Court Opinion

ID: 4101074
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-11-22 17:02:13.73515+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:15:35.240634
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES ARMY COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
                                       Before
                        CAMPANELLA, HERRING, and PENLAND
                              Appellate Military Judges

                            UNITED STATES, Appellee
                                        v.
                          Private E1 ISAAC G. AGUIGUI
                          United States Army, Appellant

                                   ARMY 20140260

                            Headquarters, Fort Stewart
                  John T. Rothwell, Military Judge (arraignment)
                      Andrew J. Glass, Military Judge (trial)
        Lieutenant Colonel Francisco A. Vila, Staff Judge Advocate (advice)
        Colonel Luis O. Rodriguez, Staff Judge Advocate (recommendation)
       Lieutenant Colonel Peter R. Hayden, Staff Judge Advocate (addendum)

For Appellant: Captain Patrick J. Scudieri, JA (argued); Colonel Mary J. Bradley,
JA; Major Christopher D. Coleman, JA; Captain Patrick J. Scudieri, JA (on brief);
Major Christopher D. Coleman, JA; Captain Cody Cheek, JA (on reply brief).

For Appellee: Major Steve T. Nam, JA (argued); Colonel Mark H. Sydenham, JA;
Lieutenant Colonel A. G. Courie III, JA; Lieutenant Colonel Daniel D. Derner, JA;
Captain Steve T. Nam, JA (on brief); Major Anne C. Hsieh, JA.

                                  18 November 2016

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

PENLAND, Judge:

       Appellant’s trial defense team failed to present a sentencing case, thereby
depriving him of effective assistance of counsel, undermining the reliability of the
adjudged sentence, and leaving us with little choice but to set it aside and authorize
a sentence rehearing. The trial defense team also performed deficiently in the
findings phase of the case; however, under the facts and circumstances, we conclude
appellant suffered no prejudice as a result.

       A military judge sitting as a general court-martial convicted appellant,
contrary to his pleas, of premeditated murder and intentionally killing an unborn
child, in violation of Articles 118 and 119a, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10
AGUIGUI–ARMY 20140260

U.S.C. §§ 918, 919a (2006) [hereinafter UCMJ]. The convening authority approved
the adjudged sentence of a dishonorable discharge, confinement for life without
eligibility for parole, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances.

       We review this case under Article 66, UCMJ. Appellant assigns two errors,
alleging ineffective assistance of counsel and prosecutorial misconduct. The first
merits discussion and relief; the second merits neither. We have considered matters
personally asserted by appellant under United States v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431
(C.M.A. 1982); aside from his complaint of ineffective assistance of counsel, they
lack merit.

                                 BACKGROUND

                                    A. Findings

       The case stems from the 17 July 2011 deaths of Sergeant (SGT) DA and her
unborn child, with whom she was approximately twenty-three weeks pregnant.
Multiple witnesses testified about SGT DA’s troubled marriage to appellant. Some
also described appellant’s comments made before her death, indicating his desire to
kill her and her unborn child. 1

       Appellant spent a few days immediately before 17 July 2011 away from home,
cavorting with a fellow soldier, Michael Schaefer, and others. Sergeant DA was
displeased with appellant for leaving her home alone. Appellant told Schaefer he
could kill SGT DA and get away with it, citing a murder movie, “Pathology,” in
which medical students devise methods of killing others with no trace of foul play.
During the road trip, appellant went with Schaefer and another witness, KF, and
bought a bottle of potassium iodide. Schaefer testified appellant told him he wanted
the potassium iodide as a salt substitute for SGT DA. However, KF testified either
appellant or Schaefer told her the potassium iodide could be used to administer a
lethal injection.

      Appellant returned to his and SGT DA’s quarters on Fort Stewart 17 July
2011. Later that night, appellant called 911 to report SGT DA was unresponsive.
Emergency medical personnel responded and finding her unconscious on the floor,
rushed her to the hospital, where she was soon pronounced dead. Her unborn child
died with her.

