Court Opinion

ID: 9904746
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-27 19:02:42.28761+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:21:18.644730
License: Public Domain

This opinion is subject to administrative correction before final disposition.

                                Before
                    HOLIFIELD, KIRKBY, and DALY
                       Appellate Military Judges

                        _________________________

                          UNITED STATES
                              Appellee

                                     v.

                    Jose M. BENAVIDEZ, Jr.
                   Corporal (E-4), U.S. Marine Corps
                               Appellant

                             No. 202300119

                        _________________________

                        Decided: 27 November 2023

    Appeal from the United States Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary

                            Military Judges:
                  Adam M. King (arraignment and trial)
                      Terri Zimmerman (motions)

 Sentence adjudged 22 December 2022 by a special court-martial con-
 vened at Marine Corps Base Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, consisting
 of a military judge sitting alone. Sentence in the Entry of Judgment:
 reduction to E-1, confinement for 90 days, forfeiture of $1,222.00 pay
 per month for 12 months, and a bad-conduct discharge.

                          For Appellant:
         Lieutenant Commander Doug R. Ottenwess, JAGC, USN
             United States v. Benavidez, NMCCA No. 202300119
                             Opinion of the Court

                           _________________________

        This opinion does not serve as binding precedent under
              NMCCA Rule of Appellate Procedure 30.2(a).

                           _________________________

PER CURIAM:
    After careful consideration of the record, submitted without assignment of
error, and Appellant having not challenged the factual sufficiency of this case,
we have determined that the findings are correct in law, the sentence is correct
in law and fact, and that no error materially prejudicial to Appellant’s substan-
tial rights occurred. 1
    However, we note that the Entry of Judgment does not accurately reflect
the disposition of the charges. Although we find no prejudice, Appellant is en-
titled to have court-martial records that correctly reflect the content of his pro-
ceeding. 2 In accordance with Rule for Courts-Martial 1111(c)(2), we modify the
Entry of Judgment and direct that it be included in the record.
   The findings and sentence are AFFIRMED.

                                  FOR THE COURT:

                                  MARK K. JAMISON
                                  Clerk of Court

   1 Articles 59 & 66, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §§ 859, 866.

   2 United States v. Crumpley, 49 M.J. 538, 539 (N-M. Ct. Crim. App. 1998).

                                         2
UNITED STATES                                 NMCCA NO. 202300119

       v.                                            ENTRY
                                                      OF
Jose M. BENAVIDEZ, Jr.                             JUDGMENT
Corporal (E-4)
U.S. Marine Corps                              As Modified on Appeal
                     Accused
                                                 27 November 2023

   On 22 December 2022, the Accused was tried at Camp Foster, Okinawa,
Japan, by a special court-martial, consisting of a military judge sitting alone.
Military Judge Adam M. King presided.

                                FINDINGS

   The following are the Accused’s pleas and the Court’s findings to all of-
fenses the convening authority referred to trial:

Charge I:     Violation of Article 120, Uniform Code of Military
              Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 920.
               Plea: Not Guilty.
               Finding: Withdrawn and Dismissed.

   Specification:      Abusive sexual contact on or about 31 October
                       2021.
                       Plea: Not Guilty.
                       Finding: Withdrawn and Dismissed.

Charge II:    Violation of Article 128, Uniform Code of Military
              Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 928.
              Plea: Not Guilty.
              Finding: Withdrawn and Dismissed.
            United States v. Benavidez, NMCCA No. 202300119
                       Modified Entry of Judgment

   Specification:    Assault consummated by a battery on or about
                     31 October 2021.
                     Plea: Not Guilty.
                     Finding: Withdrawn and Dismissed.

Charge III: Violation of Article 134, Uniform Code of Military
            Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 934.
             Plea: Guilty.
             Finding: Guilty.

   Specification:    Indecent conduct on or about 31 October 2021.
                     Plea: Guilty.
                     Finding: Guilty.

                                SENTENCE

   On 22 December 2022, a military judge sentenced the Accused to the fol-
lowing:
      Reduction to pay grade E-1.
      Confinement for a total of 90 days.
      Forfeiture of $1,222.00 pay per month for a total of 12 months.
      A bad-conduct discharge.

                                FOR THE COURT:

                                MARK K. JAMISON
                                Clerk of Court

                                    2