United States v. Blow ( 2022 )

U NITED S TATES AIR F ORCE
C OURT OF C RIMINAL APPEALS
________________________
No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
________________________
UNITED STATES
Appellee
v.
Tymon C. BLOW
Airman Basic (E-1), U.S. Air Force, Appellant
________________________
Appeal from the United States Air Force Trial Judiciary
Upon Further Review
Decided 23 August 2022
________________________
Military Judge: Mark W. Milam; Andrew R. Norton (remand).
Sentence: Sentence adjudged on 21 August 2019 by SpCM convened at
Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom. Sentence entered by mil-
itary judge on 2 October 2019 and re-entered on 3 June 2021: Bad-con-
duct discharge, confinement for 5 months, and a reprimand.
For Appellant: Lieutenant Colonel Lance J. Wood, USAF; Major Ryan
S. Crnkovich, USAF; Major Benjamin H. DeYoung, USAF; Major David
A. Schiavone, USAF; Mark C. Bruegger, Esquire.
For Appellee: Lieutenant Colonel Matthew J. Neil, USAF; Major Jessica
L. Delaney, USAF; Major Abbigayle C. Hunter, USAF; Major John P.
Patera, USAF; Major Brittany M. Speirs, USAF; Mary Ellen Payne, Es-
quire.
Before JOHNSON, KEY, and ANNEXSTAD, Appellate Military Judges.
Chief Judge JOHNSON delivered the opinion of the court, in which Sen-
ior Judge KEY and Judge ANNEXSTAD 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This is an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as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. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
________________________
JOHNSON, Chief Judge:
Appellant’s case is before this court for the second time. A special court-
martial composed of a military judge alone found Appellant guilty, contrary to
his pleas, of two specifications of failure to obey a lawful order and one specifi-
cation of assault consummated by battery in violation of Articles 92 and 128,
Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. §§ 892, 928, respectively.1
The military judge sentenced Appellant to a bad-conduct discharge, confine-
ment for five months, and a reprimand. The convening authority originally
took “no action” on the sentence, but provided the language of the adjudged
reprimand. The military judge signed an entry of judgment reflecting the ad-
judged findings and sentence.
In Appellant’s initial appeal to this court he raised four assignments of er-
ror: (1) whether the evidence supporting Appellant’s conviction for assault con-
summated by a battery is legally and factually sufficient; (2) whether the mil-
itary judge abused his discretion when he permitted the introduction of certain
rebuttal evidence; (3) “whether Appellant’s sentence is inappropriately severe
compared to the sentence of his co-actor;” and (4) whether the convening au-
thority’s failure to take action on the sentence required remedial action. This
court determined that remand to the Chief Trial Judge, Air Force Trial Judici-
ary, was warranted with regard to issue (4), and we deferred resolution of the
remaining issues. United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631, 2021 CCA LEXIS
232, at *2, *7 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 14 May 2021) (unpub. op.).
On remand, the convening authority took action on the entire sentence and
a military judge properly re-entered the judgment of the court-martial. The
record has returned to this court for completion of our review pursuant to Ar-
ticle 66(d), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866(d). In addition to the issues previously de-
ferred, Appellant now personally asserts two additional assignments of error
pursuant to United States v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431 (C.M.A. 1982): (5) whether
Appellant’s election to be tried by the military judge alone was improvident in
light of the unanimous jury verdict requirement announced in the United
States Supreme Court’s decision in Ramos v. Louisiana, 140 S. Ct. 1390 (2020);
and (6) whether the military judge abused his discretion by admitting closed
circuit television (CCTV) video depicting the charged assault consummated by
a battery. We have carefully considered Appellant’s arguments with respect to
issue (5) and find that issue does not require discussion or warrant relief. See
1 References to Article 128, UCMJ, are to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States
(2016 ed.). Unless otherwise specified, all other references to the UCMJ and the Rules
for Courts-Martial are to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States (2019 ed.).
