United States v. Walker ( 2021 )

U NITED S TATES AIR F ORCE
C OURT OF C RIMINAL APPEALS
________________________
No. ACM 39745 (f rev)
________________________
UNITED STATES
Appellee
v.
Nicholas D. WALKER
Airman (E-2), U.S. Air Force, Appellant
________________________
Appeal from the United States Air Force Trial Judiciary
Upon Further Review
Decided 23 June 2021
________________________
Military Judge: Thomas J. Alford; Andrew R. Norton (Remand).
Sentence: Sentence adjudged on 7 June 2019 by GCM convened at
McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. Sentence entered by military judge
on 24 June 2019 and reentered on 18 February 2021: Dishonorable dis-
charge, confinement for 18 months, reduction to E-1, forfeiture of all
pay and allowances, and a reprimand.
For Appellant: Major Amanda E. Dermady, USAF.
For Appellee: Lieutenant Colonel Brian C. Mason, USAF; Major Anne
M. Delmare, USAF; Mary Ellen Payne, Esquire.
Before MINK, KEY, and RAMÍREZ, Appellate Military Judges.
Judge RAMÍREZ delivered the opinion of the court, in which Senior
Judge MINK and Judge KEY joined.
________________________
This is an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as
precedent under AFCCA Rule of Practice and Procedure 30.4.
________________________
United States v. Walker, No. ACM 39745 (f rev)
RAMÍREZ, Judge:
A general court-martial composed of a military judge sitting alone found
Appellant guilty, consistent with his pleas pursuant to a pretrial agreement
(PTA), of one charge and 17 specifications of wrongful use, possession, distri-
bution, manufacture, and importation of various controlled substances in vio-
lation of Article 112a, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C.
§ 912a; 1 and one charge and its specification of incapacitation for duty in vio-
lation of Article 134, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 934. 2 The charges and specifications
alleged criminal offenses from 2015 to 2018.
The military judge sentenced Appellant to a dishonorable discharge, con-
finement for 25 months, reduction to the grade of E-1, forfeiture of all pay and
allowances, and a reprimand. The convening authority took no action on the
findings but took action regarding the sentence by approving confinement for
only 18 months in accordance with Appellant’s PTA.
Appellant raises three issues on appeal: (1) whether he is entitled to sen-
tence relief because he was denied his prescribed Lexapro medication when he
first entered post-trial civilian confinement, making the conditions cruel and
unusual under the Eighth Amendment 3 to the United States Constitution and
Article 55, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 855, or alternatively under United States v.
Gay, 4 because his post-trial confinement conditions rendered his sentence in-
appropriately severe; (2) whether he is entitled to sentence relief under United
States v. Moreno, 5 or alternatively under United States v. Tardif, 6 because his
case was not docketed with our court within 30 days of action by the convening
authority; and (3) whether he is entitled to sentence relief because other as-
pects of his post-trial civilian confinement conditions were cruel and unusual
under the Eighth Amendment and Article 55, UCMJ, or alternatively, under
1 References to the punitive articles of the UCMJ are to the Manual for Courts-Martial,
United States (2016 ed.). Unless otherwise specified, all other references to the UCMJ
and all references to the Rules for Courts-Martial are to the Manual for Courts-Mar-
tial, United States (2019 ed.).
2One charge and its specification for fraudulent enlistment in violation of Article 83,
UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 883, was withdrawn and dismissed pursuant to the PTA.
3 U.S. CONST. amend. VIII.
4 74 M.J. 736 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2015), aff’d, 75 M.J. 264 (C.A.A.F. 2016).
5 63 M.J. 129 (C.A.A.F. 2006).
6 57 M.J. 219 (C.A.A.F. 2002).
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United States v. Walker, No. ACM 39745 (f rev)
Gay, because his post-trial confinement conditions rendered his sentence inap-
propriately severe. 7
This case is before us for a second time. In our first opinion, we remanded
the case to the Chief Trial Judge, Air Force Trial Judiciary, to resolve a sub-
stantial issue with the convening authority’s decision memorandum as the ac-
tion taken on Appellant’s adjudged sentence was ambiguous and incomplete.
