Court Opinion

ID: 4548549
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-07-15 23:00:54.128597+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:32:03.004677
License: Public Domain

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

                              No. ACM 39639
                         ________________________

                            UNITED STATES
                                Appellee
                                      v.
                        Richard A. WOLCOTT
             Staff Sergeant (E-5), U.S. Air Force, Appellant
                          ________________________

        Appeal from the United States Air Force Trial Judiciary
                           Decided 15 July 2020
                          ________________________

Military Judge: Donald R. Eller, Jr. (arraignment); Matthew D. Talcott.
Approved sentence: Bad-conduct discharge, confinement for 90 days, for-
feiture of all pay and allowances, reduction to E-1, and a reprimand.
Sentence adjudged 9 October 2018 by GCM convened at Scott Air Force
Base, Illinois.
For Appellant: Major Yolanda D. Miller, USAF.
For Appellee: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph J. Kubler, USAF; Major Peter
F. Kellett, USAF; Mary Ellen Payne, Esquire.
Before MINK, LEWIS, and D. JOHNSON, Appellate Military Judges.
Judge LEWIS delivered the opinion of the court, in which Senior Judge
MINK and Judge D. JOHNSON joined.
                         ________________________

    This is an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as
    precedent under AFCCA Rule of Practice and Procedure 30.4.
                         ________________________

LEWIS, Judge:
    A general court-martial composed of a military judge sitting alone con-
victed Appellant, in accordance with his pleas and a pretrial agreement (PTA),
                    United States v. Wolcott, No. ACM 39639

of two specifications of sexual abuse of a child and one specification of posses-
sion of child pornography, in violation of Articles 120b and 134, Uniform Code
of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. §§ 920b, 934. 1 The military judge sen-
tenced Appellant to a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for 90 days, forfei-
ture of all pay and allowances, reduction to the grade of E-1, and a reprimand.
The convening authority approved the adjudged sentence. 2
    Appellant raises two assignments of error: (1) whether the general court-
martial order accurately and unambiguously reflects the convening authority’s
dismissal with prejudice of four specifications and the Additional Charge; and
(2) whether Appellant is entitled to sentence relief because the language of his
reprimand was either cruel and/or unusual punishment or resulted in an inap-
propriately severe sentence. We grant relief on the first assignment of error by
dismissing with prejudice four specifications and the Additional Charge. Oth-
erwise, we find no prejudicial error and affirm the remaining findings and sen-
tence.

                                 I. BACKGROUND
A. Appellant and JP
    In 2011, Appellant and JP met online as they both shared a common inter-
est in a joke-sharing website. The two became friends on Facebook with Appel-
lant using an account under the alias, “Ruben Wallace.” At trial, Appellant
stipulated that (1) when he added JP on Facebook she was 12 years old; (2)
over time, Appellant made sexual comments and requests of JP; (3) in one re-
quest, Appellant asked JP to send him photographs of her wearing her under-
wear; and (4) JP actually sent Appellant such photos. The stipulation of fact
and its attachments do not make clear whether the above conduct occurred
before or after Appellant joined the Air Force in September 2011. Regardless
of whether the conduct was pre-service or not, Appellant was not subjected to
court-martial charges for this behavior.
   Appellant communicated with JP after he enlisted in the Air Force using
the “Ruben Wallace” Facebook account. After about a year of messaging JP,
Appellant told her that his first name was actually Richard. After Appellant

1All references in this opinion to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and the
Rules for Courts-Martial (R.C.M.) are to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States
(2016 ed.).
2Other PTA provisions which limited the amount of confinement and the type of pu-
nitive discharge the convening authority could approve had no effect on the adjudged
sentence.

