United States v. Owens ( 2019 )

U NITED S TATES AIR F ORCE
C OURT OF C RIMINAL APPEALS
________________________
No. ACM 39457
________________________
UNITED STATES
Appellee
v.
Cameron A. OWENS
Airman (E-2), U.S. Air Force, Appellant
________________________
Appeal from the United States Air Force Trial Judiciary
Decided 24 October 2019 1
________________________
Military Judge: John C. Harwood.
Approved sentence: Dishonorable discharge, confinement for 18 years,
forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and reduction to E-1. Sentence ad-
judged 12 December 2017 by GCM convened at Aviano Air Base, Italy.
For Appellant: Major Mark J. Schwartz, USAF (argued); Lieutenant
Colonel Michael A. Burnat, USAF.
For Appellee: Captain Peter F. Kellett, USAF (argued); Colonel Julie L.
Pitvorec, USAF; Lieutenant Colonel Joseph J. Kubler, USAF; Mary El-
len Payne, Esquire.
Before MAYBERRY, J. JOHNSON, and LEWIS, Appellate Military
Judges.
Senior Judge J. JOHNSON delivered the opinion of the court, in which
Judge LEWIS joined. Chief Judge MAYBERRY filed separately to con-
cur in part and in the result.
________________________
1We heard oral argument in this case on 8 August 2019 at the University of California,
Hastings College of the Law, as part of this court’s Project Outreach.
United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
This is an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as
precedent under AFCCA Rule of Practice and Procedure 30.4.
________________________
J. JOHNSON, Senior Judge:
A general court-martial composed of a military judge alone convicted Ap-
pellant, contrary to his pleas, of one specification of attempted murder, one
specification of aggravated assault, and three specifications of unlawful entry
in violation of Articles 80, 128, and 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice
(UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. §§ 880, 928, 934. 2,3 The military judge sentenced Appellant
to a dishonorable discharge, confinement for 18 years, forfeiture of all pay and
allowances, and reduction to the grade of E-1. The convening authority ap-
proved the adjudged sentence.
Appellant raises two issues on appeal: (1) whether the military judge erred
in denying a motion to suppress Appellant’s statements made to the Italian
police and derivative evidence; and (2) whether Appellant’s conviction for at-
tempted murder is legally and factually sufficient. We find that no error sub-
stantially prejudiced Appellant’s material rights and that the evidence is suf-
ficient, and we affirm the findings and sentence.
I. BACKGROUND
A. The Offenses
In March 2017, Appellant arrived at Aviano Air Base (AB), Italy, his first
permanent duty station. He spent the evening of 10 April 2017 in and around
the Airman dormitories socializing with Airman First Class (A1C) JS, a friend
from technical school. Later that night they were joined by a third Airman, and
the three returned to A1C JS’s dorm room where they eventually fell asleep.
Appellant consumed approximately four or five beers over the course of the
2All references in this opinion to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and
Military Rules of Evidence (Mil. R. Evid.) are to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United
States (2016 ed.).
3 The military judge found Appellant not guilty of one specification of breaking and
entering with the intent to commit murder in violation of Article 129, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C.
§ 929. In addition, after the military judge entered findings he conditionally dismissed
Appellant’s conviction of aggravated assault in violation of Article 128, UCMJ, the con-
dition being that the findings of guilty as to attempted murder “survive[ ] post-trial
and appellate scrutiny.”
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United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
evening. Appellant awoke at approximately 0320 on 11 April 2017 and de-
parted A1C JS’s room alone.
Appellant’s subsequent movements were largely captured on security cam-
eras mounted on and around the dormitories. Appellant spent some time walk-
ing around one large dormitory in particular, 4 looking in windows and entering
several open or unlocked doorways. The rooms in this building were laid out in
a “quad”-style format, with four bedrooms sharing a common kitchen and liv-
ing area. One of the quads that Appellant entered was subsequently discovered
to be missing two knives from its kitchen area.
At approximately 0352, Appellant walked to the rear of a first-floor quad
shared by A1C AS and three other Airmen. Appellant and A1C AS did not
know each other. Appellant climbed over a low wall onto the outdoor patio and
entered the quad through an open sliding door. Security camera video indicates
he spent approximately 13 or 14 minutes inside the quad.
A1C AS later testified that she was sleeping in her bed when she suddenly
felt her “comforter being ripped off of [her] and there was someone standing in
front of [her],” and then she felt a knife strike her “in the back of [her] head.”
Although she never saw the knife, she “felt” it. Appellant continued stabbing
her repeatedly in the head and neck. A1C AS raised her arm defensively and
felt the knife strike her shoulder and arm. A1C AS “scooted” away from Appel-
lant and lowered her arm. Appellant struck her again with the knife, in the
face, and at that point A1C AS screamed for the first time. Appellant then fled
from A1C AS’s room.
Almost immediately, A1C AS also ran from her room. As A1C AS exited her
bedroom to run to the front door of the quad, she saw Appellant fleeing through
the patio door to the rear. Bleeding, A1C AS exited her quad, ran across the
dormitory courtyard and up stairs to the room of a friend, who called 911. Later
that morning, A1C AS was transported to an off-base civilian hospital where
her injuries were treated. In the assault, A1C AS suffered a number of sharp-
force injuries to her face, her ear, the back of her head, her shoulder, and her
forearm, consistent with being struck by a serrated knife blade. However, her
injuries were not life-threatening. A1C AS was treated in the hospital emer-
gency room and released the same day.
In the meantime, after leaving A1C AS’s quad through the patio door at
approximately 0406, Appellant ran to his own dormitory. He first went to the
laundry room and then went to his own room at approximately 0410. At 0449,
4 This was not the same dormitory where either Appellant or A1C JS lived.
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United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
Appellant left his room wearing his uniform and proceeded to his workplace,
where he was scheduled to begin duty at 0500.
B. The Investigation
Special Agent (SA) JW was the first member of the Air Force Office of Spe-
cial Investigations (AFOSI) to arrive at the crime scene. He observed that U.S.