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United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
United States v. Matias, 25 M.J. 356, 361 (C.M.A. 1987); see also United States
v. Anderson, No. ACM 39969, 2022 CCA LEXIS 181, at *57 (A.F. Ct. Crim.
App. 25 Mar. 2022) (unpub. op.) (finding unanimous court-martial verdicts not
required in light of Ramos), rev. granted, ___ M.J. ___, 2022 CAAF LEXIS 529(C.A.A.F. 25 Jul. 2022). With regard to issue (1), we find certain language in
the Specification of Charge I (assault consummated by battery) is not factually
sufficient, and we except certain language therefrom and reassess the sen-
tence. With regard to the remaining issues, we find no error materially preju-
dicial to Appellant’s substantial rights, and we affirm the findings, as modified,
and the sentence, as reassessed.
I. BACKGROUND
In November 2018, Appellant was a 21-year-old Airman stationed at Royal
Air Force (RAF) Mildenhall, United Kingdom. On the night of 24–25 November
2018, Appellant and three other Airmen—Airman (Amn) NB, Amn MO, and
Senior Airman (SrA) DG—traveled to a nightclub in Cambridge, United King-
dom.2 Appellant was involved in an altercation outside the club between the
Airmen and several British citizens, including RM, which resulted in Appel-
lant’s conviction for assault consummated by a battery against RM. The details
of this incident were the subject of dispute at trial, and we address the evidence
regarding this offense in detail below. Initially, British police investigated the
incident, but British authorities eventually transferred the case to the United
States Air Force for prosecution.
On 22 March 2019, Appellant received an order from his squadron com-
mander “restrain[ing]” Appellant from initiating any contact or communica-
tion with Amn NB, and requiring Appellant to remain at least 500 feet away
from Amn NB until 22 July 2019. On 26 March 2019, Appellant received an
order from his squadron commander restricting him to the limits of RAF Mild-
enhall for 60 days, i.e. until 25 May 2019. However, on 12 May 2019, in viola-
tion of both orders, Appellant travelled in a car with Amn NB and two other
Airmen from RAF Mildenhall to a nightclub in the town of Peterborough. Ap-
pellant’s misconduct came to light after, on the drive back to RAF Mildenhall,
the Airman driving the car lost control and crashed into a body of water. Fol-
lowing this incident, Appellant was held in pretrial confinement from 14 May
2019 until he was sentenced on 21 August 2019.
2 Airman NB was the subject of a separate special court-martial previously reviewed
by this court. United States v. Bah, No. ACM S32634, 2021 CCA LEXIS 348 (A.F. Ct.
Crim. App. 9 Jul. 2021) (unpub. op.), rev. denied, 82 M.J. 118 (C.A.A.F. 2021).
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United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
II. DISCUSSION
A. Legal and Factual Sufficiency of Assault Consummated by Battery
1. Additional Background
Appellant challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of his conviction for
striking RM “in the body and head with a belt and his hand.” Accordingly, we
address in some detail the relevant evidence adduced at trial.
a. The CCTV Video
The Government introduced video recorded by a CCTV security camera
across the street from where the charged assault took place. The figures de-
picted in the video are blurry and indistinct. However, Appellant is visible in
the video and, based on witness testimony and other photographic evidence,
identifiable due in large part to the distinctive dark jacket with a fur-lined
hood he was wearing. The video appears to depict the following sequence of
events.
The victim, RM, and his three civilian companions are walking away from
the club on a sidewalk between a street and the wall of a church. Appellant
and three other Airmen—Amn NB, Amn MO, and SrA DG—follow and over-
take RM from behind. In particular, Amn NB approaches RM from the right
side and Appellant approaches from the left. Amn NB appears to initiate the
assault by lunging at RM, and he appears to strike RM’s head with his hand.