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                   United States v. Wolcott, No. ACM 39639

completed basic military training and technical school, he began his first as-
signment at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
    In mid-October of 2013, while assigned at Ramstein Air Base, Appellant
used the “Ruben Wallace” Facebook account to communicate indecent lan-
guage to JP, who was then 15 years old. Appellant sent JP two Facebook mes-
sages detailing a fictional story which the stipulation of fact characterized as
a “professor and student in a blackmail/sex slave position [which used] vulgar,
sexually explicit language [and] described scenes of spanking, bondage, ‘pun-
ishment,’ and violent sexual treatment.” During the providence inquiry, Ap-
pellant admitted under oath that the story was lewd, contained indecent lan-
guage, and described detailed sexual activity. Appellant told the military judge
he wanted to gratify both his sexual desires and JP’s and that he knew JP was
under 16 years of age. He also admitted that “nothing justifies sending a story
like that to a person that age.”
    About a week after sending the first story to JP, Appellant sent her three
Facebook messages detailing a second story about “a father having sex with
his virgin daughter on her 18th birthday and, using vulgar, sexually explicit
language, described scenes of masturbation, spanking, bondage, ‘punishment,’
and violent sexual treatment.” Before sending this second story to JP, Appel-
lant wrote a message to her stating “this is father daughter but just imagine it
being me instead.” As with the first story, Appellant admitted during the prov-
idence inquiry that the second story was lewd, contained indecent language,
and described detailed sexual activity.
    At trial, JP exercised her right to be reasonably heard as a crime victim by
providing both an oral and written unsworn statement. She explained how she
met Appellant and the circumstances of their relationship. She described how
at age 17 she “got tired of feeling dirty and used and told him that [she] no
longer wanted to be in any kind of relationship with him; including friendship.
As a result, [she] blocked him on Facebook, changed [her] number, and deleted
his phone number.” She described how as a 20-year-old woman, she felt “gross
and stupid” and that “intimate relationships are a chore for [her] to maintain,
as [she is] too afraid to trust anyone.”
B. Appellant and AH
    In May of 2014, Appellant was reassigned to Scott Air Force Base (AFB),
Illinois. While assigned at Scott AFB, Appellant began a sexual relationship
with a 17-year-old female named AH. On several occasions, Appellant and AH
masturbated together over Skype. 3 Once in September 2014 and a second time

3 Skype is a software application that allows two-way voice and video calls between
computers and mobile electronic devices.

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                   United States v. Wolcott, No. ACM 39639

in October 2014, Appellant recorded the Skype sessions with AH and stored
both sessions on his computer’s hard drive. At trial, Appellant admitted that
(1) he knew AH was a minor at the time he recorded the two Skype sessions;
(2), he possessed digital videos of AH engaged in sexually explicit conduct be-
cause AH exposed her breast and was masturbating; and (3) his conduct could
discredit the armed services and lower their standing in the public esteem.
    Appellant and AH continued their relationship for three years and at one
point lived together. At Appellant’s trial, AH submitted a written unsworn
statement. She made clear that she “was not victimized” by Appellant. She
recalled their home as “one of love and safety and honesty and simply amaz-
ing.” She described the “crime” as “simply two lovers who had a distance be-
tween them making things work.” AH explained that two years before the trial
she and Appellant “decided that our lives would be better spent continuing on
our own paths.” Finally, she stated she knew “with extreme confidence” that
Appellant is “one of the sweetest and most kind people in [her] life.”
C. The Investigation
    In April 2016, JP notified the North Las Vegas Police Department (NLVPD)
about an unrelated criminal accusation involving Facebook where JP was the
crime victim. As NLVPD conducted their investigation, JP explained her prior
interactions on Facebook with Appellant. A detective with the NLVPD eventu-
ally shared this information with agents of the Air Force Office of Special In-
vestigations (AFOSI). The AFOSI then opened an investigation and subse-
quently subpoenaed and reviewed electronically stored information from Face-
book including from the “Ruben Wallace” account.
    On 12 April 2017, AFOSI agents apprehended Appellant, and executed a
search of his house and vehicle. Several of Appellant’s electronic devices were
seized. Later, the agents conducted a subject interview of Appellant which was
video recorded and attached to the stipulation of fact. In the subject interview,
Appellant waived his rights under Article 31, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 831, and de-
scribed some of his prior interactions with JP. Appellant was also questioned
about AH as the AFOSI agents knew that AH used to live with Appellant. Dur-
ing this questioning, Appellant admitted doing “sex Skypes” with AH. Eventu-
ally, the videos of AH were discovered on Appellant’s hard drive.