United States v. Walker, No. ACM 39745, 2021 CCA LEXIS 14, at *9 (A.F. Ct.
Crim. App. 19 Jan. 2021) (unpub. op.). 8 On 22 February 2021, this case was re-
docketed with this court after a corrected convening authority decision on ac-
tion and entry of judgment were provided. We now address the raised issues in
Appellant’s assignments of error brief.
Finding no error materially prejudicial to Appellant, we affirm the findings
and sentence.
I. BACKGROUND
A. The Criminal Offenses
Appellant was assigned to the 22d Communications Squadron at
McConnell Air Force Base (AFB), Kansas. On 8 June 2018, the Air Force Office
of Special Investigations (AFOSI) initiated an investigation into Appellant
based on information received from Airman First Class (A1C) JD, who had
purchased MDMA9 from Appellant and observed Appellant snort a line of co-
caine. A1C JD also provided AFOSI a photograph, a video, and social media
posts from Twitter and Reddit related to Appellant’s drug use.
Pursuant to a search warrant for Appellant’s home, law enforcement found
a bag of marijuana, a bag of cocaine, a bag with tetrahydrocannabinol, squares
of 1P-LSD, 10 a container of DMT, 11 and materials used to extract and manu-
facture DMT. After the search of his residence, Appellant admitted conduct
7 This issue is raised pursuant to United States v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431 (C.M.A. 1982).
8 Our remand order was issued before our superior court decided United States v. Bru-
baker-Escobar, ___ M.J. ___, No. 20-0345, 2021 CAAF LEXIS 508 (C.A.A.F. 4 Jun.
2021) (finding the convening authority did not err by not taking action on the findings
or sentence in that case).
9 “MDMA” is a term for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, a Schedule I controlled
substance.
10 “1P-LSD” is a psychedelic drug that is a derivative and functional analogue of lyser-
gic acid diethylamide (LSD), a Schedule I controlled substance.
11 “DMT” is the acronym for dimethyltryptamine, a Schedule I controlled substance.
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United States v. Walker, No. ACM 39745 (f rev)
associated with drug use. Specifically, Appellant admitted that while in the
military, he ingested MDMA approximately ten times, used mushrooms 12 two
to three times, snorted cocaine six to eight times, smoked DMT three times,
and used lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) approximately 15 times, including
while on duty. Appellant also admitted that he manufactured DMT, sold LSD
to A1C JD, and used drugs with three other Airmen. Finally, he admitted that
he imported 1P-LSD and possessed “NBOMB.” 13
B. Appellant’s Post-trial Confinement
According to Appellant’s declaration, he was diagnosed with adjustment
disorder with mixed anxiety and received treatment at the 22d Medical Group
mental health clinic at McConnell AFB. 14 On 25 March 2019, Appellant was
prescribed ten milligrams of Lexapro per day to treat his depression.
Appellant was sentenced on Friday, 7 June 2019 and entered post-trial con-
finement at the Cowley County Jail, Winfield, Kansas the same day. Jail policy
provided that medication received would be turned over to the jail nurse who
would request approval through the Cowley County Jail doctor for approval. 15
Appellant did not receive his Lexapro for the next three days; 8, 9, and 10 June
2019.
The jail’s records indicate Appellant did not send a formal medicine request
on 8 or 9 June 2019, but did on 10 June 2019. The jail responded and Appellant
received his medication the next day. Appellant claims he suffered severe with-
drawal symptoms in these three days and as a result experienced more pain
and suffering in the form of increased side effects. On 13 June 2019, Appellant
also sent a request to the jail medical personnel asking to have his Lexapro
dosage increased because he missed some days. The jail nurse responded to the
request on 14 June 2019. On 18 June 2019 Appellant’s Lexapro dosage was
increased and remained increased until he was released from civilian confine-
ment. However, Appellant complained of unwelcomed side effects.