       Criminal Investigation Command (CID) agents spoke with appellant, who said
he returned to his and SGT DA’s home at 1500 on the day in question. Appellant
also claimed he and SGT DA engaged in consensual sex in their bedroom, during

1
 For example, appellant told a witness, JV, he could “get rid of” SGT DA and the
baby and split insurance proceeds with her “if [they] all stayed quiet.”

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AGUIGUI–ARMY 20140260

which she agreed to wear handcuffs and other restraints. Appellant said he then took
a nap, woke up to an empty bed, and called 911 after finding SGT DA unresponsive
on a couch in their living room. He also claimed SGT DA had asked him to buy the
potassium iodide for her, and he implored CID to determine whether it had caused
her death.

       Sergeant DA’s autopsy began on 19 July 2011 and included multiple
consultations with specialized pathologists. The medical examiner noted multiple
contusions on her body, including contusions “from anterior to posterior surface” on
each wrist. In the autopsy examination report, dated 3 February 2012, medical
examiners concluded: “Based on the information provided by investigative/medical
reports and evidence detected at autopsy, both the cause and manner of death are
best classified as ‘Undetermined.’” The medical examiner testified manual
strangulation, including a carotid sleeper hold, was a possible manner of death.
Another expert pathologist, called by the government, testified that his review of the
medical evidence pointed to suffocation as the cause of death, but he could not
exclude other possibilities, such as sudden cardiac arrhythmia. Then, another
pathology expert testified for the prosecution, offering his conclusion that SGT DA
died of manual strangulation, with multiple blunt injuries and binding ligatures.

       Appellant offered various explanations for SGT DA’s death. The day after, he
sent his neighbor, SGT JB, a message that she died of a blood clot in her heart. He
also told Schaefer soon after that she had died from a blood clot. He told AR that
the coroner’s report said she had died of a pulmonary embolism. Appellant told
Private CS another story–SGT DA died as a result of Army medical providers giving
her incorrect medications, and he had been able to say goodbye to her at the hospital
after she was revived for about thirty seconds. 2 He gave yet another reason to
another witness, SC, telling her SGT DA had died in a car accident.

      Around the middle of August 2011, appellant and Schaefer got into an
argument, culminating when Schaefer asked him to explain what had actually
happened to SGT DA and how he had gotten all of the money they were in the midst
of spending on strippers. Appellant told him SGT DA agreed to wear handcuffs and
engage in sexual intercourse. However, once she was handcuffed appellant put a bag
over her head and strangled her until she stopped breathing, sexually assaulting and
sodomizing her in the process. Appellant told Schaefer, “I told you I would get
away with it.” When Schaefer told appellant he would report him to law
enforcement, appellant said he would implicate him in the murder and that he was
“ready to go to prison.”

       The findings phase of appellant’s court-martial included multiple instances of
objectionable hearsay and descriptions of uncharged misconduct. The most damning

2
    SGT DA never regained consciousness before her death.

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AGUIGUI–ARMY 20140260

hearsay testimony came from SR, who spoke with SGT DA while serving as Fort
Stewart’s lead victim advocate. Before she began to testify at trial, defense counsel
objected, “If this witness testifies substantially as she did in the 39(a), we don’t see
how any of that would be relevant to The Charge and misconduct in this case.”
After trial counsel offered a theory of relevance, the military judge asked whether
the witness’s testimony would include hearsay. Trial counsel responded the
government, indeed, intended to offer hearsay through SR, conceding it was
inadmissible under Military Rule of Evidence [hereinafter Mil. R. Evid.] 803(4) but
arguing Mil. R. Evid. 803(3) would allow it. The military judge and defense counsel
then had the following exchange:

             DC: Your Honor, we would object also on the grounds of
             404(a) that this is basically being used as a propensity
             argument and as for--

             MJ: Counsel, I am confused by that. He’s not charged
             with sexual assault.

             DC: Right. We believe--

             MJ: So you are saying that it is propensity, “He’s not a
             bad guy,” so therefore more in 404(b).

             DC: Right.

             MJ: But that’s okay. So you also object under 404(b)?