                                II. DISCUSSION
A. Dismissal with Prejudice
   1. Additional Background
    The convening authority referred a total of three charges and seven speci-
fications to trial by general court-martial. Appellant pleaded guilty to two of

                                       4
                     United States v. Wolcott, No. ACM 39639

the charges and three of the specifications. 4 Appellant pleaded not guilty to the
remaining four specifications (Specification 1 of Charge I, Specification 1 of
Charge II, and Specifications 1 and 2 of the Additional Charge) and the Addi-
tional Charge.
    Appellant’s PTA required the convening authority to “[w]ithdraw Specifi-
cation 1, of Charge I, Specification 1 of Charge II, and Charge III and its spec-
ifications in their entirety, and upon the court-martial’s announcement of the
sentence, dismiss those charges and specifications with prejudice.” After the
military judge announced the findings, the trial counsel expressed an intent
“to withdraw and dismiss upon announcement of the sentence.” Trial defense
counsel stated he had no objection to proceeding in this manner. After an-
nouncement of sentence the record contains no discussion regarding with-
drawal or dismissal. The court-martial transcript also contains no discussion
of why the PTA mentioned a “Charge III” when no such numbered charge ap-
peared on the charge sheet.
    On 9 October 2018, the same day the court-martial adjourned, the senior
trial counsel lined through four specifications 5 and the Additional Charge. The
words “withdrawn & dismissed” were written next to the senior trial counsel’s
initials and the date. The report of result of trial, also dated 9 October 2018,
listed the findings for the Additional Charge and the relevant four specifica-
tions as “Dismissed after arraignment IAW PTA.” The general court-martial
order, dated 4 February 2019, listed the findings for the Additional Charge and
the relevant four specifications as “Withdrawn and dismissed after arraign-
ment IAW pretrial agreement.”
    Appellant argues the convening authority failed to unambiguously with-
draw and dismiss with prejudice as required by the PTA. Appellant requests
we direct the Government to provide a corrected court-martial order that states
the affected specifications and additional charge are withdrawn and dismissed

4 Appellant pleaded guilty to Specifications 2 and 3 of Charge I, violations of Article
120b, UCMJ, for sending the two indecent sex stories to JP. Appellant pleaded guilty
to Specification 2 of Charge II, a violation of Article 134, UCMJ, for possessing the “sex
Skypes” of AH.
5 The four specifications lined through are: (1) Charge I, Specification 1, an alleged
violation of Article 120b, UCMJ, for sexual assault of a child; (2) Charge II, Specifica-
tion 1, an alleged violation of Article 134, UCMJ, for wrongful production of child por-
nography; (3) Additional Charge, Specification 1, an alleged violation of Article 134,
UCMJ, for knowingly receiving via interstate commerce an obscene visual depiction of
a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1466A(a)(1);
and (4) Additional Charge, Specification 2, an alleged violation of Article 134, UCMJ,
for knowingly possessing via interstate commerce an obscene visual depiction of a mi-
nor engaging in sexually explicit conduct in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1466A(b)(1).