RM recoils away from Amn NB and toward Appellant, who appears to lash at
or whip RM with something in his right hand, once and perhaps twice. RM
then moves away from Appellant, surrounded by several other figures, toward
a parked van. Appellant follows the group toward the van; Appellant keeps his
right arm out to the side as if he were holding something, although no item can
be discerned at this point due to the poor quality of the video. RM and two
other figures—RM’s male friend D and Appellant’s companion SrA DG—then
fall to the ground in front of Appellant, Amn NB, and Amn MO; as they fall,
Appellant again apparently lashes or whips at one of the falling figures with
an item in his hand.
After the figures fall, Appellant twice lashes violently at a figure on the
ground with the item in his hand, while Amn NB and Amn MO strike at figures
on the ground with their hands and feet, and SrA DG regains his feet. One of
RM’s female companions then pushes Appellant to one side, but he returns to
the fallen figures and lashes once again at someone on the ground. At this
point, RM’s friend D gets to his feet and scrambles away; as he does so, Appel-
lant appears to strike D with his left hand and then lash at D once with the
item in his right hand. Appellant is then again pushed away by one of RM’s
female companions. The Airmen withdraw a short distance, although still in
the frame of the camera, as RM is helped to his feet and eventually moved next
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United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
to the wall of the church. Although the confrontation between the Airmen and
RM’s companions continues for approximately two more minutes, with some
blows exchanged, no further assaults are perpetrated on RM. At one point, Ap-
pellant appears to be holding a belt-like item in his hand. Eventually the Air-
men flee down the alley back toward the club as British police arrive, and the
video ends.
b. RM’s Testimony
RM testified that on the night of 24–25 November 2018, he, his friend D,
and two female acquaintances went to the club to celebrate a birthday. At one
point, RM and one of the women were at the smoking area outside the club
when SL, the other woman in his group, came outside. RM heard “American
voices calling [SL] a ho, and derogatory sort of terms.” RM responded by telling
the Americans, whom he had not met before, “‘You shouldn’t be speaking to
[SL] like that. You’re not in Brooklyn or wherever,’ to that sort of extent.” The
Americans’ reaction to RM was verbally “quite hostile,” but SL finished her
cigarette and RM and the two women went back inside the club.
RM and his group later left the club. Over the course of the night, RM esti-
mated he had drunk two bottles and one can of beer and two glasses of cham-
pagne. He testified that at the point he left the club he was not drunk and was
“in control of his faculties.”
RM testified that after he left the club, in his “peripheral view” he saw one
of the individuals from the incident at the club, wearing a “white baseball cap
and white zip-up jacket,” with “something swished around his hand.” RM then
felt a “massive blow on top of [his] skull,” after which the hood of his jacket was
pulled over his head and he was struck repeatedly in the head from “both
sides.” RM then fell to the ground, where he was “kicked and punched uncon-
scious.” RM, who was 51 years old at the time of the assault, denied having
any weapons with him and could not remember if he fought back against his
assailants. RM testified that as a result of the assault he suffered a cut on top
of his head, his ribs hurt, and he had experienced tinnitus “ever since.”
c. Bystander Testimony
The Government called PS, a British civilian who was walking nearby with
his girlfriend and another female friend, LM, when the incident occurred. PS
could not tell how the fight started, although it looked like one “older” individ-
ual “had been jumped on by a group from behind, and they sort of run him into
a taxi that was by the road, and then taken him to the ground after that.” PS’s
“main memory” of the incident was that he “saw a weapon.” PS testified: “At
the time it looked like a stick, or a rod, about 2 feet in length, and somebody
was swinging overarm, downwards onto somebody who, I think, was already
on the ground at that point.” He continued: “Later, after things had broken up,
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United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
I saw the same person holding a belt in his hand.” PS agreed that the person
holding the belt “looked to be striking another individual.” After the assault,
LM assisted the victim, who was bleeding from his head and lost consciousness
for a period of time.