             DC: Correct, as well as 403 and as for the hearsay, the
             803(3), I believe--

             MJ: I think that is what you’re saying, right, Counsel,
             803(3)? [asking trial counsel]

             TC: Yes, Your Honor

             DC: I believe that the victim’s existing state of mind
             relates back to the 404(b) that they are trying to use this to
             somehow prove that there is motive, intent, and planning
             to kill the victim as is charged here. Her making a
             restricted sexual assault report doesn’t flow into a murder
             charge.

             [. . . .]

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AGUIGUI–ARMY 20140260

               MJ: Here is what we are going to do, Counsel. I’m going
               to ask you to object as the testimony goes along. Then I
               will rule after hearing the testimony.

               [. . . .]

               MJ: Call the witness, Defense Counsel, I think you are
               tracking what I’ve told you, but its [sic] incumbent upon
               you to object to the hearsay as it comes in.

               DC: Yes, Your Honor.

     Once on the stand, SR answered government counsel’s question, “What did
[SGT DA] specifically tell you?”:

               She said that there had been some verbal abuse early on
               and when she came to see me, there had been physical
               abuse and that sexually he had been coercing her or
               forcing her into having sex with him as well as his friends.

      Defense counsel maintained this testimony was inadmissible under Mil. R.
Evid. 404(b) and Mil. R. Evid. 403 but made no hearsay objection to it. After SR
stepped down from the stand, the military judge and defense counsel had the
following exchange:

               MJ: . . . Now, Counsel, I note that you didn’t object under
               hearsay grounds, I don’t think, to anything.

               DC: No, you are correct, Your Honor. 3

               MJ: So you have no hearsay objection?

               DC: Correct. 4

3
  Actually, defense counsel had objected on hearsay grounds to SR’s description of
SGT DA’s questions about her reporting options. The military judge ultimately
sustained this objection, though apparently deciding it on relevance grounds rather
than hearsay.
4
    Relying on United States v. Reynolds, 29 M.J. 105 (C.M.A. 1989), the military

                                                                        (continued . . . )

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AGUIGUI–ARMY 20140260

       Multiple government witnesses described appellant’s frequent but uncharged
misconduct. Defense counsel did not object when: 1) some described appellant’s
frequent use of illegal drugs, including spice, ecstasy, and cocaine; 2) SC testified
that she and appellant had an extramarital affair; or 3) JV testified that she
witnessed a physical altercation between appellant and SGT DA. 5

       Aside from the hearsay and uncharged misconduct evidence, trial counsel
offered, and the military judge admitted, without objection, an exhibit consisting of
dozens of pages regarding SGT DA’s life insurance policy and proceeds. However,
nearly twenty of its pages contained plainly irrelevant matters, including suspicions
about appellant.

      The military judge, with a level of attention to detail that counsel did not
display, clarified after announcing his findings of guilty:

             In deliberating on findings, the court did not consider
             pages 19 through 37 of Prosecution Exhibit 44, that is, the
             Prudential document. Pages 19 through 37 included
             discussions of other possible charges, suspicions about the
             accused’s possible involvement in crime, alleged
             involvement in other crimes, a media account, and
             administrative and subpoena matters. Those matters are
             not appropriate, not relevant, and are excluded under
             Military Rule of Evidence 403.

                                    B. Sentencing

       After the government’s sentencing case, the military judge granted defense
counsel’s request for a brief recess. When the court-martial resumed, the defense
rested without presenting a sentencing case. The military judge then confirmed
directly with appellant that he understood his rights to present evidence in
extenuation and mitigation, including his right to testify or make an unsworn
statement. He also confirmed appellant had fully discussed his rights with his
defense counsel. Finally, the military judge asked, “Do you support your counsel’s
decision not to introduce any evidence in your sentencing case?” Appellant

(. . . continued)
judge ultimately ruled SR’s testimony was admissible under Mil. R. Evid. 404(b).
We have no quarrel with this detailed analysis and ruling, which were well within
the bounds of reasonable discretion.
5
  On direct examination, JV also described SGT DA’s comments to her about
appellant’s drug use and excessive spending. Between direct and cross-examination,
the military judge told defense counsel it was his burden to make hearsay objections.