                                            5
                   United States v. Wolcott, No. ACM 39639

with prejudice. The Government agrees corrective action is required as there
is no documentation that the dismissal was done with prejudice. The Govern-
ment urges us to dismiss the additional charge and the four affected specifica-
tions with prejudice to ensure compliance with the PTA. Appellant submitted
a reply brief, but did not take a position on the Government’s proposed remedy.
We agree the Government’s proposed remedy is the correct one.
   2. Law
    “When an appellant contends that the government has not complied with a
term of the [PTA], the issue of noncompliance is a mixed question of fact and
law.” United States v. Smead, 68 M.J. 44, 59 (C.A.A.F. 2009) (citing United
States v. Lundy, 63 M.J. 299, 301 (C.A.A.F. 2006)). Appellant has the burden
to establish both materiality and non-compliance. Lundy, 63 M.J. at 302. “In
the event of noncompliance with a material term, we consider whether the er-
ror is susceptible to remedy in the form of specific performance or in the form
of alternative relief agreeable to the appellant.” Smead, 68 M.J. at 59 (citation
omitted).
   3. Analysis
    The plain language of the PTA only required the convening authority to
withdraw and dismiss, with prejudice, Specification 1 of Charge I and Specifi-
cation 1 of Charge II. We find the references to the PTA in the report of result
of trial or court-martial order insufficient to show the convening authority ac-
tually dismissed these two specifications with prejudice.
    For the Additional Charge and its two specifications, the parties agree that
the PTA contains an error when it incorrectly identifies the “Additional
Charge” as “Charge III.” We agree with the parties that there is no Charge III
in this case. Our review of the record of trial confirms that the only possible
interpretation of this PTA provision is that any reference to Charge III and its
specifications must be read as a reference to the Additional Charge and its two
specifications. Therefore, we find the PTA required the convening authority to
withdraw and dismiss, with prejudice, the Additional Charge and its two spec-
ifications. As we did above, we find the references to the PTA in the report of
result of trial or court-martial order to be insufficient to show dismissal with
prejudice.
    While Appellant has not asked us for specific performance of the PTA term,
he also has not objected to the Government’s proposed remedy in his reply
brief. We agree with the Government that specific performance is the appro-
priate remedy for its noncompliance with the PTA. As the Government high-
lighted in its brief, this exact remedy has been utilized by the United States
Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces “in the interest of judicial economy”

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                   United States v. Wolcott, No. ACM 39639

when “conclud[ing] that such action is consistent with the intent of the conven-
ing authority even if the action was not specified in the convening authority’s
action.” United States v. Malacara, 71 M.J. 380 (C.A.A.F. 2012) (mem.) (cita-
tion omitted). We have also recently used the remedy of specific performance,
though at the appellant’s explicit request, in United States v. Ramsdell, No.
ACM 39533, 2019 CCA LEXIS 145 at *5 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2 Apr. 2019) (per
curiam) (unpub. op.). Here, we are (1) satisfied the parties have a mutual un-
derstanding that the dismissal with prejudice provision was a material term
of the PTA; (2) the Government erred by not explicitly complying with this PTA
provision; (3) the intent of the convening authority was to withdraw and dis-
miss with prejudice; (4) the error is susceptible to remedy in the form of specific
performance; and (5) corrective action in the interest of judicial economy is ap-
propriate. See Malacara, 71 M.J. at 380; Smead, 68 M.J. at 59. In our decretal
paragraph we grant Appellant an unambiguous dismissal with prejudice.
B. Cruel or Unusual Punishment
    1. Additional Background
    At action, the convening authority reprimanded Appellant using the follow-
ing language:
       You are hereby reprimanded! Your salacious conduct of com-
       municating with a minor over social media in such a lewd and
       disgusting manner is abhorrent. By possessing child pornogra-
       phy on your personal electronic device you have brought dis-
       credit upon yourself and the armed forces. Also, the federal con-
       viction of these crimes will follow you throughout your life. Fi-
       nally, you have a problem. I hope you get the help you need to
       fix yourself in order to protect the community at large and to
       keep you from reoffending.
    Appellant argues the final three sentences of the reprimand are excessive
and unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment 6 because they (1) make no
measurable contribution to acceptable goals of punishment and are a purpose-
less and needless imposition of pain and suffering; and (2) are grossly out of
proportion to the severity of the crimes. Appellant further argues that the rep-
rimand language violates Article 55, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 855, because the con-
vening authority used information or facts not presented to the court-martial.
Appellant urges us to use our Article 66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866(c), authority
arguing his sentence is inappropriately severe even if we find no Eighth

6U.S. CONST. amend. VIII, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines
imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted.”

