Court Opinion

ID: 8571966
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-23 15:12:23.381584+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:53:55.155896
License: Public Domain

Opinion of the Court
Homer Ferguson, Judge:
The accused was convicted of desertion by a general court-martial, in violation of Article 85, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 USC § 885. Since the findings of guilt returned by the members of the court were based upon instructions held to be erroneous by this Court in United States v Soccio, 8 USCMA 477, 24 CMR 287, and United States v Cothern, 8 USCMA 158, 23 CMR 382, the conviction must be set aside. Accordingly, the record of trial is returned to The Judge Advocate General of the Army for reference to a board of review. The board may, in its discretion, order a rehearing on the desertion charge or approve the lesser offense of absence without leave and reassess the sentence on the basis of the remaining approved finding of guilt.
*494Chief Judge Quinn concurs.