PS’s friend LM also testified regarding the incident. She observed “an older
gentleman” in a fight with several other men, during which he was “punched,”
went “down on the ground,” and “was kicked repeatedly to the head, and
punched and kicked in the stomach.” LM confirmed there were “definite con-
nections.” As the fight “abated,” LM—who had medical training—assisted RM
and moved him away from the continuing confrontation and to the side of the
church. LM testified RM had a cut on his head and lost consciousness for ap-
proximately 30 seconds at one point.
Neither PS nor LM specifically identified Appellant as being involved in
the incident, or attributed any specific actions to him.
d. SrA DG’s Testimony
The Government called SrA DG, an acquaintance of Appellant’s and part
of the group that travelled with Appellant from RAF Mildenhall to Cambridge
on the night of 24–25 November 2018. SrA DG remembered an argument at
the club between Appellant and a “British guy,” who hit Appellant. SrA DG
testified he did not remember what the argument was about or what was said,
and that the club’s security guards broke up the incident and escorted the Air-
men out. Trial counsel played the CCTV video during SrA DG’s testimony, and
SrA DG identified Appellant, Amn NB, and himself in the video. SrA DG tes-
tified he ran away when the police arrived; however, he stopped when the po-
lice ordered him to. SrA DG was arrested, handcuffed, and briefly detained
before being released without being charged.
e. Police Testimony
The Government called three British police officers to testify. Collectively,
their testimony established that Appellant and Amn NB were arrested by the
British police in Cambridge near the scene of the assault on RM. Both were
photographed wearing distinctive clothing that assisted in identifying them
from the CCTV video. In addition, the police seized a belt from Appellant. The
police did not note any injuries or blood on Appellant at the time of his arrest.
f. Staff Sergeant ER’s Testimony
The Defense introduced the testimony of Staff Sergeant (SSgt) ER, who was
at the same club on the night in question but not as part of Appellant’s group.
SSgt ER testified he saw Appellant, Amn NB, Amn MO, and another Airman
at the club. SSgt ER did not witness the incident between Appellant’s group
and RM. However, he saw the aftermath including “someone on the ground
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United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
who looked like he was in rough shape,” and he saw Appellant, Amn NB, and
Amn MO together shortly thereafter. SSgt ER further testified he had seen the
CCTV video and was able to identify Amn MO, who had been wearing a white
bandana on his head that night.
2. 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. Rodela, 82 M.J. 521, 525 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2021)
(citation omitted), rev. denied, ___ M.J. ___, No. 22-0111, 2022 CAAF LEXIS
278 (C.A.A.F. 12 Apr. 2022).
“The test for legal sufficiency is whether, after viewing the evidence in the
light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have
found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” United
States v. Robinson, 77 M.J. 294, 297–98 (C.A.A.F. 2018) (internal quotation
marks and citation omitted). “[T]he term ‘reasonable doubt’ does not mean that
the evidence must be free from any conflict . . . .” United States v. King, 78 M.J.
218, 221 (C.A.A.F. 2019) (citation omitted). “[I]n resolving questions of legal
sufficiency, we are bound to draw every reasonable 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). Thus, the “standard for legal sufficiency
involves a very low threshold to sustain a conviction.” King, 78 M.J. at 221
(internal quotation marks and citation 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.’” Rodela, 82 M.J. at 525 (second alteration in original) (quoting United
States v. Turner, 25 M.J. 324, 325 (C.M.A. 1987)). “In conducting this unique
appellate role, we take ‘a fresh, impartial look at the evidence,’ applying ‘nei-
ther a presumption of innocence nor a presumption of guilt’ to ‘make [our] own
independent determination 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).
In order to convict Appellant of the charged offense of assault consummated
by a battery in violation of Article 128, UCMJ, the Government was required
to prove: (1) that Appellant did bodily harm to RM; and (2) that the bodily harm
was done with unlawful force or violence. See Manual for Courts-Martial,
United States (2016 ed.) (2016 MCM), pt. IV, ¶ 54.b.(2).
