Court Opinion

ID: 4385545
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-10 05:01:12.8576+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:50:24.508749
License: Public Domain

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

                               No. ACM 39374
                          ________________________

                             UNITED STATES
                                 Appellee
                                       v.
                         Benjamin L. Hann
             Senior Airman (E-4), U.S. Air Force, Appellant
                          ________________________

        Appeal from the United States Air Force Trial Judiciary
                            Decided 8 April 2019
                          ________________________

Military Judge: John C. Harwood (arraignment), Donald R. Eller, Jr.
(trial).
Approved sentence: Bad-conduct discharge, confinement for 4 years,
forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and reduction to E-1. Sentence
adjudged 5 May 2017 by GCM convened at Ramstein Air Base, Germa-
ny.
For Appellant: Major Todd M. Swensen, USAF.
For Appellee: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph J. Kubler, USAF; Captain Mi-
chael T. Bunnell, USAF; Mary Ellen Payne, Esquire.
Before JOHNSON, DENNIS, and LEWIS, Appellate Military Judges.
Judge DENNIS delivered the opinion of the court, in which Senior
Judge JOHNSON and Judge LEWIS joined.
                          ________________________

    This is an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as
    precedent under AFCCA Rule of Practice and Procedure 18.4.
                          ________________________

DENNIS, Judge:
    Appellant was convicted, in accordance with his pleas, of two specifica-
tions of dereliction of duty, one specification of false official statement, and
                    United States v. Hann, No. ACM 39374

one specification of obstruction of justice in violation of Articles 92, 107, and
134, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. §§ 892, 907, 934.
Contrary to his pleas, Appellant was also convicted of one specification of
negligent homicide in violation of Article 134, UCMJ. 1 A panel of officer
members sentenced Appellant to a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for
four years, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and reduction to the grade of
E-1. The convening authority approved the sentence as adjudged.
    At the core of this case is the tragic death of SSgt SD, who was riding on
his bicycle when Appellant’s vehicle struck and killed him on a road near
Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Appellant does not contest that he caused
SSgt SD’s death but contests the extent of his culpability. Appellant raises
three issues on appeal: (1) whether the military judge abused his discretion
by not admitting under Military Rule of Evidence 803 a statement made by
Appellant; (2) whether Appellant’s conviction for negligent homicide was fac-
tually and legally sufficient; and (3) whether an 80-day violation of the 120-
day post-trial processing standard from the completion of trial to action war-
rants relief pursuant to United States v. Tardif, 57 M.J. 219 (C.A.A.F. 2002).
We find no prejudicial error and affirm.

                                I. BACKGROUND
   On 26 March 2016, Appellant and several other Airmen left Ramstein Air
Base and headed to a nearby restaurant for dinner. The Airmen rode in two
separate vehicles. Appellant was driving the first vehicle with Airman First
Class (A1C) JB as his only passenger. Senior Airman (SrA) DC was driving
the second vehicle with three other Airmen as his passengers.
    The distance from the base to the restaurant was short. To get there, the
Airmen took two local highways, including one known as K-25, which con-
tained only two lanes, one per direction of traffic. Appellant’s designated lane
was on the right side of the road, but he used the opposing lane to pass other
vehicles, sometimes two or three at a time, that were traveling at slower
rates of speed. Appellant returned to his designated lane when the pass was
complete. SrA DC, who was following closely behind Appellant, completed
each pass just as Appellant did. The K-25 highway contained various speed
limits ranging from 50 kilometers per hour (or approximately 31 miles per
hour) to 100 kilometers per hour (or approximately 62 miles per hour). All of

1Appellant was acquitted of one specification of reckless operation of a vehicle and
one specification of involuntary manslaughter in violation of Articles 111 and 119,
UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 911, 919.