12 “Mushrooms” refer to psilocybin, a Schedule I controlled substance.
13 “NBOMB” refers to 251-NBOMe, a Schedule I controlled substance.
14 We granted Appellant’s motion to attach his declaration to resolve the raised appel-
late issues. See United States v. Jessie, 79 M.J. 437, 444–45 (C.A.A.F. 2020) (finding
Courts of Criminal Appeals may consider materials outside the record when doing so
is necessary for resolving Article 55, UCMJ, and Eighth Amendment issues).
15 We also consider Cowley County Jail Administrator JB’s declaration to resolve the
raised appellate issues. See Jessie, 79 M.J. at 444–45. JB oversees the policies that
provide the services required by state and federal law at the Cowley County Jail.
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United States v. Walker, No. ACM 39745 (f rev)
Appellant further states that while he was in Cowley County Jail for three
weeks, 16 he was in an open pod with approximately 15 to 20 other inmates, but
slept in a cell which accommodated two or four inmates per cell. The guards
were stationed above the inmates where the guards could see the inmates, but
the inmates could not see the guards. While physical and verbal altercations
broke out between the other inmates, Appellant was never involved in these
altercations. Appellant and his pod-mates spent their time in the open pod
area. Going to and from his medical appointment was the only time Appellant
went outside during the three weeks in civilian confinement. Appellant’s exer-
cise consisted of doing push-ups and sit-ups in the open pod area.
C. Post-trial Processing
On 7 June 2019, Appellant’s sentence was announced. Appellant submitted
clemency matters on 17 June 2019. 17 Three days later, on 20 June 2019, the
convening authority took action on the sentence in Appellant’s case in accord-
ance with the PTA. On 24 June 2019, the military judge signed the entry of
judgment. On 3 July 2019, the court reporter completed the transcript and cer-
tified the record of trial (ROT). On 11 July 2019, the ROT was mailed to Ap-
pellant and he receipted for it on 23 July 2019. On 30 July 2019, the ROT was
received by the Military Justice Division of the Air Force Legal Operations
Agency who then delivered the ROT to this court on 31 July 2019. 18
After this court’s remand, the convening authority signed another Decision
on Action memorandum on 16 February 2021, and the military judge signed
the modified entry of judgment on 18 February 2021. Appellant’s appellate de-
fense counsel filed a brief on 23 April 2021 informing the court that “Appellant
specifically preserves and maintains the three assignments of error (AOE)
raised in his initial brief to this Court . . . .”
II. DISCUSSION
A. Post-trial Confinement Conditions (Medication)
1. Law
16 Subsequent to his three weeks in civilian confinement, Appellant was transferred to
the Naval Consolidated Brig at Charleston, South Carolina.
17 While the Government’s answer to Appellant’s assignment of error brief refers to 17
June 2019 in one section and later 18 June 2019 as the date when Appellant submitted
clemency matters, Appellant’s clemency package is dated 17 June 2019.
18 Appellant’s assignment of error brief indicates 31 July 2019 as the date Appellant’s
case was docketed with this court while the Government’s answer to Appellant’s brief
refers to 21 July 2019 as the docketing date. We find that this case was docketed on 31
July 2019.
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United States v. Walker, No. ACM 39745 (f rev)
We review allegations of cruel and unusual punishment de novo. See United
States v. White, 54 M.J. 469, 471 (C.A.A.F. 2001). We also review sentence ap-
propriateness de novo. United States v. Lane, 64 M.J. 1, 2 (C.A.A.F. 2006) (foot-
note omitted). Under our broad Article 66, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866, authority,
we have the responsibility and de novo power to determine whether the ad-
judged and approved sentence is appropriate, based on a review of the entire
record, which necessarily includes allegations of severe conditions of post-trial
confinement. United States v. Gay, 74 M.J. 736, 742 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2015)
(citation omitted), aff’d, 75 U.S. 264 (C.A.A.F. 2016); see also United States v.