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United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
3. Analysis
The military judge found Appellant guilty as charged of the Specification
of Charge I, which alleged Appellant “unlawfully str[uck] [RM] in the body and
head with a belt and his hand.” We find the Government introduced proof be-
yond a reasonable doubt that Appellant unlawfully struck RM with a belt; how-
ever, we are not convinced the Government proved Appellant specifically
struck RM on the head, or with his hand in addition to the belt.
The most compelling evidence is the CCTV video, in combination with tes-
timony and photographic evidence that enables us to identify Appellant and
other individuals depicted in the video. The video shows Appellant’s group in-
itiating the assault by overtaking RM from both sides and Amn NB striking
RM in the head. Immediately thereafter, Appellant swings specifically at RM
with what later portions of the video, the testimony of PS, and police testimony
prove to be a belt, as charged. Appellant strikes with the belt several more
times as RM falls and is essentially helpless on the ground, before D arises and
Appellant specifically aims two blows at D. Although the target of these several
intervening blows is less distinct, the evidence as a whole indicates the Airmen
specifically targeted RM for attack, and that RM was actually being struck by
multiple individuals during the assault. We find the evidence convincingly
demonstrates that Appellant struck RM somewhere on his body with a belt.
We are not so convinced Appellant separately struck RM with his hand.
Appellant may have done so; and applying the “very low threshold” for legally
sufficient evidence, we find there was evidence to support the military judge’s
finding in that respect. King, 78 M.J. at 221. However, we are not ourselves
convinced beyond a reasonable doubt. In the video, Appellant’s evident focus
was on striking with the belt. We cannot clearly discern any point at which
Appellant landed a blow on RM with his hand rather than the belt.
Similarly, we are not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant
specifically struck RM on the head. It is not possible to discern from the video
where on RM’s body the belt struck him. It is true that RM associated the ini-
tial “massive blow” to his head with being hit by an object, and we believe that
a belt buckle might cause the type of cut that RM suffered on his head. How-
ever, RM’s memory of the incident is poor in several respects, and his testimony
suggesting that it was an individual wearing a white baseball cap and white
jacket who struck him with an item wrapped around his hand poorly matches
the other evidence. The only Airman involved in the assault whose clothing
remotely fits that description was Amn MO, who was wearing a white bandana
on his head but did not appear to have anything in his hand. In addition, the
video strongly suggests Amn NB struck the first blow to RM’s head. It is pos-
sible the cut to RM’s head was caused by some unknown item in or on Amn
NB’s hand, or happened when RM fell against an object or to the ground, or
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United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
was caused by later kicks or strikes to his head. Notably, there is no evidence
of blood on Appellant’s hands, belt, or other clothing.
We note that this court’s opinion reviewing the special court-martial of
Amn NB relied on his liability as a principal for aiding and abetting Amn MO’s
assault and battery of RM to uphold the Article 128, UCMJ, conviction. United
States v. Bah, No. ACM S32634, 2021 CCA LEXIS 348, *18–22 (A.F. Ct. Crim.
App. 9 Jul. 2021) (unpub. op.), rev. denied, 82 M.J. 118 (C.A.A.F. 2021). How-
ever, we cannot uphold Appellant’s conviction of the entire Specification of
Charge I under a similar theory here. In Bah, the Government specifically
asked the military judge in that case3 to consider Amn NB’s guilt as a principal
pursuant to Article 77, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 877 (2016 MCM), by aiding and
abetting others to commit assault consummated by battery on RM. Bah, un-
pub. op. at *11. Moreover, at the defense’s request, the military judge made
written special findings, which included that Amn NB by his actions aided and
abetted Appellant and Amn MO to assault RM, and conspired with Appellant
and Amn MO to unlawfully strike RM. Id. at *12.