Air Force security forces personnel had initially secured the scene. SA JW in-
structed security forces not to let anyone inside the crime scene. However,
within a “couple of minutes” after SA JW arrived, two Italian police officers
(known as Carabinieri) arrived from the on-base Italian police station. Soon
thereafter, the Carabinieri asserted control over the investigation and threat-
ened to arrest SA JW if he did not allow them access to the crime scene, which
SA JW did. The Carabinieri then began searching the crime scene.
As the Italian investigation got underway, the AFOSI and security forces
essentially conducted a parallel investigation. As part of this investigation, the
AFOSI began reviewing the security camera video of Appellant’s movements.
The AFOSI obtained still images from this video and distributed them to first
sergeants on the base in an effort to identify A1C AS’s attacker. At approxi-
mately 1145 that morning, members of Appellant’s unit identified him from
the video. At approximately 1300 that afternoon, security forces apprehended
Appellant without incident as he was walking back to his dormitory room. The
Carabinieri arrived shortly thereafter and took custody of Appellant.
The Carabinieri initially took Appellant to their on-base station. Through-
out the time Appellant was in Italian custody, the Carabinieri repeatedly
asked him incriminating questions, such as “why did you do it?” At no point
while in Italian custody was Appellant advised of his rights under Article 31,
UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 831, and the Fifth 5 and Sixth 6 Amendments to remain si-
lent and to an attorney. However, Appellant consistently declined to answer
questions from the Carabinieri and he repeatedly asked for a lawyer.
After approximately 30 minutes at the on-base police station, the Carabi-
nieri took Appellant to his dorm room, which they searched in Appellant’s pres-
ence. Although the search was primarily conducted by the Carabinieri, two
AFOSI agents were also present and assisted the Italians specifically by using
a “black light” to search for body fluids; Appellant saw the agents use the black
light on his jacket. The Carabinieri seized a jacket, jeans, shoes, and a cell
phone from Appellant’s room, but they did not find a knife. The AFOSI did not
seize any evidence from Appellant’s room that day.
5 U.S. CONST. amend. V.
6 U.S. CONST. amend. VI.
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United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
After the search of Appellant’s room, the Carabinieri took Appellant to an
off-base police station. There the Carabinieri made additional unsuccessful at-
tempts to interrogate Appellant. Although the officers appeared to become
frustrated and angry, they did not threaten or physically abuse Appellant at
any point. Appellant continued to request an attorney. Other U.S. Air Force
personnel and civilian employees were also present at the station at various
times throughout the day, including AFOSI agents, witnesses, and civilian
translators. However, at no point did AFOSI agents attempt to question Ap-
pellant or participate in questioning by the Carabinieri. Eventually, the Cara-
binieri told Appellant he would be provided an attorney only if he agreed to
make a statement. Appellant agreed to make a statement if he was provided
an attorney.
The Carabinieri contacted Mr. LR, an English-speaking Italian civilian at-
torney. Mr. LR arrived at the police station where he initially met with the
Carabinieri for approximately two or three minutes. Mr. LR later testified the
Carabinieri informed him that there was security video of Appellant, that the
victim had identified Appellant, and that “it seemed he was guilty.” Mr. LR did
not review the video or any other evidence at that point. After speaking with
the Carabinieri, Mr. LR met with Appellant for approximately 10 minutes. Mr.
LR told Appellant the Carabinieri had evidence indicating Appellant was
“guilty,” and he advised Appellant it would be in Appellant’s best interest to
make a statement.
After meeting with Mr. LR, Appellant agreed to make a statement. Appel-
lant provided his statement orally to a Carabinieri officer and Mr. GZ, a civil-
ian interpreter employed by the U.S. Air Force security forces squadron on
Aviano AB. As Appellant spoke, Mr. GZ orally translated Appellant’s state-
ments and the Carabinieri officer would type the statements in Italian onto a
computer. After Appellant gave his statement, a paper copy was printed out
for Appellant to sign. Mr. GZ subsequently testified that he translated the
statement back to Appellant before it was signed. However, the paper copy
presented to Appellant for his signature was only in Italian, which Appellant
could not read. Mr. LR reviewed the statement before Appellant signed it, and
Mr. LR and Mr. GZ also signed it. Although the statement differed from
A1C AS’s recollection of events in important respects, it contained numerous
incriminating admissions. The statement admitted, inter alia, that Appellant
had taken a knife from one of the rooms he had entered, had entered the vic-
tim’s quad through the patio door, had gone into the victim’s room with the
knife in his hand, and had struck her with the knife approximately four times,
although according to Appellant he struck her only after she awakened on her
own and started to scream.
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United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
After Appellant signed the statement on the night of 11 April 2017, he was
taken to an Italian jail cell. From the time Appellant was picked up on Aviano
AB until he was taken to jail he neither received nor asked for either food or
water. Appellant remained at the jail until approximately mid-day on 13 April
2017.
On 12 April 2017, the Italian prosecutor contacted the Aviano AB legal of-
fice regarding Appellant’s case. The prosecutor spoke with Dr. SP, an Italian
legal assistant employed at the Aviano AB legal office who assisted the base
staff judge advocate with criminal jurisdiction matters, among other duties.
The prosecutor told Dr. SP that it appeared the United States would have the
primary right to exercise jurisdiction over Appellant under the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), and he in-
quired whether the United States intended to assert jurisdiction. The following
day, 13 April 2017, Dr. SP accompanied the staff judge advocate to the prose-
cutor’s office to present a formal written notice of the United States’ assertion
of jurisdiction. The prosecutor indicated the Italian investigation would cease
and that he would turn all the evidence over to United States authorities. Ap-
pellant was released from Italian confinement to his first sergeant and entered
military pretrial confinement on the same day.
Appellant did not make a statement to the AFOSI. AFOSI agents sought
and obtained authorizations to search Appellant’s dorm room and to obtain a
DNA sample from Appellant. The affidavit accompanying the requests for
these authorizations included information from Appellant’s 11 April 2017
statement to the Carabinieri. AFOSI agents searched Appellant’s dorm room
on 14 April 2017 and found a knife wrapped in a paper towel inside a shoe box.