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AGUIGUI–ARMY 20140260

responded he did and, after closing for deliberations, the court-martial sentenced
appellant as described above.

                           C. Defense Counsel Affidavits

       In response to appellate defense counsel’s brief, which assigned as error
ineffective assistance of counsel during the findings and sentencing portions of the
case, government appellate counsel filed a motion to order affidavits from trial
defense counsel. We granted the motion and ordered the government to obtain
affidavits from appellant’s two trial defense counsel, Major William J. Cook, III and
Captain Scott A. Noto, no later than 23 June 2016. On 21 June 2016, we received
the affidavits, which are virtually identical and state, in pertinent part:

             Throughout our representation of PVT Aguigui, we
             advised him of his rights as an accused, including his right
             to call witnesses on his behalf during pre-sentencing,
             present evidence during pre-sentencing, and make a
             statement on his own behalf. PVT Aguigui did not advise
             us of any potential witnesses for pre-sentencing other than
             those listed on the Witness List filed with the Court. We
             were prepared to call witnesses and put on additional
             evidence during pre-sentencing. However, during a
             recess, PVT Aguigui informed us of his decision to not put
             on any evidence during pre-sentencing. PVT Aguigui’s
             decision was confirmed by the Military Judge on the
             record.

             [. . . .]

             The decision to refrain from objecting to certain hearsay
             statements was a strategic decision. We did not believe
             the evidence presented by the government’s lay witnesses
             was particularly compelling and thus believed that its
             presentation by the government only served to weaken,
             rather than strengthen, its case. We believed the Military
             Judge would give such evidence the little weight it
             deserved. During trial, we objected when we believed it
             was appropriate.

             Likewise, the decision not to challenge the government’s
             evidence of PVT Aguigui’s drug use, partying at strip
             clubs, and similar evidence was a strategic decision.
             Again, we did not consider this evidence particularly
             compelling in light of the issues presented in this case

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AGUIGUI–ARMY 20140260

             (particularly, the issues raised by the medical evidence)
             and believed the Military Judge would give such evidence
             the little weight it deserved. During trial, we objected
             when we believed it was appropriate.

(Internal paragraph numbers omitted.).

      During oral argument we asked probing questions about the affidavits, which
depicted, inter alia, a trial defense team who rendered a deficient assessment of the
findings evidence, were unprepared for the pre-sentencing phase of the case, and
were unfamiliar with the basic responsibility of defense counsel to decide what
evidence to present on behalf of an accused.

       After oral argument, and in a rather uncommon development that, at best,
demonstrates the initial affidavits were summarily prepared with limited reflection
on their trial efforts, trial defense counsel prepared additional affidavits to
“supplement” the original ones. The affidavits tacitly respond to our questions and
observations at oral argument. On 9 November 2016, appellate government counsel
moved to attach the supplemental affidavits, without acknowledging passage of the
ordered 23 June 2016 deadline and without requesting leave to file them out of time
or offering good cause to do so in contravention of Rule 24.2 of our Internal Rules
of Practice and Procedure [hereinafter Rules]. Furthermore, oral argument was on
13 October 2016, rendering any supplemental filings due by 20 October 2016 under
Rule 16.1(e). After considering and finding persuasive appellate defense counsel’s
brief in opposition, we denied the motion to attach government exhibits 4 and 5 on
16 November 2016.

                               LAW AND ANALYSIS

       Military accuseds have a Constitutional and codal right to the effective
assistance of counsel at trial. United States v. Bolkan, 55 M.J. 425, 427 (C.A.A.F.
2001) (citing U.S. Const. Amend. VI; Art. 27, UCMJ, 10 USC § 827; and United
States v. MacCulloch, 40 M.J. 236 (C.M.A. 1994)); see also United States v. Gooch,
69 M.J. 353, 361 (C.A.A.F. 2011). “The right to counsel is probably the paramount
right in ensuring that the adversarial system functions properly.” Bolkan, 55 M.J. at
427. We review de novo claims that an appellant did not receive effective assistance
of counsel. United States v. Mazza, 67 M.J. 470, 474 (C.A.A.F. 2009).