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                    United States v. Hann, No. ACM 39374

the Airmen reported traveling “fast” but varied in their estimations of the
speed the cars were traveling. Their estimations ranged from 40 to 60 miles
per hour.
    At one point, Appellant, who was driving a Ford Mustang, attempted to
pass a sport utility vehicle (SUV) just before a blind right-hand curve on K-
25. The manner in which Appellant completed this pass was the crux of the
dispute at Appellant’s trial. What was not in dispute was that when Appel-
lant saw SSgt SD riding his bicycle towards Appellant, Appellant’s Mustang
almost immediately struck the bicycle, causing SSgt SD to hit the driver’s
side of Appellant’s windshield, fly through the air, and land in a ditch against
a fence just outside an ammunition depot. The ammunition depot gate guard
saw Appellant’s car drive past the gate and noticed that it was “definitely
faster” than the other vehicles on the road. The gate guard did not see the
collision, but he heard the impact, saw SSgt SD’s body fly through the air,
and rushed out of the gate to assist SSgt SD. Appellant and SrA DC both
stopped their vehicles and also rushed to SSgt SD’s aid.
    By all accounts, Appellant became frantic after the collision. He began
crying, yelled for someone to call emergency services, and even pleaded with
two of his fellow Airmen to “take the fall” for the collision because Appellant
“had a family and a kid.” By the time emergency services arrived, SSgt SD
had no pulse. SSgt SD was later pronounced dead due to the multiple injuries
he sustained when he was struck by Appellant’s car.

                                II. DISCUSSION
A. Exclusion of Evidence
   Appellant asserts that the military judge abused his discretion by exclud-
ing a statement Appellant purportedly made about whether SSgt SD was in
Appellant’s lane just before the collision. We find that the military judge did
not abuse his discretion.
   1. Additional Background
    A1C JB, Appellant’s passenger, testified during his direct examination
that, as they were passing the SUV, Appellant made a statement to “make
the presence of the biker known.” Although A1C JB could not recall Appel-
lant’s exact words, he said that “[i]t was something to the effect, like, ‘Look at
this guy’ or like, ‘F[**]king biker’ or something.” During the cross-
examination of A1C JB, trial defense counsel attempted to elicit a different
statement Appellant purportedly made to A1C JB. Specifically, trial defense
counsel sought to admit evidence that Appellant told A1C JB the bicyclist
was in Appellant’s lane just before the collision. When trial counsel objected
to the evidence as impermissible hearsay, trial defense counsel responded

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                   United States v. Hann, No. ACM 39374

that the evidence was not being offered for its truth and engaged in the fol-
lowing colloquy with the military judge:
       DC: Sir, essentially, it’s our theory that: Yes, there was a
           statement made about the location, the presence of the
           biker in the road, but that [A1C JB] is confused about as
           to when that statement was made, whether it was made
           in the car prior to the impact or whether it was made dur-
           ing this discussion afterwards.
       MJ: Do you want to call him back in and ask him those ques-
           tions? I am not going to let you testify. I appreciate your
           theory. I appreciate theme or where you might want to go,
           but right now, there’s a hearsay objection. The hearsay
           objection has to do with your client’s statements or com-
           ments to the witness, on the road, outside of the car. So,
           help me understand how you overcome a hearsay objec-
           tion?
       DC: Essentially, sir, we are saying that that statement has al-
           ready been offered through the government. What were
           [sic] simply trying to elicit through him is the matter of
           the timing; and the fact that there is the possibility that
           he is confused as to when that statement is made.
       MJ: Well, how about this: How about if you ask [A1C JB] that
           statement. “[A1C JB], Airman Hann made some other
           comments to you on the road, correct?” No substance. “Is
           it possible you are confused, that he made a statement
           about the biker, either in the car or while you are on the
           street or while you were standing next to the body[?]”
           That’s the cross-examination, isn’t it?
   When the military judge again invited trial defense counsel to offer an ex-
ception to the hearsay rule, trial defense counsel asserted that the testimony
would be admissible under “the rule of completeness.” See Mil. R. Evid. 106.
The military judge sustained trial counsel’s objection.
   2. Law and Analysis
       a. Standard of Review
    As a threshold matter, we first address the dispute regarding the appro-
priate standard of review. Appellant asserts that we should review the mili-
tary judge’s ruling for an abuse of discretion while the Government asserts
that the appropriate standard of review is plain error. In light of United

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                     United States v. Hann, No. ACM 39374