Tardif, 57 M.J. 219, 224 (C.A.A.F. 2002).
The Eighth Amendment prohibits the infliction of cruel and unusual pun-
ishment. Cruel or unusual punishments “are incompatible with the evolving
standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society . . . or which
involve the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.” Estelle v. Gamble, 429
U.S. 97, 102–03 (1976) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
Article 55, UCMJ, also prohibits cruel or unusual punishment. In the ab-
sence of legislative intent to create greater protections under Article 55, courts
are to apply the United States Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Eighth
Amendment to allegations of cruel or unusual punishment. United States v.
Lovett, 63 M.J. 211, 215 (C.A.A.F. 2006) (citations omitted).
To demonstrate an Eighth Amendment violation, an Appellant must show:
“(1) an objectively, sufficiently serious act or omission resulting in the denial
of necessities; (2) a culpable state of mind on the part of prison officials amount-
ing to deliberate indifference to [an appellant’s] health and safety; and (3) that
he has exhausted the prisoner-grievance system . . . and that he has petitioned
for relief under Article 138, UCMJ, 10 USC § 938 [2000].” Lovett, 63 M.J. at
215 (alterations and omission in original) (internal quotation marks and foot-
notes omitted). An appellant has the burden of showing deliberate indifference
by showing that officials had knowledge of, and yet disregarded, an excessive
risk to the appellant’s health or safety. Id. at 216 (citing Farmer v. Brennan,
511 U.S. 825, 837 (1994)).
Finally, a “prisoner must seek administrative relief prior to invoking judi-
cial intervention to redress concerns regarding post-trial confinement condi-
tions.” United States v. Wilson, 73 M.J. 529, 534 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2014)
(quoting United States v. Wise, 64 M.J. 468, 469 (C.A.A.F. 2007)), aff’d, 73 M.J.
404 (C.A.A.F. 2014). “This administrative exhaustion requirement furthers
two related goals: the resolution of the issue at the lowest level and the devel-
opment of the record for later appellate review.” Id. (citations omitted). “Since
a prime purpose of ensuring administrative exhaustion is the prompt amelio-
ration of a prisoner’s conditions of confinement, courts have required that these
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United States v. Walker, No. ACM 39745 (f rev)
complaints be made while an appellant is incarcerated.” Id. (footnote and cita-
tion omitted). “Unless there are some unusual or egregious circumstances, an
appellant with a complaint about post-trial confinement conditions must show
he has exhausted the prisoner-grievance system at the confinement facility
and that he has petitioned for relief under Article 138, UCMJ. Id. (citations
omitted).
“Denial of adequate medical attention can constitute an Eighth Amend-
ment or Article 55[, UCMJ,] violation.” White, 54 M.J. at 474 (citation omitted).
Additionally, a “failure to provide basic psychiatric and mental health care can
constitute deliberate indifference.” Id. at 475 (citation omitted). “However, it is
not constitutionally required that health care be ‘perfect’ or ‘the best obtaina-
ble.’” Id. (quoting Harris v. Thigpen, 941 F.2d 1495, 1510 (11th Cir. 1991)).
While a prisoner is entitled to reasonable medical care, he is not entitled to
“optimal” care. Id.Should allegations be found to not violate either the Eighth Amendment or
Article 55, UCMJ, we may still consider post-trial confinement conditions
when determining overall sentence appropriateness. Gay, 74 M.J. at 742 (cit-
ing United States v. Towns, 52 M.J. 830, 833 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2000)).
Based on the facts of the case, this court may use its Article 66, UCMJ,
authority to grant an appellant sentencing relief in the absence of cruel or un-
usual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment and Article 55,
UCMJ. United States v. Gay, 75 M.J. 264, 269 (C.A.A.F. 2016) (citation omit-
ted). Our superior court does not recognize “unlimited authority of the Courts
of Criminal Appeals to grant sentence appropriateness relief for any conditions
of post-trial confinement of which they disapprove.” Id.