       “In assessing the effectiveness of counsel we apply the standard set forth in
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984), and begin with the presumption
of competence announced in United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. 648, 658 (1984).”
Gooch, 69 M.J. at 361. To overcome the presumption of competence, the Strickland
standard requires appellant to demonstrate “both (1) that his counsel’s performance
was deficient, and (2) that this deficiency resulted in prejudice.” United States v.

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Green, 68 M.J. 360, 361 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687 and
Mazza, 67 M.J. 474). An appellant is prejudiced by counsel’s deficient performance
where “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.” Strickland, 466
U.S. at 694; see also United States v. Akbar, 74 M.J. 364, 379 (C.A.A.F. 2015).

       This Constitutional right applies not only to the merits phase of trial, but to
each critical stage in a criminal proceeding where substantial rights of a criminal
accused may be affected, which includes the sentencing phase of a military court-
martial. United States v. Dobrava, 64 M.J. 503, 505 (Army Ct. Crim. App. 2006)
(citing United States v. Alves, 53 M.J. 286, 289 (C.A.A.F. 2000)). The Rules of
Professional Conduct for Lawyers applicable to military counsel make it clear an
attorney shall abide by the client’s decision to testify or not. Army Reg. 27-26,
Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers, Appx. B. R. 1.2 (Scope of
Representation)(1 May 1992). And the “decision to make an unsworn statement is
personal to the accused.” United States v. Marcum, 60 M.J. 198, 209 (C.A.A.F.
2004). But strategic and tactical decisions are within the sole discretion of defense
counsel. Dobrava, 64 M.J. at 506.

       Ineffective assistance of counsel at the sentencing process can occur when
counsel fails to introduce evidence that would be of value to the accused in
presenting a case in extenuation and mitigation. United States v. Boone, 49 M.J.
187, 196 (C.A.A.F. 1998). Counsel’s failure to present matters in extenuation and
mitigation during the sentencing phase of trial “raises concerns about a breakdown
in the adversarial process.” United States v. Weathersby, 48 M.J. 668, 671 (Army
Ct. Crim. App. 1998). In these situations, the record of trial will likely not include
the evidence that counsel should have presented, but did not. Boone, 49 M.J. at 197.
When this happens, there is no record from which we can determine the sentence the
court-martial would have imposed absent the error. Id. at 198-99; see also United
States v. Sickels, ARMY 20110110, 2013 CCA LEXIS 563, *7 (Army Ct. Crim. App.
23 Jul. 2013) (mem. op.) (“Where defense counsel fail to make adequate
investigation of possible evidence in extenuation and mitigation and fail to present
any evidence in sentencing at trial, the sentence may be unreliable and may require a
rehearing on sentence as a result.”). Where “the record does not contain the
evidence omitted by the constitutional error” an appellant “must have the
opportunity to make the record that he did not have the opportunity to make because
of the absence of the guiding hand of counsel.” Boone, 49 M.J. at 198-99.

                                     A. Findings

      The record shows a defense team who devoted significant effort toward
contesting, and even offering an alternative explanation for, the forensic medical
evidence. We are reluctant to question this aspect of defense counsels’ tactics, for

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AGUIGUI–ARMY 20140260

the medical component of this case was indeed significant. However, this was not
the case’s only component. Instead, the non-forensic component–including
testimony about appellant’s uncharged misconduct, suspicious and incriminating
statements, combined with hearsay testimony about SGT DA’s report of appellant’s
abuse–answered the questions that SGT DA’s autopsy begged. Put another way, no
reasonable defense counsel would address the non-forensic component as
indifferently as trial defense counsel did here.

       We have carefully considered trial defense counsels’ affidavits; they offer
objectively unconvincing explanations for the lack of objections to uncharged
misconduct and hearsay evidence. Even if we concluded the rationale for not
objecting to uncharged misconduct evidence was tactically reasonable, we reject as
unsound their rationale regarding the hearsay evidence: “its presentation by the
government only served to weaken, rather than strengthen, its case.” This post-trial
assessment is contradicted by the defense team’s multiple objections to SV’s
testimony describing SGT DA’s report of appellant’s previous abuse. This
contradiction begs a rhetorical question: If the defense team believed this evidence
actually undermined the case against their client, why did they characterize it as
uncharged misconduct evidence and oppose its admission? Contrary to the affidavits
provided, the record establishes the trial defense team viewed this evidence, before
and during trial, as sufficiently inculpatory to resist its admission. However, even
after what some may view as prompting by the military judge, trial defense counsel
missed the most fundamental and likely effective objection–hearsay.