States v. Palmer, 55 M.J. 205, 207–08 (C.A.A.F. 2001), we review the military
judge’s ruling for an abuse of discretion.
    The appropriate standard by which we review evidentiary rulings tends to
center on one question: whether an issue was properly preserved at trial.
When a military judge’s ruling excludes evidence, Military Rule of Evidence
103(a)(2) requires a party to make the substance of the evidence known to the
military judge “by an offer of proof, unless the substance was apparent from
the context.” Here, the Defense attempted to offer Appellant’s statement at
trial, but did so using entirely different theories of admissibility than Appel-
lant now offers on appeal. At trial, Appellant first asserted that the state-
ment was not being offered for its truth and later asserted that the statement
was admissible under the “rule of completeness.” On appeal, Appellant as-
serts that the statement fell under two exceptions to the hearsay rule: pre-
sent sense impression under Military Rule of Evidence 803(1) and excited ut-
terance under Military Rule of Evidence 803(2). “[I]f evidence is excluded at
trial because it is inadmissible for the purpose articulated by its proponent,
the proponent cannot challenge the ruling on appeal on the ground that the
evidence could have been admitted for another purpose.” Palmer, 55 M.J. at
207–08 (citing United States v. Hudson, 970 F.2d 948, 957 (1st Cir. 1992)).
    In Palmer, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
(CAAF) addressed a similar issue involving whether the defense counsel had
adequately preserved for appeal its objection to the military judge’s exclusion
of evidence. The Army Court of Criminal Appeals reviewed the military
judge’s ruling for plain error. The CAAF reviewed the military judge’s ruling
for an abuse of discretion but found that, “[b]ecause of defense counsel’s
vague and misdirected proffer, we hold that the military judge did not abuse
his discretion by sustaining the Government’s objection to the evidence.”
Palmer, 55 M.J. at 208 (citing Means, 24 M.J. at 163). 2 In light of Palmer, we
review the military judge’s ruling for an abuse of discretion.
       b. Admissibility of Hearsay Statements
   As the CAAF did in Palmer, we consider two factors in analyzing whether
the military judge abused his discretion. The first is whether Appellant
properly brought the issue to the military judge’s attention. The second is
whether the evidence falls under one of the exceptions to the hearsay rule.

2 In Palmer, the CAAF granted review on “[w]hether the United States Army Court
of Criminal Appeals erred in ruling that [the] appellant had failed to establish that
the military judge committed plain error . . . .” 55 M.J. at 206. The CAAF did not ad-
dress whether it was error to apply the plain error standard.

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                    United States v. Hann, No. ACM 39374

    There can be no argument that Appellant failed to bring the exceptions he
now relies on to the military judge’s attention. When the military judge
repeatedly attempted to determine whether a hearsay exception applied, trial
defense counsel offered none. Trial defense counsel also failed to establish
specifically when or how Appellant made the statement that the Defense was
seeking to have admitted. Without this evidence, the military judge was not
required to apply the present sense impression or excited utterance exception
to hearsay. “Military judges are not expected to be clairvoyant. When the
basis for admissibility is not obvious, ‘an offer of proof is required to clearly
and specifically identify the evidence sought to be admitted and its
significance.’” Palmer, 55 M.J. at 207 (citing United States v. Means, 24 M.J.
160, 162–63 (C.M.A. 1987)).
    The Military Rules of Evidence provide several exceptions to the rule
prohibiting the use of hearsay statements during in-court testimony. As
previously mentioned, Appellant now asserts that two of these exceptions
applied in his case: the present sense impression exception and the excited
utterance exception. Military Rule of Evidence 803(1) defines the present
sense impression exception as a “statement describing or explaining an event
or condition, made while or immediately after the declarant perceived it.”
Military Rule of Evidence 803(2) defines the excited utterance exception as a
“statement relating to a startling event or condition, made while the
declarant was under the stress of excitement that it caused.” Though the
exceptions are distinct, both are rooted in the notion that such statements are
inherently reliable because the declarant lacks the opportunity to fabricate in
such circumstances. See United States v. Jones, 30 M.J. 127, 129 (C.M.A.
1990); United States v. Brown, 48 M.J. 578, 582 (A. Ct. Crim. App. 1998)
(quoting Stephen A. Saltzburg, et al., Military Rules of Evidence Manual 942
(4th ed. 1997)).
    Appellant claims that both exceptions applied to the excluded statement
about which lane SSgt SD was in just before the collision because Appellant
made the statement immediately after the collision and while under the
stress of having killed SSgt SD. Appellant asserts that he “described or
explained the event of his vehicle and SSgt [SD] colliding immediately after
the event, i.e., after they ran to the ditch and saw SSgt [SD]’s body lying
there.” Appellant’s assertion is not supported by the record. With respect to
the timing of the excluded statement, A1C JB testified that Appellant made
the statement sometime after Appellant and A1C JB were out of the vehicle,
but “[i]t wasn’t immediately after.” In sustaining the objection, the military
judge noted that the statement was made “[a]t some unknown time.” With
respect to the manner in which Appellant made the excluded statement, A1C
JB testified that Appellant made the statement during a “general like
overview of what went down.” Appellant points to his attempts to get his