2. Analysis
Appellant claims that the conditions of his post-trial confinement were
cruel and unusual under both the Eighth Amendment to the United States
Constitution and Article 55, UCMJ, because prison officials withheld his pre-
scribed medication. He further claims that if this court determines that his
conditions were not cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment and Ar-
ticle 55, UCMJ, he is nevertheless entitled to sentence relief under Gay, 74
M.J. at 743, because his post-trial confinement conditions at Cowley County
Jail resulted in his sentence being inappropriately severe.
Appellant argues that he was unlawfully denied his prescribed Lexapro for
three days by jail officials with “a culpable state of mind amounting to deliber-
ate indifference to Appellant’s health and safety.” He claims he suffered severe
withdrawal symptoms in the three days that he was denied his medication and,
as a result, his medical provider doubled his dosage of Lexapro, causing him
further pain and suffering in the form of increased side effects.
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United States v. Walker, No. ACM 39745 (f rev)
Because this court has found no legislative intent to create greater protec-
tions under Article 55, UCMJ, we will instead apply the Supreme Court’s in-
terpretation of the Eighth Amendment to Appellant’s allegations of cruel and
unusual punishment. Lovett, 63 M.J. at 215.
As to the first element, Appellant must demonstrate an objectively and suf-
ficiently serious act or omission that resulted in the denial of a necessity. When
Appellant first entered Cowley County Jail, it was late on a Friday night. Un-
der normal conditions, Appellant would have submitted his prescription med-
ication to the nurse at the jail who would have then requested approval
through the jail doctor to administer the medication. It is unclear, from the
record before us, how long this process usually takes or if weekends slow down
the approval process. It is also unclear, from a medical or mental health per-
spective, the level of necessity for this medication as it relates to Appellant.
Therefore, we assume, without deciding, that it is not objectively reasonable
for it to take three days for prescription medication to be approved for inmates.
As to the second element, Appellant must demonstrate that the officials at
the jail possessed a culpable state of mind amounting to deliberate indifference
to his health and safety. Appellant alleges that he requested his medication
and filed an inquiry via the jail’s kiosk system on 8, 9, 10, and 11 June 2019
until he received his medication. Appellant alleges that jail officials knew of
and deliberately disregarded an “excessive risk” to his health and well-being
by denying him Lexapro. The Government contends, in its answer, that, ac-
cording to the records of the jail’s kiosk system, there are no records that Ap-
pellant requested his medication on 8, 9, or 11 June 2019. The Government’s
position is that the only record of Appellant’s grievance regarding his medica-
tion was from 10 June 2019 and he received his medication the very next day
on 11 June 2019.
Although Appellant’s declaration is adequate on its face as to this issue,
the appellate filings and the record as a whole compellingly demonstrate the
improbability of those factual assertions. 19 Thus we find that Appellant’s 10
June 2019 grievance regarding his medication was answered promptly by jail
officials on 11 June 2019. As such, Appellant simply has not come forward with
sufficient evidence showing deliberate indifference by the jail officials. There
is nothing before us to find the jail officials disregarded Appellant’s request for
19 See United States v. Ginn, 47 M.J. 236, 248 (C.A.A.F. 1997) (“[I]f the affidavit is
factually adequate on its face but the appellate filings and the record as a whole ‘com-
pellingly demonstrate’ the improbability of those facts, the Court may discount those
factual assertions and decide the legal issue.”).
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United States v. Walker, No. ACM 39745 (f rev)
medication, disregarded an excessive risk to Appellant’s health or safety, in-
tentionally denied or delayed Appellant’s access to medical care, or intention-
ally interfered with his treatment.
Because we find that Appellant did not meet his burden under the second
prong of the analysis, we need not decide the third prong. Nonetheless, we do
note that this is not an issue of Appellant exhausting the prisoner grievance
system, but rather successfully utilizing it when he requested his Lexapro on
10 June 2019 and received it the next day.
We find Appellant has not met his burden in showing that the conditions
based on his medication amounted to cruel and unusual punishment under the
Eighth Amendment and Article 55, UCMJ.