Forensic analysis of bloodstains found on the jacket, jeans, and knife seized
from Appellant’s room indicated the presence of blood that matched A1C AS’s
DNA profile.
C. Trial
Before trial, the Defense moved to suppress, inter alia, Appellant’s state-
ment to the Carabinieri on 11 April 2017, as well as any derivative evidence
seized pursuant to search authorizations that relied in part on Appellant’s 11
April 2017 statement as a basis for probable cause. 7 The Defense contended,
inter alia, that the protections of Article 31, UCMJ, and the Fifth and Sixth
Amendments applied to the Carabinieri’s attempts to interrogate Appellant
7 The Defense also moved to suppress the evidence the Carabinieri seized from Appel-
lant’s room on 11 April 2017, as well as incriminating statements Appellant made to
his first sergeant after he was released from Italian custody. The military judge denied
those motions, but those rulings are not at issue on appeal.
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United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
because the Italian investigation was a “mere instrumentality” of the AFOSI
investigation, and even if these protections did not apply, Appellant’s 11 April
2017 statement was the product of coercion. The Government opposed the mo-
tion.
The military judge conducted a lengthy motion hearing at the outset of Ap-
pellant’s trial where he received extensive written filings and heard the testi-
mony of eight witnesses—including Appellant, who testified for limited pur-
poses of the motion hearing. The military judge then issued an oral and written
ruling that largely denied the suppression motion. Specifically, the military
judge ruled, inter alia, Appellant’s 11 April 2017 statement was admissible, as
were the knife and DNA samples AFOSI obtained through search authoriza-
tions. 8 The military judge’s written ruling recounted his findings of fact, recited
applicable law, and explained his reasoning as follows.
First, the military judge found the “initial arrangement” of the Carabinieri
conducting the lead investigation until the United States asserted jurisdiction
on 13 April 2017 to be appropriate. He explained:
The NATO SOFA authorizes the sending State (the United
States) and the receiving State (Italy) concurrent jurisdiction for
criminal offenses committed by U.S. Armed Forces personnel
who have committed an offense in Italy, as long as that offense
is a crime under both United States and Italian [law]. . . . When
the right to exercise jurisdiction is concurrent, the U.S. has the
primary right to exercise jurisdiction in cases involving offenses
solely between members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Article VII, paragraph 6(a) of the NATO SOFA states that the
receiving and sending States “shall assist each other in the car-
rying out of all necessary investigations into offences, and in the
collection and production of evidence, including the seizure and,
in proper cases, the handing over of objects connected with an
offence.” They shall also “assist each other in the arrest of mem-
bers.”
....
Undoubtedly, the assault alleged on A1C [AS] is one that would
violate both Italian and U.S. law. Each state, therefore, would
be entitled to investigate the alleged offenses. As a practical
matter, in this case the Italian Carabinieri were the lead agency
8The military judge did suppress a shirt the AFOSI seized during a much later search
of Appellant’s room because the search was conducted over six months after the au-
thorization expired.
7
United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
investigating the allegation, and were assisted by U.S. authori-
ties. This is consistent with the SOFA provisions and its [sic]
application.
Jurisdiction under the SOFA is a give-and-take process between
the States, with formal mechanisms in place for the assertion of
jurisdiction. This Court finds the initial arrangement of Italian
Carabinieri leading the investigation, assisted by [AFOSI]
agents and [security forces] personnel, to be a proper exercise of
the concurrent jurisdiction under the SOFA.
Second, the military judge noted that under Military Rule of Evidence (Mil.
R. Evid.) 305(f)(2), “foreign law enforcement agents are not required to provide
warnings under Article 31 or the Sixth [sic] Amendment.” He explained that
the rule provides that statements to such agents are admissible unless they
are the product of “coercion, unlawful influence, or unlawful inducement.” The
military judge applied this standard to the circumstances of Appellant’s case.
On one hand, he noted “[Appellant] was 18 years old; he had never traveled
outside of the United States before; he did not have a previous history with law
enforcement; he did not speak Italian; he repeatedly requested the assistance
of an attorney; [and] he was not offered food or water.” On the other hand, the
military judge noted:
[Appellant] was eventually provided access to an Italian attor-
ney, Mr. [LR]; he was not physically harmed or threatened; there
were other U.S. personnel nearby during his holding at the Avi-
ano Carabinieri station; he was generally aware of some of the
evidence the Carabinieri had in this case; and based on what
he’d been told by the Carabinieri and Mr. [LR], [Appellant] de-
cided to make a statement. Based on the totality of the circum-
stances, this Court finds that while the statements made by [Ap-
pellant] may have come in an environment including pressure to
make a statement by the Carabinieri, this pressure was not suf-
ficient to overbear his capacity for self-determination. His state-
ment was made with a basic understanding of the evidence
against him, after receiving advice from Mr. [LR], and in consid-
eration of his circumstances. . . . [H]is statement was given vol-
untarily and is therefore admissible.
Third, the military judge found the AFOSI’s search of Appellant’s room on
14 April 2017 resulting in the seizure of the knife, as well as the seizure of
Appellant’s DNA sample, were lawful. The military judge found that with or
without information from Appellant’s 11 April 2017 statement, the search au-
thorization was supported by sufficient probable cause through other infor-
mation presented to the magistrate, specifically the security video and
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United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
A1C AS’s identification of Appellant. Accordingly, the military judge found this
derivative evidence was also admissible.
At trial, the Government did not introduce Appellant’s 11 April 2017 state-
ment to the Carabinieri. Trial counsel did introduce the knife the AFOSI found
in Appellant’s room, as well as evidence derived from Appellant’s DNA sample.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Denial of the Motion to Suppress
On appeal, Appellant contends the military judge abused his discretion
when he failed to suppress Appellant’s 11 April 2017 statement to the Carabi-
nieri, as well as any evidence the AFOSI derived from that statement, because
the statement was obtained in violation of Appellant’s rights under Article 31,
UCMJ, and the Fifth Amendment.