                                         7
                   United States v. Wolcott, No. ACM 39639

Amendment or Article 55, UCMJ, violation. Appellant argues he was preju-
diced by the reprimand because “states view this reprimand as justified cau-
tion or a warning to implement tighter sex offender registration requirements
than [they] normally would.”
    The Government argues that the reprimand is proper and its brief ad-
dresses the three sentences identified by Appellant in order. On the first sen-
tence—that the conviction will follow Appellant for the rest of his life—the
Government argues the wording was not incorrect, unreasonably harsh, or out-
side the bounds of the law. On the second sentence—regarding Appellant hav-
ing a “problem”—the Government argues that Appellant’s convictions alone
show that he committed more than one crime of a sexual nature that involved
a minor and demonstrated his “problem.” On the final sentence of the repri-
mand, the Government argues the convening authority did not improperly im-
ply that Appellant had a high risk of recidivism and the expression of “hope”
was a proper comment on the goal of rehabilitating Appellant. Even if the lan-
guage of the reprimand contains error, the Government argues Appellant has
not shown prejudice as he has no basis to support his fear that he may face
tighter sex offender registration requirements because of the reprimand.
   2. Law
    “We review allegations of cruel or unusual punishment under a de novo
standard.” United States v. Pena, 64 M.J. 259, 265 (C.A.A.F. 2007) (citing
United States v. White, 54 M.J. 469, 471 (C.A.A.F. 2001)). “In our evaluation of
both constitutional and statutory allegations of cruel or unusual punishment,
we apply the Supreme Court’s Eighth Amendment jurisprudence ‘in the ab-
sence of legislative intent to create greater protections in the UCMJ.’” Id. (cit-
ing United States v. Lovett, 63 M.J. 211, 215 (C.A.A.F. 2006)).
    “[T]he Eighth Amendment prohibits two types of punishments: (1) those
‘incompatible with the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress
of a maturing society’ or (2) those ‘which involve the unnecessary and wanton
infliction of pain.’” Lovett, 63 M.J. at 215 (quoting Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S.
97, 102–03 (1976)). In the context of the death penalty, the Supreme Court has
said “the Eighth Amendment bars not only those punishments that are ‘bar-
baric’ but also those that are ‘excessive’ in relation to the crime committed.”
Coker v. Georgia, 433 U.S. 584, 592 (1977). A “punishment is ‘excessive’ and
‘unconstitutional’ if it (1) makes no measurable contribution to acceptable goals
of punishment and hence is nothing more than the purposeless and needless
imposition of pain and suffering; or (2) is grossly out of proportion to the sever-
ity of the crime.” Id. Our “judgment should be informed by objective factors to
the maximum possible extent. To this end, attention must be given to the pub-

                                        8
                   United States v. Wolcott, No. ACM 39639

lic attitudes concerning a particular sentence—history and precedent, legisla-
tive attitudes, and the response of juries reflected in their sentencing decisions
are to be consulted.” Id.
    Under Article 66(c), UCMJ, we have broad authority and the mandate to
approve only so much of the sentence as we find appropriate in law and fact
and may therefore grant sentence relief even without finding an Eighth
Amendment or Article 55, UCMJ, violation. See United States v. Gay, 74 M.J.
736, 742 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2015), aff’d, 75 M.J. 264 (C.A.A.F. 2016); see also
United States v. Tardif, 57 M.J. 219, 223 (C.A.A.F. 2002). R.C.M. 1003(b)(1)
states “[a] court-martial shall not specify the terms or wording of a reprimand.
A reprimand, if approved, shall be issued, in writing, by the convening author-
ity.”
   3. Analysis
    Appellant views his reprimand as (1) not making a measurable contribu-
tion to acceptable goals of punishment and a purposeless and needless imposi-
tion of pain and suffering; and (2) grossly out of proportion to the severity of
the crimes. We disagree with his views.
    In general, a reprimand is a punitive censure. Rule for Courts-Martial
(R.C.M.) 1003(b)(1), Discussion. In practice, it is a frank and common-sense
expression of formal disapproval by the convening authority to the accused re-
garding the offenses for which the individual was sentenced. The reprimand
may be based on the offenses, the evidence and testimony admitted at trial,
and other matters that are properly before the convening authority such as a
clemency request or a victim impact statement. Our military justice system
grants the convening authority the discretion to choose the words of the repri-
mand. With few exceptions, in the Air Force, convening authorities are senior
officers with a responsibility to preserve good order and discipline for the Air-
men in their command. It is with this objective and historical backdrop that
we assess Appellant’s claims.
    The military judge determined a reprimand was an appropriate punish-
ment for the offenses. He made no clemency recommendation on the record to
the convening authority. We presume the military judge was aware of R.C.M.
1003(b)(1) which required an approved reprimand to be issued in writing by
the convening authority. United States v. Erickson, 65 M.J. 221, 225 (C.A.A.F.
2007) (citation omitted) (stating military judges are presumed to know the law
and to follow it absent clear evidence to the contrary). In our view, if the mili-
tary judge did not want to grant the convening authority the opportunity to
punitively censure Appellant then he should not have adjudged a reprimand.
There is little question that the military judge adjudged a reprimand knowing
it could serve a useful sentencing purpose.