As Appellant has not met his burden, we will discuss whether he is, none-
theless, still entitled to relief under Gay, 74 M.J. at 736, based on allegations
that his post-trial confinement conditions at Cowley County Jail resulted in
his sentence being inappropriately severe. However, as Appellant combines his
post-trial confinement conditions claim with an argument alleging the Govern-
ment delayed the forwarding of Appellant’s record for appellate review, we will
address both of these issues together below.
B. Delay in Post-Trial Processing
1. Law
We review an appellant’s due process right to a speedy post-trial review
and appeal de novo. United States v. Moreno, 63 M.J. 129, 135 (C.A.A.F. 2006)
(citations omitted). “This court has recognized that convicted servicemembers
have a due process right to timely review and appeal of courts-martial convic-
tions.” United States v. Merritt, 72 M.J. 483, 489 (C.A.A.F. 2013) (citing
Moreno, 63 M.J. at 135).
The test to review claims of unreasonable post-trial delay, set forth in
Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 530 (1972), is to evaluate “(1) the length of the
delay; (2) the reasons for the delay; (3) the appellant’s assertion of the right to
timely review and appeal; and (4) prejudice.” Moreno, 63 M.J. at 135 (citing
Barker, 407 U.S. at 530) (other citations omitted)).
“Once this due process analysis is triggered by a facially unreasonable de-
lay, the four factors are balanced, with no single factor being required to find
that post-trial delay constitutes a due process violation.” Merritt, 72 M.J. at
489 (citing Moreno, 63 M.J. at 135). None of the four factors are either a nec-
essary or sufficient condition to the finding of a due process deprivation.
Barker, 407 U.S. at 533. Additionally, no “single factor is required for finding
a due process violation and the absence of a given factor will not prevent such
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United States v. Walker, No. ACM 39745 (f rev)
a finding.” Moreno, 63 M.J. at 136. “We analyze each factor and make a deter-
mination as to whether that factor favors the Government or the appellant.”
Id. at 136.
In evaluating the reasons for the delay, the court looks at “the Govern-
ment’s responsibility for any delay, as well as any legitimate reasons for the
delay, including those attributable to an appellant.” Id. In evaluating the ap-
pellant’s assertion of the right to timely review and appeal, we consider an
appellant’s role in the delay. Id.
In evaluating prejudice, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed
Forces (CAAF) has found three interests for prompt appeals: “(1) prevention of
oppressive incarceration pending appeal; (2) minimization of anxiety and con-
cern of those convicted awaiting the outcome of their appeals; and (3) limitation
of the possibility that a convicted person’s grounds for appeal, and his or her
defenses in case of reversal and retrial, might be impaired.” Merritt, 72 M.J. at
490 (citing Moreno, 63 M.J. at 138–39).
As it relates to the minimization of anxiety, “the appropriate test for the
military justice system is to require an appellant to show particularized anxi-
ety or concern that is distinguishable from the normal anxiety experienced by
prisoners awaiting an appellate decision.” Moreno, 63 M.J. at 140.
If a court does not find that the post-trial delay was prejudicial under the
fourth Moreno factor, a due process violation only occurs when, “in balancing
the other three factors, the delay is so egregious that tolerating it would ad-
versely affect the public’s perception of the fairness and integrity of the mili-
tary justice system.” United States v. Toohey, 63 M.J. 353, 362 (C.A.A.F. 2006).
Under the new Rules for Courts-Martial procedures, a convening authority
is no longer required to take action on the results of every court-martial. See
Rule for Courts-Martial (R.C.M.) 1109 and 1110. The convening authority may,
after consulting with the staff judge advocate or legal advisor and considering
any matters timely submitted by the accused or a crime victim, decline to take
action on the sentence. R.C.M. 1109(c), (d), (g).