1. Law
We review a military judge’s ruling on a motion to suppress for an abuse of
discretion, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing
party. United States v. Hoffman, 75 M.J. 120, 124 (C.A.A.F. 2016) (citation
omitted). A military judge abuses his discretion when: (1) his findings of fact
are clearly erroneous; (2) he applies incorrect legal principles; or (3) his “appli-
cation of the correct legal principles to the facts is clearly unreasonable.”
United States v. Ellis, 68 M.J. 341, 344 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (citing United States v.
Mackie, 66 M.J. 198, 199 (C.A.A.F. 2008)). “The abuse of discretion standard is
a strict one, calling for more than a mere difference of opinion. The challenged
action must be arbitrary, fanciful, clearly unreasonable, or clearly erroneous.”
United States v. Solomon, 72 M.J. 176, 179 (C.A.A.F. 2013) (quotation omitted).
Servicemembers are generally entitled to the protections of the Fifth
Amendment. United States v. Tempia, 37 C.M.R. 249, 253–55 (C.M.A. 1967).
The Fifth Amendment provides that “[n]o person . . . shall be compelled in any
criminal case to be a witness against himself . . . .” U.S. CONST. amend. V. As
“[t]he circumstances surrounding in-custody interrogation can operate very
quickly to overbear the will of one merely made aware of his privilege by his
interrogators . . . the right to have counsel present at the interrogation is in-
dispensable to the protection of the Fifth Amendment privilege.” Miranda v.
Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 469 (1966). Once a suspect in custody has “expressed
his desire to deal with the police only through counsel, [he] is not subject to
further interrogation by the authorities until counsel has been made available
to him, unless the accused himself initiates further communication . . . .” Ed-
wards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477, 484–85 (1981); see Mil. R. Evid. 305(e)(3).
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United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
“The protections afforded to servicemembers under Article 31(b), UCMJ,
are in many respects broader than the rights afforded to those servicemembers
under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.” United States v. Evans, 75
M.J. 302, 303 (C.A.A.F. 2016). Article 31(b), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 831(b), pro-
vides:
No person subject to this chapter may interrogate, or request
any statement from an accused or a person suspected of an of-
fense without first informing him of the nature of the accusation
and advising him that he does not have to make any statement
regarding the offense of which he is accused or suspected and
that any statement made by him may be used as evidence
against him in a trial by court-martial.
“Thus, Article 31(b), UCMJ, warnings are required when (1) a person subject
to the UCMJ, (2) interrogates or requests any statement, (3) from an accused
or person suspected of an offense, and (4) the statements regard the offense of
which the person questioned is accused or suspected.” United States v. Jones,
73 M.J. 357, 361 (C.A.A.F. 2014) (footnotes omitted) (citation omitted). An “in-
terrogation” includes “any formal or informal questioning in which an incrim-
inating response either is sought or is a reasonable consequence of such ques-
tioning.” Mil. R. Evid. 305(b)(2).
“No statement obtained from any person in violation of [Article 31, UCMJ],
or through the use of coercion, unlawful influence, or unlawful inducement
may be received in evidence against him in a trial by court-martial.” Article
31(d), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 831(d).
However, Mil. R. Evid. 305(f)(2) governs interrogations of servicemembers
by foreign authorities:
Warnings under Article 31 and the Fifth and Sixth Amendments
to the United States Constitution are not required during an in-
terrogation conducted outside of . . . United States [territory] by
officials of a foreign government or their agents unless such in-
terrogation is conducted, instigated, or participated in by mili-
tary personnel or their agents or by [ ] officials or agents [of the
United States or its political subdivisions]. A statement obtained
from a foreign interrogation is admissible unless the statement
is obtained through the use of coercion, unlawful influence, or
unlawful inducement. An interrogation is not “participated in”
by military personnel or their agents or by the officials or agents
[of the United States or its political subdivisions] merely because
such a person was present at an interrogation conducted in a
foreign nation by officials of a foreign government or their
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United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
agents, or because such a person acted as an interpreter or took
steps to mitigate damage to property or physical harm during
the foreign interrogation.
See generally United States v. French, 38 M.J. 420 (C.M.A. 1993) (explaining
circumstances under which U.S. military involvement in foreign law enforce-
ment interrogation of U.S. servicemember implicates Article 31, UCMJ, and
constitutional rights).
“Voluntariness of a confession is a question of law that an appellate court
independently reviews, de novo.” United States v. Bubonics, 45 M.J. 93, 94
(C.A.A.F. 1996) (citations omitted). With limited exceptions, an involuntary
statement of an accused and any evidence derived therefrom is inadmissible at
trial, provided the defense makes a timely motion or objection. Mil. R. Evid.
304(a). A statement is “involuntary” if it is “obtained in violation of the self-
incrimination privilege or Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the
United States Constitution, Article 31, or through the use of coercion, unlawful
influence, or unlawful inducement.” Mil. R. Evid. 304(a)(1)(A). If the accused’s
“will was overborne and his capacity for self-determination was critically im-
paired, use of his confession would offend due process.” Bubonics, 45 M.J. at 95
(citing Culombe v. Connecticut, 367 U.S. 568, 602 (1961)). The burden is on the
Government to prove by a preponderance of the evidence, under the totality of
the circumstances, that the confession was voluntary. Id. (citations omitted).
Evidence unlawfully obtained by the Government is not necessarily inad-
missible. “Evidence that was obtained as a result of an unlawful search or sei-
zure may be used when the evidence would have been obtained even if such
unlawful search or seizure had not been made.” Mil. R. Evid. 311(c)(2). As the
United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces has explained:
The doctrine of inevitable discovery allows for the admission of
illegally obtained evidence when the government “demon-
strate[s] by a preponderance of the evidence that when the al-
leged illegality occurred, the government agents possessed, or
were actively pursuing, evidence or leads that would have inev-
itably led to the discovery of the evidence in a lawful manner.”