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                    United States v. Wolcott, No. ACM 39639

    It is also important to recognize that a convening authority does not issue
a reprimand without assistance from a trained legal professional. The post-
trial processing system applicable to Appellant’s case required a “concise writ-
ten communication” of the staff judge advocate (SJA) or legal officer that the
convening authority “shall consider” prior to taking action. R.C.M. 1106(d)(2);
R.C.M. 1107(b)(3)(A)(ii). We have no doubt such advice and coordination as-
sists the convening authority in the exercise of his discretion when a case in-
volves a reprimand. In the post-trial processing documents in this case, the
addendum to the SJA’s recommendation had a draft action attached for the
convening authority to consider. While we do not have the draft action and
cannot see what changes may have been made by the convening authority, ob-
jectively we see a carefully designed clemency process that produced the repri-
mand’s content and reflected the convening authority and SJA operating in
tandem.
    This does not mean that a convening authority’s discretion to reprimand is
unfettered. It is well settled that a convening authority cannot include lan-
guage in a reprimand that directly references an offense that has been dis-
missed or resulted in an acquittal. See, e.g., United States v. Hawes, 51 M.J.
258, 261 (C.A.A.F. 1999) (striking reference to offense dismissed on appeal). In
this case, however, we see no explicit reference in the reprimand to any dis-
missed offense, acquitted offense, or even to uncharged misconduct. Instead,
the convening authority’s reprimand begins by specifying the offenses for
which Appellant was sentenced.
    We find the language the convening authority used to reprimand was
within the discretion provided to the convening authority under the law. In
addition to referencing the offenses for which Appellant was sentenced and the
evidence, we hold that a convening authority may also incorporate generally
accepted sentencing philosophies. These philosophies, which are contained in
the Rules for Courts-Martial, permit a trial counsel during sentencing argu-
ment to argue: (1) rehabilitation of the accused; (2) general deterrence; (3) spe-
cific deterrence of misconduct by the accused; (4) and social retribution. R.C.M.
1001(g). We find it obvious that if a trial counsel can argue for punishment
using general sentencing philosophies then a convening authority may also
utilize one or more of them in a reprimand. We now turn to the language of the
reprimand in question.
    On the first sentence that Appellant requests be stricken, we are not trou-
bled by the reference that a federal conviction will follow Appellant for the rest
of his life. Appellant said as much during his unsworn statement, “After this
conviction, I will register as a sex offender. This will make it incredibly difficult
to find employment in the future, to form a family, to find a place to live. This