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                    United States v. Hann, No. ACM 39374

friends to take responsibility for the collision as evidence that he was under
the stress of the collision. Though stress may have contributed to his actions,
Appellant’s plea of guilty to obstruction of justice also demonstrates that
Appellant was taking advantage of his opportunity to fabricate before law
enforcement officials arrived.
    In the end, it is Appellant’s burden as the proponent of the evidence to es-
tablish the basis for its admissibility. Palmer, 55 M.J. at 208 (citing United
States v. Shover, 45 M.J. 119, 122 (C.A.A.F. 1996)). Appellant failed to meet
his burden both at trial and on appeal.
   We find that the military judge did not abuse his discretion in excluding
Appellant’s statement.
B. Legal and Factual Sufficiency of Negligent Homicide Conviction
    Appellant next asserts that the evidence was legally and factually insuffi-
cient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) that Appellant was negligent
and (2) that Appellant’s actions were prejudicial to good order and discipline
and service discrediting. We disagree.
    We review issues of both legal and factual sufficiency de novo, but the test
for each is distinct. The test for legal sufficiency is “whether, considering the
evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, a reasonable factfind-
er could have found all the essential elements beyond a reasonable doubt.”
United States v. Turner, 25 M.J. 324, 325 (C.M.A. 1987) (citing Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979)). “The test for factual sufficiency ‘is wheth-
er, after weighing the evidence and making allowances for not having per-
sonally observed the witnesses, [we ourselves are] convinced of the [appel-
lant]’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.’” United States v. Reed, 54 M.J. 37, 41
(C.A.A.F. 2000) (quoting Turner, 25 M.J. at 325). In this unique appellate
role, we apply neither the presumption of innocence nor guilt, but rather
make our own “independent determination as to whether the evidence consti-
tutes proof of each required element beyond a reasonable doubt.” United
States v. Washington, 57 M.J. 394, 399 (C.A.A.F. 2002).
   We apply these tests to the issues raised by Appellant in turn.
   1. Negligence
   In order to prove that Appellant committed negligent homicide, the Gov-
ernment was required to prove, inter alia, that Appellant’s actions that
caused SSgt SD’s death amounted to simple negligence.
       Simple negligence is the absence of due care, that is, an act or
       omission of a person who is under a duty to use due care which
       exhibits a lack of that degree of care of the safety of others

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                   United States v. Hann, No. ACM 39374

       which a reasonably careful person would have exercised under
       the same or similar circumstances.
Manual for Courts-Martial, United States (2016 ed.) (2016 MCM), pt. IV, ¶
85c(2).
    Appellant argues that the “vastly different” conclusions reached by the
government and defense experts regarding whether Appellant was in his des-
ignated lane at the point of impact rendered the evidence insufficient to prove
that Appellant’s conduct amounted to simple negligence. But we need not re-
solve the dispute over whether Appellant was in the wrong lane. The Gov-
ernment introduced several other facts to prove that Appellant failed to ex-
hibit due care. We highlight two such facts in our analysis.
   First, Appellant was traveling too fast. Though there was much debate
about the speed at which Appellant was traveling, the slowest speed—
proffered by the Defense accident reconstruction expert—was still approxi-
mately 40 miles per hour, nearly 9 miles over the posted speed limit.
    Second, Appellant did not exercise due care in passing the SUV just be-
fore the blind curve. Appellant argues that “it would have been impossible for
[him] to know that a bicyclist was riding near the [painted] median of the
road on a curve with limited direct line of sight.” But Appellant fails to
acknowledge that the limitations imposed by the curve were precisely the
reason why, in deciding to pass the SUV just before the curve, he exhibited a
lack of due care. At trial, Appellant relied heavily on the fact that SrA DC,
the driver of the other vehicle, was not punished for his similar driving ma-
neuvers on 26 March 2016. Notably, when SrA DC was asked why he chose
not to pass the SUV as Appellant had done, he responded, “The road was a
bit narrow and it didn’t seem like a good idea.” Appellant, on the other hand,
chose to pass a larger vehicle while approaching a blind curve on the K-25.
   Under these circumstances, we find that Appellant failed to exhibit the
“degree of care of the safety of others which a reasonably careful person
would have exercised under the same or similar circumstances” and thus was
negligent.
   2. Terminal Element
   In order to prove that Appellant committed negligent homicide, the Gov-
ernment was required to prove, inter alia, that Appellant’s conduct was prej-