United States v. Eppes, 77 M.J. 339, 347 (C.A.A.F. 2018) (alteration in the orig-
inal) (quoting United States v. Wicks, 73 M.J. 93, 103 (C.A.A.F. 2014)).
Where an error is of constitutional dimensions, an appellate court must
conclude the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt in order to affirm
the result. United States v. Condon, 77 M.J. 244, 246 (C.A.A.F. 2018) (citing
United States v. Jerkins, 77 M.J. 225, 228 (C.A.A.F. 2018)). An error is harm-
less beyond a reasonable doubt when it “did not contribute to the verdict.” Id.
(citing United States v. Chisum, 77 M.J. 176, 179 (C.A.A.F. 2018)).
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United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
2. Analysis
The first step in our analysis is to determine whether Appellant was enti-
tled to the protections of the Fifth Amendment and Article 31, UCMJ, when
the Carabinieri interrogated him. If not, the next step is to determine whether
his 11 April 2017 statement was otherwise “involuntary”—that is, the product
of coercion, unlawful influence, or unlawful inducement. See Mil. R. Evid.
304(a)(1)(A); Mil. R. Evid. 305(f)(2). If Appellant’s statement was unlawfully
obtained, we next consider whether evidence derived from it was nevertheless
admissible under the inevitable discovery doctrine. Finally we consider, if the
evidence was inadmissible, whether the error was nevertheless harmless to the
result of Appellant’s trial beyond a reasonable doubt.
a. Was Appellant’s Statement Lawfully Obtained?
Consistent with our superior court’s analysis in French, we first consider
whether the Italian and United States investigations were “so intertwined”
that Appellant’s interrogation by the Carabinieri was effectively part of
AFOSI’s investigation, such that rights warnings were required. 38 M.J. at
426. We find that the two investigations were not so merged. Carabinieri in-
vestigators arrived at the crime scene within two minutes of the first AFOSI
agent to arrive, SA JW. Shortly thereafter, the Carabinieri asserted jurisdic-
tion over the investigation in emphatic fashion, threatening to arrest SA JW if
they were not allowed access to the crime scene. The Carabinieri then began
searching the scene and actively investigated the crime while AFOSI and se-
curity forces conducted a parallel investigation, separate from the Italians.
As the military judge found, this was consistent with both the SOFA and
standard operating procedures between the Italian and U.S. Air Force author-
ities. The SOFA clearly afforded Italy jurisdiction over this crime. Later, when
the suspect was identified as a U.S. servicemember, it became clear the United
States also had jurisdiction, but until that point it was both lawful and logical
for the Carabinieri to initiate the primary investigation.
It is true that under the SOFA, because the suspect and the victim were
both U.S. servicemembers, the United States had the primary right to exercise
jurisdiction. Furthermore, according to Dr. SP, the United States routinely ex-
ercised its primary right of jurisdiction in such situations. However, as the mil-
itary judge found, and consistent with Dr. SP’s testimony, the United States’
assertion of jurisdiction was a formal process between the two states. Until the
United States formally asserted jurisdiction, Italian authorities had both full
authority and, no doubt, a responsibility to investigate the crime. Moreover,
the record indicates the Carabinieri did vigorously investigate it on their own
authority and not merely at the instigation or inveiglement of U.S. authorities.
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United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
Furthermore, the support that U.S. authorities provided to the Carabinieri
on 11 April 2017 was not so extensive as to transform the Italian investigation
into a “merged” or “intertwined” one. As the military judge noted, the SOFA
required the United States to “assist” Italy in its investigation, to include “the
arrest of [service]members.” Therefore, the fact that security forces appre-
hended Appellant and turned him over to the Carabinieri creates no inference
that the Carabinieri were not conducting an Italian investigation. The AFOSI
agents’ use of a “black light” to help the Carabinieri look for body fluids on
Appellant’s jacket was perhaps a more active step, but we find this limited
involvement in a supporting role did not “merge” the two investigations. It is
instructive to compare Appellant’s case to French in this regard. There, as here,
U.S. Air Force law enforcement provided resources to search the appellant’s
residence for evidence—in that case, by having “an Air Force drug dog and
handler walk[ ] through the [appellant’s] residence at the request of the British
police.” French, 38 M.J. at 423. Despite this and other minor participation by
U.S. personnel in the investigation, the United States Court of Military Ap-
peals found no merger of British and United States investigations. Id. at 426.
Similarly, we conclude that—up to the point at which Appellant provided his
statement on 11 April 2017—he had been held and questioned pursuant to a
solely Italian investigation.
However, Appellant would nevertheless be entitled to Fifth Amendment
and Article 31, UCMJ, rights warnings if the interrogation itself was “partici-
pated in by [U.S.] military personnel or their agents.” Mil. R. Evid. 305(f)(2);
see French, 38 M.J. at 426. The military judge made the following pertinent
findings of fact, which we do not find to be clearly erroneous:
[Appellant] was taken into an interview room, along with Mr.
[LR]. Also in the room were a Carabinieri officer typing his state-
ment, Mr. [GZ], a[ ] [U.S. Air Force security forces] interpreter,
a Carabinieri officer in plain clothes with a goatee, and one other
Carabinieri officer standing behind [Appellant].
[Appellant] does not speak Italian. The questions were posed to
him by Mr. [GZ]. There were sometimes exchanges between the
typist and Mr. [GZ] on what to ask [Appellant]. The interroga-
tion lasted several hours.
After his questioning, [Appellant] was presented with a docu-
ment in Italian that purported to contain his statement. [Appel-
lant] does not believe he was presented with a translation in
English, nor that it was translated to him orally. He was in-
structed to sign the statement, which he did. It was also signed
by Mr. [LR] and Mr. [GZ].