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                   United States v. Wolcott, No. ACM 39639

will affect me for the rest of my life.” Trial defense counsel’s sentencing argu-
ment made two similar points: (1) a “conviction of this magnitude that involves
minors, he’s going to have incredibly hard life ahead of him as a 26-year-old”
and (2) “[w]ith this conviction, he already will have that incredible stigma that
follows him throughout his life.” We find a convening authority may use mat-
ters presented or argued by an Appellant during trial in a reprimand.
    On the second sentence Appellant requests to be stricken, he argues that
the convening authority could not determine that he had a “problem” as there
was no evidence of a risk/recidivism assessment or a psychological/psychiatric
evaluation. We are not persuaded. Here, it was reasonable for the convening
authority to conclude that based on the crimes and the stipulated facts that
Appellant had a problem and it still existed on the date Appellant was repri-
manded. The word “problem” as used here by the convening authority does not
implicate a particular legal or medical definition or diagnosis that Appellant
insinuates exists. We find this comment to be well within the generally ac-
cepted sentencing philosophies and therefore proper content for a punitive cen-
sure.
    The third sentence addresses the convening authority’s hope that Appel-
lant will get help to “fix” himself in order to protect the community at large
and to keep him from reoffending. This sentence falls within the sentencing
philosophies of specific deterrence of Appellant and directly addresses his re-
habilitation to a productive place in society. There was no question that Appel-
lant’s convictions required him to register as a sex offender. In our view, this
sentence merely described the convening authority’s aspirations that Appel-
lant will not reoffend and the minors that Appellant inevitably will encounter
in society will remain safe. We will not quibble with the convening authority’s
wording about Appellant fixing himself; we find the choice of wording to be well
within his discretion.
    We find the law provided the convening authority significant discretion to
punitively censure. This reprimand’s wording should be interpreted through
the lens of a two-star general officer, a commander, and a general court-martial
convening authority with a responsibility to preserve good order and discipline
for all the Airmen in his numbered Air Force. We decline to interpret the words
in a hyper-technical or overly legalistic manner. We find the reprimand as a
whole contributed measurably to acceptable goals of punishment and served a
legitimate purpose. Even if we were more troubled with the words chosen by
the convening authority, we see no pain and suffering by Appellant because of
the words of the reprimand. We will not speculate how an unknown state au-
thority will interpret the language of the reprimand to enforce their sex of-
fender registration laws. Finally, we find the reprimand was proportional to

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                    United States v. Wolcott, No. ACM 39639

the severity of the crimes. Therefore, Appellant’s Eighth Amendment claims
must fail.
    We are aware of no legislative intent by Congress to provide greater statu-
tory protection under Article 55, UCMJ, than the Eighth Amendment in this
context. Appellant has not pointed us to any such legislative intent. For the
reasons discussed above, we find Appellant is not entitled to relief under Arti-
cle 55, UCMJ. While Appellant expresses concern with the reprimand refer-
encing information or facts not presented to the court-martial, we do not share
his concern. We find the reprimand as a whole reflects the convicted offenses,
the evidence and information properly before the convening authority at ac-
tion, generally accepted sentencing philosophies, and the aspirations the con-
vening authority wanted to convey to Appellant to do better in the future.
    We also considered whether we should exercise our authority under Article
66(c), UCMJ, even without finding an Eighth Amendment or Article 55, UCMJ,
violation. As Appellant has argued his sentence is inappropriately severe, we
have given individualized consideration to Appellant, the nature and serious-
ness of the offenses, Appellant’s record of service, and all other matters con-
tained in the record of trial. We conclude that the sentence is not inappropri-
ately severe.

                                 III. CONCLUSION
    Specification 1 of Charge I, Specification 1 of Charge II, and the Additional
Charge and its two specifications are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. The
approved findings and sentence are correct in law and fact, and no error mate-
rially prejudicial to the substantial rights of Appellant occurred. Articles 59(a)
and 66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 859(a), 866(c). Accordingly, the findings and
sentence are AFFIRMED. 7

                  FOR THE COURT

                  CAROL K. JOYCE
                  Clerk of the Court

7The general court-martial order also incorrectly identifies Charge I as a violation of
Article 120, UCMJ, when the correct article is Article 120b, UCMJ. We order a cor-
rected general court-martial order.

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