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                     United States v. Hann, No. ACM 39374

udicial to good order and discipline and of a nature to bring discredit upon
the armed forces. 3
    ‘“Conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline’ is conduct which causes
a reasonably direct and obvious injury to good order and discipline.” Military
Judges’ Benchbook, Dept. of the Army Pamphlet 27–9 at 857 (10 Sep. 2014).
Acts that are prejudicial to good order and discipline must be directly preju-
dicial, not “prejudicial in a remote or indirect sense.” 2016 MCM, pt. IV, ¶
60c(2)(a). Here, a junior ranking Airman had a front row seat to Appellant’s
misconduct. Appellant was also aware that a separate car full of Airmen was
following his lead to the restaurant. We are persuaded that Appellant’s con-
duct in the presence of other servicemembers is a sufficiently direct and obvi-
ous injury to good order and discipline.
    “‘Service discrediting conduct’ is conduct which tends to harm the reputa-
tion of the service or lower it in public esteem.” Benchbook, at 857. “Whether
conduct is of a ‘nature’ to bring discredit upon the armed forces is a question
that depends on the facts and circumstances of the conduct, which includes
facts regarding the setting as well as the extent to which Appellant’s conduct
is known to others.” United States v. Phillips, 70 M.J. 161, 166 (C.A.A.F.
2011). Having previously discussed the Government’s evidence at length, we
hasten to our conclusion. The Government’s evidence sufficiently established
that Appellant’s negligent conduct that occurred on a public road while he
was assigned to an overseas duty location and that resulted in the death of a
fellow Airman was of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces.
    Drawing “every reasonable inference from the evidence of record in favor
of the prosecution,” the evidence is legally sufficient to support Appellant’s
conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Barner, 56 M.J. 131,
134 (C.A.A.F. 2001) (citations omitted). After taking a fresh, impartial look at
the evidence, making our own independent determination as to whether the
evidence constitutes proof of the required elements of negligent homicide, and
making allowances for not having personally observed the witnesses, we are
convinced of Appellant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

3 On appeal, the Government asserts that it was only required to prove that Appel-
lant’s conduct was “to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces
or was of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces.” (Emphasis added.) In
this case, the Government charged that Appellant’s conduct was “to the prejudice of
good order and discipline in the armed forces and of a nature to bring discredit upon
the armed forces.” (Emphasis added.) The Government was therefore required to
prove both parts of the terminal element.

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                    United States v. Hann, No. ACM 39374

C. Post-Trial Processing Delay
    It took 200 days from the day Appellant was sentenced for the convening
authority to take action. Appellant asks this court to reduce his confinement
to three years based on this presumptively unreasonable 80-day delay. We
decline to do so.
    Where the convening authority’s action is not taken within 120 days of
the end of trial, we apply the presumption of unreasonable post-trial delay
established by the CAAF in United States v. Moreno, 63 M.J. 129, 142
(C.A.A.F. 2006). We review de novo whether Appellant’s due process rights
were violated because of post-trial delay. Id. at 135 (citations omitted). In
conducting our analysis, we consider the four factors set forth in Barker v.
Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 530–32 (1972): (1) the length of the delay; (2) the rea-
sons for the delay; (3) Appellant’s assertion of the right to timely review and
appeal; and (4) prejudice. “[These] four factors are balanced, with no single
factor being required to find that post-trial delay constitutes a due process
violation.” Moreno, 63 M.J. at 136 (citing Barker, 407 U.S. at 533; Simmons v.
Reynolds, 898 F.2d 865, 868 (2d Cir. 1990)). We apply these factors in turn.
   The first factor, the length of the delay, weighs in Appellant’s favor be-
cause the Government exceeded the Moreno standard for a presumptively un-
reasonable delay by 80 days.
   The second factor, the reasons for the delay, weighs slightly in Appellant’s
favor. Though the Government points to unanticipated issues in transcribing
Appellant’s trial, including the court reporter’s workload, the reasons for the
delay cannot be attributed to Appellant.
    The third factor, whether Appellant exercised his right to speedy post-
trial processing, weighs slightly in favor of Appellant. Though the record is
void of any particular demand for speedy post-trial processing, Appellant
previously requested relief for the violation of his right to speedy post-trial
processing, albeit 190 days after the conclusion of his trial.
    As to the final factor, prejudice, Moreno sets forth three types of prejudice
arising from post-trial processing delays. 63 M.J. at 138–39. The first, op-
pressive incarceration, does not apply to Appellant because he does not pre-
vail in his substantive appeal. Id. at 139. The second, anxiety and concern, is
likewise inapplicable to Appellant. Appellant’s assertion that the post-trial
delay “put off timely resolution of the issues raised by Appellant” does not
rise to the level of “particularized anxiety or concern that is distinguishable
from the normal anxiety experienced by prisoners awaiting an appellate deci-
sion.” Id. at 140. The third and final factor, impairment of the appellant’s
ability to present a defense at a rehearing, is mooted by Appellant’s failure to