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United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
(Emphasis added.) These findings of fact certainly appear to raise a very real
possibility that an “agent” of the United States military “participated” in Ap-
pellant’s interrogation. Although “merely . . . act[ing] as an interpreter” is not
“participation” for purposes of Mil. R. Evid. 305(f)(2), the military judge’s find-
ings suggest more than mere interpretation. According to the military judge,
Mr. GZ asked the questions, and only “sometimes” did he consult with the Ca-
rabinieri as to what to ask over the course of “several hours.” Furthermore,
Mr. GZ was an “agent” of the United States military in the sense that, in his
own words, he had “work[ed] for Security Forces” at Aviano AB since 2003.
The military judge appears not to have fully appreciated the significance of
his findings. After he found the Carabinieri were properly exercising jurisdic-
tion over the investigation on 11 April 2017, the military judge moved directly
to an analysis of whether Appellant’s statements were the product of coercion,
unlawful influence, or unlawful inducement, without analyzing Mr. GZ’s role
in the interrogation itself. It is possible the military judge believed Mr. GZ was
not acting as an “agent” of the United States military on that particular occa-
sion, in his role as an interpreter for the Carabinieri, despite his employment
by security forces. Alternatively, it may be the military judge believed Mr. GZ
was functioning solely as an interpreter and did not intend for his findings of
fact to convey otherwise. It is possible the military judge simply overlooked this
step in his analysis. In any event, at a minimum the military judge’s findings
of fact, which we are bound to accept unless clearly erroneous, raise a substan-
tial question as to whether an “agent” of the United States military “partici-
pated” in Appellant’s interrogation. Accordingly, rather than further parse the
meanings of “agent” and “participate” in these circumstances, we assume ar-
guendo Appellant was entitled to the protections of Article 31, UCMJ, and the
Fifth Amendment during his custodial interrogation on 11 April 2017, rights
which were plainly not afforded to him. Therefore, for purposes of our analysis,
we assume Appellant’s statement was unlawfully obtained.
As a result, we need not separately consider the military judge’s conclusion
that Appellant’s statement was voluntary before we address whether the de-
rivative evidence was admissible. However, one further point bears comment.
Although Appellant has not raised on appeal the issue of ineffective assistance
of counsel, we have considered the performance of Mr. LR, who testified in the
course of the motion hearing with respect to his role in the creation of Appel-
lant’s statement. Mr. LR’s approach to advising Appellant might strike many
attorneys who practice in the military justice system as reckless. Despite never
having met Appellant before, having no prior knowledge of his case, having
reviewed no actual evidence, and being in his own words “100 percent” certain
Appellant would ultimately be tried by the United States military rather than
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United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
in Italian court, 9 on the basis of a two or three minute conversation with the
Carabinieri, Mr. LR advised Appellant—after a 10-minute consultation—to
provide a highly-incriminating statement. However, even if we assume without
deciding that our ineffective assistance of counsel jurisprudence applied to Mr.
LR and that his performance was deficient in some respect, for the reasons
explained below it is clear any deficiency had no effect on the outcome of the
Appellant’s court-martial. See United States v. Green, 68 M.J. 360, 361–62
(C.A.A.F. 2010) (citations omitted).
b. Was the Derivative Evidence Admissible?
Perhaps presciently, in light of our analysis above, trial counsel elected not
to introduce Appellant’s 11 April 2017 statement at trial. However, the Gov-
ernment did introduce two notable items of evidence that were derived in part
from that statement, specifically the knife AFOSI seized from Appellant’s room
on 14 April 2017 and Appellant’s DNA samples. The AFOSI obtained both
items pursuant to a search authorization that relied in part on information
from Appellant’s statement. Therefore, the next question we must answer is
whether this evidence was admissible even if the statement was unlawfully
obtained. We conclude that it was, based on the doctrine of inevitable discov-
ery. See Mil. R. Evid. 311(c)(2).
The military judge did not reach this issue; therefore, we review de novo
whether a preponderance of evidence demonstrates that “‘when the alleged il-
legality occurred, the government agents possessed, or were actively pursuing,
evidence or leads that would have inevitably led to the discovery of the evi-
dence’ in a lawful manner.” Wicks, 73 M.J. at 103 (quoting United States v.
Dease, 71 M.J. 116, 122 (C.A.A.F. 2012)). They did possess such information.
Even without Appellant’s statement to the Carabinieri, the AFOSI possessed
strong evidence indicating Appellant perpetrated the assault on A1C AS. Spe-
cifically, A1C AS’s description of the assault coupled with the security camera
video and the positive identification of Appellant by members of his unit pro-
vided more than adequate probable cause to support search authorizations for
Appellant’s dorm room and DNA samples. Moreover, we find the AFOSI inev-
itably would have sought such authorizations and conducted these searches
and seizures after United States asserted primary jurisdiction on 13 April
2017.
Appellant contends the Carabinieri’s failure to discover the knife during
their search on 11 April 2017 indicates its discovery was not “inevitable.” We
9Mr. LR testified that, at the time, he was also “99 percent” sure he would not continue
as Appellant’s attorney after the night of 11 April 2017. Mr. LR was correct; his only
further participation in the case was as a witness.
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United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
are not persuaded. Whatever searching protocols or techniques the Carabinieri
employed, we have no reason to doubt the AFOSI would have found the knife
in the shoe box when they inevitably conducted their own search of the room,
as they in fact did find it on 14 April 2017. We have considered whether the
content of Appellant’s statement to the Carabinieri may have assisted the
AFOSI in locating the knife, and we conclude it did not. The statement makes
no reference to wrapping the knife in a paper towel or hiding it in a shoe box
or anywhere else. Essentially, Appellant’s statement indicated that when he
went to his room after the assault he thought he still had the knife in his hand,
but he did not “remember precisely;” it was also possible he left the knife on
the ground somewhere “between the two dormitories.” This was hardly more
information than the AFOSI already possessed from the security video. We
find no basis to conclude the statement materially assisted the AFOSI in locat-
ing the knife.
Accordingly, both the knife and the DNA analysis derived from Appellant’s
DNA sample were admissible, even if Appellant’s statement was unlawfully
obtained.
c. Was Any Error Harmless Beyond a Reasonable Doubt?
