Case: UNITED STATES, Appellee v. WILLIAM D. MAPLE, Private, U. S. Army, Appellant
Abbreviation: United States v. Maple
Decision Date: 1967-11-17
Docket Number: No. 20,313
Citation: 17 C.M.A. 279
Volume: 17
Reporter: Decisions of the United States Court of Military Appeals
Court: United States Court of Military Appeals
Jurisdiction: United States
Parties: UNITED STATES, Appellee v WILLIAM D. MAPLE, Private, U. S. Army, Appellant
Judges: Chief Judge Quinn and Judge Kil-day concur.
Pages: 279–279

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES, Appellee v WILLIAM D. MAPLE, Private, U. S. Army, Appellant
17 USCMA 279, 38 CMR 77
No. 20,313
November 17, 1967
Colonel Daniel T. Ghent, Captain Paul V. Melodía, Captain John Kagel, and Captain Anthony F. Cilluffo were on the pleadings for Appellant, Accused.
Lieutenant Colonel David Rarick, Major John F. Webb, Jr., and Captain Harvey L. Anderson were on the pleadings for Appellee, United States.

Opinion:
Opinion of the Court
Ferguson, Judge:
The accused was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, in violation of Uniform Code of Military Justice, Article 119, 10 USC § 919, and sentenced to bad-conduct discharge, total forfeitures, confinement at hard labor for three years, and reduction. Despite evidence of long and honorable prior service, good character, and receipt of letters of commendation, the law officer gave no instructions on punishment beyond the maximum limitations thereon and the mechanics of voting.
Under the circumstances of this case and in light of the near maximum sentence imposed, the failure to provide adequate sentence instructions was prejudicially erroneous. United States v Wheeler, 17 USCMA 274, 38 CMR 72, this day decided.
The decision of the board of review is reversed and the record of trial is returned to the Judge Advocate General of the Army. The board may reassess the sentence or order a rehearing thereon.
Chief Judge Quinn and Judge Kil-day concur.