After the convening authority’s decision is communicated to the military
judge, the military judge enters the judgment of the court into the record of
trial, a process known as “entry of judgment.” R.C.M. 1111(a). The entry of
judgment takes the place of action by the convening authority under the former
procedures in the sense that it “terminates the trial proceedings and initiates
the appellate process.” R.C.M. 1111(a)(2). After the military judge enters the
judgment, the court reporter prepares and certifies the record of trial and at-
taches additional matters to the record for appellate review. R.C.M. 1112(c),
(f).
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United States v. Walker, No. ACM 39745 (f rev)
In Tardif, the CAAF recognized that “a Court of Criminal Appeals has au-
thority under Article 66(c), [UCMJ,] to grant relief for excessive post-trial delay
without a showing of ‘actual prejudice’ within the meaning of Article 59(a), if
it deems relief appropriate under the circumstances.” 57 M.J. at 244 (citation
omitted). “[I]n addition to its determination that no legal error occurred within
the meaning of Article 59(a), the [Court of Criminal Appeals is] required to
determine what findings and sentence ‘should be approved,’ based on all of the
facts and circumstances reflected in the record, including the unexplained and
unreasonable post-trial delay.” Id.
2. Analysis
Appellant claims that he is entitled to sentence relief due to an unreasona-
ble post-trial delay because his case was not docketed with our court within 30
days of action by the convening authority. Appellant alleges that he has been
denied his due process right to a speedy post-trial review and has thus been
prejudiced. Appellant further argues that even if this court finds that he has
not been prejudiced by the delay, he is still entitled to sentence relief under
Tardif.
Both the Defense and Government cite United States v. Moody-Neukom,
No. ACM S32594, 2019 CCA LEXIS 521 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 16 Dec. 2019) (per
curiam) (unpub. op.) regarding how to calculate the post-trial time process.
Since this court decided Moody-Neukom, we have addressed this specific issue
on more than one occasion. We find this court’s opinion in United States v.
Clark-Bellamy, No. ACM 39709, 2020 CCA LEXIS 391 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 27
Oct. 2020) (unpub. op.) and United States v. Livak, 80 M.J. 631 (A.F. Ct. Crim.
App. 2020), most helpful. Clark-Bellamy looked at the Moreno standard post
Moody-Neukom as well as Livak.
In Livak, this court explained that “[d]epending on the length and complex-
ity of the record involved, we can envision cases in which the court reporter is
still transcribing the proceedings after the convening authority’s decision.” 80
M.J. at 633. “As such, the prior 30-day period from action to docketing, which
primarily involved transmitting an already-completed ROT to the Court of
Criminal Appeals, now overlays substantive actions such as completing the
preparation of the record.” Id. Therefore, “the specific requirement in Moreno
which called for docketing to occur within 30 days of action no longer helps us
determine an unreasonable delay under the new procedural rules.” Id.
This court ultimately decided that we can apply the aggregate Moreno
standard of 150 days from the day an appellant was sentenced to docketing
with this court. Id. Livak concluded that the “150-day threshold appropriately
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United States v. Walker, No. ACM 39745 (f rev)
protects an appellant’s due process right to timely post-trial and appellate re-
view and is consistent with our superior court’s holding in Moreno.” Id. We
agree with Livak’s analysis and holding and apply its analysis here.
Appellant was sentenced on 7 June 2019 and the record was docketed with
this court on 31 July 2019. This accounts for 54 days of post-trial processing
time—approximately one third of the aggregate Moreno standard. Therefore,
we find no facially unreasonable delay.
Because we find that the 150-day threshold was not violated, there is no
post-trial delay that was prejudicial. As such, we will not proceed further with
the Barker analysis and deny Appellant’s claim.
C. Post-Trial Confinement Conditions (Jail Conditions)
1. Law
The law related to the first issue applies to this one as well and we rely on
the law as set forth above.
2. Analysis
Here Appellant claims that the conditions at Cowley County Jail amounted
to cruel and unusual punishment because the guards did not ensure his safety
and he was denied amenities typically received in Air Force confinement facil-
ities during his three-week incarceration at the jail. He alleges that he was
housed in an open bay with 15 to 20 prisoners, there was minimal supervision
from the guards, he was never permitted to go outside, and he did not have
access to a gym.
