and early 2018 was significant. This was not a moment of weakness,
but rather a hobby of Appellant’s that he openly shared with other Airmen at
the workplace. He took specific and persistent actions on this interest. It was
Appellant who did the research, made the transactions, and hosted Airmen at
his house. He was responsible for obtaining and distributing a “research chem-
ical” to other Airmen in his unit, then obtaining a resupply of the substance
and distributing it again. Appellant then expanded his efforts to a second sub-
stance and attempted to use and distribute it.

                                       6
                  United States v. Sundstrum, No. ACM 39713

    The trial counsel argued an appropriate sentence would be a bad-conduct
discharge, 12 months of confinement, total forfeitures, and reduction to the
grade of E-1. The maximum possible sentence Appellant could have received,
based on an initial ruling by the military judge regarding the Article 134,
UCMJ, offenses, was a dishonorable discharge, six years and four months of
confinement, total forfeitures, and reduction to the grade of E-1. Less than two
weeks before the trial, the convening authority agreed to the PTA terms sub-
mitted by Appellant which limited the type of punitive discharge the convening
authority would approve to a bad-conduct discharge and the amount of con-
finement to 12 months.
    We do not minimize Appellant’s personal difficulties during the time of the
offenses, but his distribution of 4-AcO-DMT on divers occasions and his at-
tempt to distribute 1P-LSD one time to other Airmen are serious offenses. We
considered Appellant’s acceptance of responsibility in pleading guilty, his duty
performance prior to trial including after the investigation started, and the
extenuation and mitigation evidence presented in his case. We do not find his
sentence inappropriately severe and this court has no authority to engage in
clemency. Nerad, 69 M.J. at 146. Having given individualized consideration to
Appellant, the nature and seriousness of the offenses, Appellant’s record of ser-
vice, and all other matters contained in the record of trial, we conclude that
the sentence is not inappropriately severe.

                                 III. CONCLUSION
    The approved findings and sentence are correct in law and fact, and no er-
ror materially prejudicial to the substantial rights of Appellant occurred. Arti-
cles 59(a) and 66(d), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 859(a), 866(d). Accordingly, the find-
ings and sentence are AFFIRMED. 7

                  FOR THE COURT

                  CAROL K. JOYCE
                  Clerk of the Court

7 The statement of trial results failed to include the command that convened the court-
martial as required by R.C.M. 1101(a)(3). Appellant has not claimed prejudice and we
find none. See United States v. Moody-Neukom, No. ACM S32594, 2019 CCA LEXIS
521, at *2–3 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 16 Dec. 2019) (per curiam) (unpub. op.).

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