        We hold the trial defense team was deficient during the findings phase.
However, considering appellant’s multiple non-hearsay statements about his desire
to kill SGT DA, his conflicting explanations about her cause of death, and his
confession to Michael Schaefer, we further hold the deficiency resulted in no
prejudice to the findings. Appellant has not established a reasonable probability of a
different verdict had his trial defense counsel performed in a tactically reasonable
manner.

                                   B. Sentencing 6

       An accused is responsible for deciding whether he will make any statement to
a court-martial. The defense counsel is responsible for deciding whether to present
witnesses and other evidence during the case, and this responsibility cannot be
outsourced to an accused or anyone else. The military judge’s well-principled
intervention in this remarkably incomplete pre-sentencing phase demonstrates he

6
  Appellant’s submissions and trial defense counsels’ affidavits agree on the
fundamental point regarding the pre-sentencing case: trial defense counsel presented
no evidence or witnesses. Therefore, an additional DuBay hearing is not necessary
to decide this appeal. United States v. Ginn, 47 M.J. 236, 244 (C.A.A.F. 1997).

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AGUIGUI–ARMY 20140260

keenly understood the difference, for after asking appellant whether it was his
personal decision not to provide a statement, he then asked, “Do you support your
counsel’s decision not to introduce any evidence in your sentencing case?”
(Emphasis added).

       On this point, trial defense counsel write identically: “[D]uring a recess, PVT
Aguigui informed us of his decision to not put on any evidence during pre-
sentencing. PVT Aguigui’s decision was confirmed by the Military Judge on the
record.” This quote warrants particular scrutiny. The second sentence, clearly
referring to the one before, is incorrect as a matter of fact–the military judge
pointedly clarified that the decision to present a sentencing case belonged to
counsel. Beyond this inaccuracy, the quote evinces a continued misunderstanding of
counsel’s responsibility. Even if we were to strain to interpret the affidavits as
counsels’ expression that they decided not to present a case, they offer absolutely no
supporting tactical reason.

       Appellant faced a maximum sentence of life without eligibility for parole, and
the military judge sentenced him to that punishment after hearing no evidence from
the defense. 7 Where such a “breakdown” 8 of advocacy has occurred, we have no
confidence in the sentence’s reliability. Weathersby, 48 M.J. at 671; Boone, 49 M.J.
at 196; Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687.

                                   CONCLUSION

        The findings of guilty are AFFIRMED.

7
 In concluding trial defense counsel were ineffective by failing to present a pre-
sentencing case, we decline to address whether they adequately prepared one.
Appellant’s brief claims trial defense counsel were also deficient in preparing a
sentencing case. In response to our order for affidavits, counsel perfunctorily
address this point: “PVT Aguigui did not advise us of any potential witnesses for
pre-sentencing other than those listed on the Witness List filed with the Court. We
were prepared to call witnesses and put on additional evidence during pre-
sentencing.” (Emphasis added).

Additionally, Rule for Courts-Martial 1001(f)(2) allows a sentencing authority to
“consider...[a]ny evidence properly introduced on the merits before findings....”
(Emphasis added). The military judge here may have considered, for sentencing
purposes, the uncharged misconduct and hearsay evidence described earlier in this
decision.
8
    Sickels, 2013 CCA LEXIS 563, at *9.

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       The sentence is set aside. A rehearing on sentence is authorized, during
which trial defense counsel may object to the re-sentencing authority’s consideration
of uncharged misconduct and hearsay evidence that, but for original counsel’s
deficient performance, would not have been admitted on findings.

      Senior Judge CAMPANELLA and Judge HERRING concur.

                                       FOR THE COURT:

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

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