Appellant relies on Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 31-115, Air Force Correc-
tions Systems (28 Aug. 2019), to assert that his rights were violated. As Appel-
lant was a post-trial prisoner at all times relevant to this issue, we turn to
Article 55, UCMJ. Because the alleged noncompliance with AFMAN 31-115
does not fall within the enumerated punishments prohibited under Article 55,
UCMJ, we will apply the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Eighth Amend-
ment to Appellant’s allegations of cruel and unusual punishment. Lovett, 63
M.J. at 215.
First, we are not convinced that being in an open bay, supervised by guards
that can see inmates but cannot be seen by inmates, or a three-week absence
from recreational and fitness equipment qualifies as an objectively and suffi-
ciently serious act or omission resulting in the denial of a necessity. According
to the jail administrator’s declaration, outside activities are not a requirement
at Cowley County Jail. Appellant did not sleep in an open bay, he was never
injured, nor is there any reason to believe he was threatened. Put plainly, Ap-
pellant was not denied necessary amenities while incarcerated at Cowley
County Jail.
12
United States v. Walker, No. ACM 39745 (f rev)
Additionally, Appellant does nothing to demonstrate that the officials at
the jail possessed a culpable state of mind amounting to deliberate indifference
to his health and safety, that he has exhausted the prisoner grievance system
with respect to these complaints, or that that he has petitioned for relief under
Article 138, UCMJ.
Therefore, we find Appellant is not entitled to relief as to this issue.
D. Gay and Tardif Relief.
1. Law
Based on the facts of the case, this court may use its Article 66, UCMJ,
authority to grant an appellant sentencing relief in the absence of cruel or un-
usual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment and Article 55,
UCMJ. See Gay, 75 M.J. at 269.
2. Analysis
Appellant argues that similar to Gay, 74 M.J. at 736, his sentence is inap-
propriately severe both on the basis of his post-trial confinement conditions
and the Government’s delay in forwarding Appellant’s ROT for review. Specif-
ically, Appellant argues that jail officials unnecessarily denied him his medi-
cine resulting in physical and psychological manifestations. Additionally, Ap-
pellant claims the Government delayed the forwarding of the ROT for appel-
late review past the Moreno standard with no reasonable explanation.
While we do not excuse the jail’s failure to provide Appellant his prescribed
medication, we are not persuaded that the conditions were inappropriately se-
vere as contemplated by Gay. Since deciding Gay, this court has stated that it
will only grant sentence relief under Article 66, UCMJ, in very rare circum-
stances. United States v. Ferrando, 77 M.J. 506, 517 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2017)
(citations omitted). This case is distinguishable from Gay and does not present
such rare circumstances. In Gay, the appellant was placed in solitary confine-
ment without a valid reason and suffered an unreasonable delay in his post-
trial processing. We do not find that Appellant’s deprivation in missing
Lexapro for three days arises to that demonstrated in Gay, especially when one
considers that the jail officials appeared to follow the jail policy which required
that medication received would be turned over to the jail nurse who would re-
quest approval through the Cowley County Jail doctor for approval before ad-
ministering it to Appellant.
Appellant next claims that he is entitled to Tardif sentence relief under
Article 66, UCMJ. However, because we find that no post-trial delay occurred
under the new procedures, post Moreno, and specifically that there was no un-
explained and unreasonable post-trial delay, Tardif relief is inappropriate.
13
United States v. Walker, No. ACM 39745 (f rev)
III. CONCLUSION
The findings and sentence as entered are correct in law and fact, and no
error materially prejudicial to the substantial rights of Appellant occurred. Ar-
ticles 59(a) and 66(d), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 859(a), 866(d). Accordingly, the find-
ings and the sentence are AFFIRMED.
FOR THE COURT
CAROL K. JOYCE
Clerk of the Court
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