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                    United States v. Hann, No. ACM 39374

prevail in his substantive appeal. Id. Prejudice, then, weighs in the Govern-
ment’s favor.
    Where, as here, there is no discernible prejudice from the delay, there is
no due process violation unless the delay is so egregious as to “adversely af-
fect the public’s perception of the fairness and integrity of the military justice
system.” United States v. Toohey, 63 M.J. 353, 362 (C.A.A.F. 2006). Consider-
ing the relevant factors together, we conclude that the 200 days that elapsed
between the conclusion of trial and the convening authority’s action are not
so egregious as to impugn the fairness and integrity of the military justice
system.
    Appellant also asks us to consider whether Tardif relief for excessive post-
trial delay is appropriate in this case even in the absence of a due process vio-
lation. 57 M.J. at 225. In United States v. Gay, 74 M.J. 736, 744 (A.F. Ct.
Crim. App. 2015), aff’d, 75 M.J. 264 (C.A.A.F. 2016), we set forth the follow-
ing factors to determine whether Tardif relief was warranted:
       1. How long did the delay exceed the standards set forth in
       Moreno?
       2. What reasons, if any, has the government set forth for the
       delay? Is there any evidence of bad faith or gross indifference to
       the overall post-trial processing of this case?
       3. Keeping in mind that our goal under Tardif is not to analyze
       for prejudice, is there nonetheless some evidence of harm (ei-
       ther to the appellant or institutionally) caused by the delay?
       4. Has the delay lessened the disciplinary effect of any particu-
       lar aspect of the sentence, and is relief consistent with the dual
       goals of justice and good order and discipline?
       5. Is there any evidence of institutional neglect concerning
       timely post-trial processing, either across the service or at a
       particular installation?
       6. Given the passage of time, can this court provide meaningful
       relief in this particular situation?
Gay, 74 M.J. at 744.
    Appellant does not point to any factor in particular but cites our sister
court’s opinion in United States v. Collazo, 53 M.J. 721, 725 (A. Ct. Crim.
App. 2000), to emphasize that “[a] timely, complete, and accurate record of
trial is a critical part of the court-martial process.” In Collazo, the Army court
granted four months of confinement relief to remedy a variety of post-trial
processing errors, including the Government’s failure to provide the appellant

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                   United States v. Hann, No. ACM 39374

with a copy of the record prior to authentication as required by Rule for
Court-Martial (R.C.M.) 1103, its failure to provide a complete copy of the rec-
ord of trial for use in preparing R.C.M. 1105 matters, as well as the 10-month
delay in preparing the 519-page record of trial. Here, Appellant points only to
the less than 3-month delay in preparing the 1,504-page record of trial and
asks for a one-year reduction in his sentence.
    After considering the factors enumerated in Gay, we conclude that relief
is not warranted. On the whole, the processing of Appellant’s case has not
been subjected to excessive post-trial delay, and we perceive no substantial
harm to Appellant, prejudice to the interests of justice or discipline, or ero-
sion of this court’s ability to conduct our review or grant appropriate relief
that would move us to modify an otherwise fitting sentence.

                              III. CONCLUSION
    The approved findings and sentence are correct in law and fact, and no
error materially prejudicial to the substantial rights of Appellant occurred.
Articles 59(a) and 66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 859(a) and 866(c) (2016). Accord-
ingly, the findings and the sentence are AFFIRMED.

                    FOR THE COURT

                    CAROL K. JOYCE
                    Clerk of the Court

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