Furthermore, even if the knife and analysis of Appellant’s DNA sample
were not admissible at trial, we find any erroneous admission was harmless
beyond a reasonable doubt. 10 Even without these links, the evidence identify-
ing Appellant as A1C AS’s assailant was overwhelming. Among other evidence,
at trial A1C AS positively identified Appellant as her attacker; the security
video depicted Appellant moving around the dormitory, including going into
A1C AS’s quad at the time of the assault; members of Appellant’s unit identi-
fied him in the video; and forensic analysis of bloodstains on Appellant’s cloth-
ing matched A1C AS’s DNA. Furthermore, A1C AS described being stabbed by
Appellant, and testified that although she did not see the knife, she felt it.
Additionally, the Government called Dr. RC, a forensic pathologist, as an ex-
pert witness who testified that he “knew it was a serrated knife as soon as [he]
saw the injuries [to A1C AS].” The most contentious issues at trial were not
whether Appellant stabbed A1C AS or whether he used a knife to do it, but
rather Appellant’s intent at critical points in time, which brings us to the sec-
ond issue Appellant raises on appeal.
10Because we conclude the derivative evidence would have been inevitably discovered
without Appellant’s statement and, even if erroneously admitted, did not contribute to
the verdict, we need not and do not address whether the evidence was also admissible
under Mil. R. Evid. 311(c)(3) (good faith exception) or Mil. R. Evid. 311(a)(3) (apprecia-
ble deterrence).
16
United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
B. Legal and Factual Sufficiency of the Attempted Murder Conviction
1. Law
We review issues of legal and factual sufficiency de novo. United States v.
Washington, 57 M.J. 394, 399 (C.A.A.F. 2002) (citation omitted). Our assess-
ment of legal and factual sufficiency is limited to the evidence produced at trial.
United States v. Dykes, 38 M.J. 270, 272 (C.M.A. 1993) (citations omitted).
The test for legal sufficiency of the evidence is “whether, considering the
evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, a reasonable factfinder
could have found all the essential elements beyond a reasonable doubt.” United
States v. Turner, 25 M.J. 324, 324 (C.M.A. 1987) (citation omitted); see also
United States v. Humpherys, 57 M.J. 83, 94 (C.A.A.F. 2002) (citation omitted).
“[I]n resolving questions of legal sufficiency, we are bound to draw every rea-
sonable inference from the evidence of record in favor of the prosecution.”
United States v. Barner, 56 M.J. 131, 134 (C.A.A.F. 2001) (citations omitted).
The test for factual sufficiency is “whether, after weighing the evidence in
the record of trial and making allowances for not having personally observed
the witnesses, [we are] convinced of the [appellant]’s guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt.” Turner, 25 M.J. at 325. “In conducting this unique appellate role, we
take ‘a fresh, impartial look at the evidence,’ applying ‘neither a presumption
of innocence nor a presumption of guilt’ to ‘make [our] own independent deter-
mination as to whether the evidence constitutes proof of each required element
beyond a reasonable doubt.’” United States v. Wheeler, 76 M.J. 564, 568 (A.F.
Ct. Crim. App. 2017) (alteration in original) (quoting Washington, 57 M.J. at
399), aff’d, 77 M.J. 289 (C.A.A.F. 2018).
As charged in Appellant’s case, the elements of Specification 1 of Charge I
alleging attempted murder of A1C AS in violation of Article 80, UCMJ, 10
U.S.C. § 880, included the following: (1) that Appellant did a certain overt act—
in this case, that Appellant stabbed A1C AS with a knife; (2) that the act was
done with the specific intent to commit a certain offense—in this case, the mur-
der of A1C AS; (3) that the act amounted to more than mere preparation; and
(4) that the act apparently tended to effect the commission of the intended of-
fense. See Manual for Courts-Martial, United States (MCM), pt. IV, ¶ 4.b.;
United States v. Payne, 73 M.J. 19, 24 (C.A.A.F. 2014).
The elements of unpremeditated murder with an intent to kill in violation
of Article 118, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 918(2), include: (1) that a certain person is
dead; (2) that the death resulted from the act of the accused; (3) that the killing
was unlawful; and (4) that, at the time of the killing, the accused had the intent
to kill. MCM, pt. IV, ¶ 43.b.(2).
2. Analysis
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United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
Appellant contends his conviction for attempted murder is legally and fac-
tually insufficient specifically with regard to evidence that he intended to kill
A1C AS. Appellant offers several arguments that we consider in turn.
Appellant refers us to his 11 April 2017 statement to the Carabinieri, not-
ing that therein he does not describe any intent or plan to kill A1C AS or any-
one else. However, as the Government correctly notes, that statement was not
admitted at trial, and therefore is not part of our assessment of the sufficiency
of the evidence that was admitted. See Dykes, 38 M.J. at 272.
Appellant characterizes his behavior during the early morning of 11 April
2017 as “strange,” “random,” “unscripted,” and perhaps influenced by alcohol.
He suggests that the oddity of his behavior indicates the lack of any fixed intent
to commit a murder. However, some evidence suggests Appellant’s behavior
may not have been as “random” as he now portrays, and that he may have been
looking for a particular individual. A1C JS, the friend with whom Appellant
had spent the preceding evening, testified that Appellant had told her about a
female Airman he had met recently that he was “interested in or pursuing.”
Appellant told A1C JS he had “tried to kiss her” but “it didn’t end well,” and
Appellant “seemed a little upset or embarrassed about it.” The female Airman
in question, A1C JL, also testified, and described rejecting Appellant when he
tried to kiss her in her dorm room. Perhaps not coincidentally, A1C JL lived in
the same dormitory where Appellant was peering in windows and exploring
unlocked doors on the morning of 11 April 2017. It is also perhaps not a coin-
cidence that Appellant called A1C JL six times that morning while A1C JL was
asleep. In any event, it is admittedly not clear why exactly Appellant decided
to attack A1C AS. However, the essential question is not why he selected A1C
AS, but whether he intended to kill her when he stabbed her with the knife.
Appellant suggests the “superficial,” non-life-threatening nature of A1C
AS’s wounds indicate he lacked the intent to kill. However, Dr. RC, the forensic
pathologist, testified that three of the stab wounds, including the initial one on
the back of the scalp, were “in the region of the head and neck, and just above
particularly vital structures and areas that would be susceptible to rapid fa-
tality if injured by a sharp force,” and he agreed that even a superficial injury
in that area could be “lethal in short order” if it hit certain points. “[T]he Gov-
ernment [is] free to prove Appellant’s intent by circumstantial evidence.”
United States v. Kearns, 73 M.J. 177, 182 (C.A.A.F. 2014) (citing Brooks v.
United States, 309 F.2d 580, 583 (10th Cir. 1962)). In this case, the circumstan-
tial evidence of Appellant’s intent is that Appellant stabbed a sleeping woman
in the head, very close to a vital area likely to inflict a fatal wound, and contin-
ued striking at her head with a series of rapid knife blows as she rose and
attempted to shield herself. That he failed to kill A1C AS due to nervousness,
inexperience, or some other factor, and then broke off the attack and fled when
18
United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
she screamed, does not indicate a lack of intent to kill when he stabbed her.
Appellant did not know A1C AS, and he said nothing to her during the assault;
his potentially fatal blows had no evident purpose other than an attempt to
kill.
The military judge heard the testimony and observed the witnesses testify.
The military judge was persuaded the Government proved every element of
attempted murder beyond a reasonable doubt, including the intent to kill. So
are we. Drawing “every reasonable inference from the evidence of record in
favor of the prosecution,” the evidence was legally sufficient to support Appel-
lant’s conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. Barner, 56 M.J. at 134. Moreover,
having weighed the evidence in the record of trial and having made allowances
for not having personally observed the witnesses, we are convinced of Appel-
lant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. See Turner, 25 M.J. at 325. Appellant’s
conviction for attempted murder in violation of Article 80, UCMJ, is therefore
both legally and factually sufficient.
III. CONCLUSION
The approved findings and sentence are correct in law and fact, and no er-
ror materially prejudicial to the substantial rights of Appellant occurred. Arti-
cles 59(a) and 66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 859(a), 866(c). Accordingly, the find-
ings and sentence are AFFIRMED.
MAYBERRY, Chief Judge (concurring in part and in the result):
I agree with my esteemed colleagues that the knife and the DNA analysis
derived from Appellant’s DNA sample were admissible under the inevitable
discovery exception to the exclusionary rule, and if they were not, any errone-
ous admission was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Unlike my colleagues,
I find the military judge erred in finding that the investigations involving the
Carabinieri and the agents of the United States military were independent and
that no agent of the United States participated in Appellant’s interrogation. 1
Appellant was entitled to the protections of Article 31, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 831,
and the Fifth Amendment 2 during his custodial interrogation on 11 April 2017.
The majority concludes that “up to the point at which Appellant provided his
1 The majority states that the military judge’s findings of fact raise a substantial ques-
tion as to whether an “agent” of the United States military “participated” in Appellant’s
interrogation and assume arguendo Appellant’s statement was unlawfully obtained.
2 U.S. CONST. amend. V.
19
United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
statement on 11 April 2017—he had been held and questioned pursuant to a
solely Italian investigation.” I disagree.
The facts before us are clear in the overall timeline of events. Air Force
Security Forces and Air Force Office of Special Investigation (AFOSI) person-
nel were at the crime scene shortly before 0500 on 11 April 2017. The Carabi-
nieri arrived shortly thereafter from their on-base station house, demanded
access to the crime scene, and took the lead in the investigation. Within six
hours, Appellant had been identified as the primary suspect based on United
States military law enforcement efforts, which was shared with the Carabi-
nieri. In less than an hour, Appellant was apprehended by United States mili-
tary personnel on base, in the vicinity of Carabinieri forces, and turned over to
the Carabinieri. For approximately the next eight hours, United States agents
were involved and present at virtually every stage of the investigative efforts,
to include the search of Appellant’s dorm room, interview of the victim, and
Appellant’s interrogation. There was never an independent investigation to
merge—all of the investigative activities involved members of both nations’ law
enforcement.
This case is distinguishable from United States v. French, 38 M.J. 420
(C.M.A. 1993), in significant ways. First, the British authorities advised Air-
man First Class French that he had a right to remain silent and that anything
he said could be used in evidence against him. Id. at 421. While this iteration
did not meet the Article 31(b), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 831(b), standards, Appellant
was not provided any rights advisement. Second, the investigation in Appel-
lant’s case was jointly initiated by the United States and Italy from the outset,
whereas in French, it was “unquestionably a British investigation and not a
‘joint operation.’” Id. at 424. Specifically, with regards to the interrogation of
Appellant at the Aviano City Caribinieri station, Mr. GZ, an Italian employee
of the United States security forces, was the only law enforcement member to
speak directly with Appellant. He was not “merely present”; he alone ques-
tioned Appellant and communicated to the Caribinieri “recorder” in a language
Appellant did not speak or understand. For these same reasons, Mr. GZ was
also not a “mere interpreter” pursuant to Mil. R. Evid. 305(f)(2).
Once Appellant was identified as a service member of the United States,
the primary right to exercise jurisdiction belonged to the United States. Appel-
lant’s Italian appointed lawyer knew that within moments after arriving at the
Carabinieri station, informing Appellant that “99 percent [of] my job for you
would finish this evening, because I am sure that the U.S. government would
obtain jurisdiction.”
In light of the facts and circumstances, the military judge erred in finding
this was not a joint investigation requiring that Appellant be advised of his
rights under Article 31, UCMJ, and the Fifth Amendment. Nevertheless, the
20
United States v. Owens, No. ACM 39457
knife and derivative DNA evidence were admissible under the inevitable dis-
covery exception.
FOR THE COURT
CAROL K. JOYCE
Clerk of the Court
21