In contrast, the Government made no equivalent argument and the mili-
tary judge made no equivalent special findings in Appellant’s case. Indeed,
during oral argument, trial counsel acknowledged the possibility the military
judge would not be convinced of Appellant’s guilt of the entire specification, in
which case the Government proposed the military judge except the unproven
language or convict him of a lesser included offense:
If Your Honor doesn’t think that each of those individual parts
have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt; for some reason if
you think the CCTV footage, all the other testimony is just not
persuasive beyond a reasonable doubt, you have a variety of op-
tions that you could engage in, in this case.
The first option would be you could strike through, except some
words about striking in the head. You could get rid of that lan-
guage. You could get rid of the fist. Or alternatively you could
even go to some type of lesser included offense where there was
just a simple assault, essentially an attempt to commit the as-
sault consummated by a battery.
So if for some reason you think there is some technicality, or the
connection piece was - something that’s slightly missing, then
you can still have a variety of other options to find him guilty
under Article 128, Your Honor.
3 Appellant and Amn NB were convicted by different military judges.
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United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
The essential point is that an appellate court may not “affirm[ ] a conviction
based on a different legal theory than was presented at trial.” United States v.
English, 79 M.J. 116, 122 (C.A.A.F. 2019) (citations omitted). So far as the rec-
ord indicates, the military judge did not convict Appellant for liability as a
principal under Article 77, UCMJ, for aiding or abetting others, and thus we
may not affirm his conviction on such a theory.
Accordingly, drawing every reasonable inference from the evidence of rec-
ord in favor of the Government, we conclude the evidence was legally sufficient
to support Appellant’s conviction of the Specification of Charge I beyond a rea-
sonable doubt. Having weighed the evidence in the record of trial and having
made allowances for not having personally observed the witnesses, we are our-
selves convinced of Appellant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, excepting the
words “and head” and “with his hand.” We take corresponding action in our
decretal paragraph.
Having modified the findings, we have considered the reassessment of Ap-
pellant’s sentence in light of the factors enumerated in United States v. Winck-
elmann, 73 M.J. 11, 15–16 (C.A.A.F. 2013) (citations omitted). We find reas-
sessment is appropriate. Based on the modified findings, we conclude the mil-
itary judge would have imposed the same adjudged sentence of a bad-conduct
discharge, confinement for five months, and a reprimand. Our modification
does not substantially alter the essential nature or extent of Appellant’s mis-
conduct. In addition, the military judge could reasonably have considered Ap-
pellant’s repeated misconduct, reflected not only in his convictions but in three
nonjudicial punishment actions and two vacation of suspended punishment ac-
tions under Article 15, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 815, among other adverse actions
admitted as prosecution exhibits, reflected negatively on his rehabilitation po-
tential. Significantly, the military judge adjudged a concurrent five-month sen-
tence for one of the Article 92, UCMJ, offenses as well as for the Article 128,
UCMJ, offense, so the overall term of confinement presumably would not have
changed. We also conclude the military judge would still have imposed a bad-
conduct discharge and reprimand. Furthermore, having reviewed the language
of the reprimand supplied by the convening authority, we find no cause to mod-
ify the reprimand or set it aside.
B. Rebuttal Evidence
1. Additional Background
During presentencing proceedings, the Government called Technical Ser-
geant (TSgt) IW, Appellant’s former supervisor during a six-month period.
When asked for his opinion regarding the character of Appellant’s service dur-
ing his supervision, TSgt IW testified Appellant was “an extremely poor troop.”
On cross-examination, TSgt IW testified Appellant arrived for work “a little
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United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
disheveled” numerous times, and “a couple of times” Appellant smelled like
alcohol and appeared hung over. Following cross-examination, the military
judge asked TSgt IW whether he “talk[ed] to somebody about a concern that
[Appellant] might have a problem or anything like that.” TSgt IW responded
that it had been brought up to the first sergeant, and Appellant had been “al-
lotted ADAPT[4] and everything like that.” TSgt IW testified Appellant had
been given time to attend ADAPT, but TSgt IW did not personally know if Ap-
pellant actually attended ADAPT appointments.
Appellant’s mother, Ms. CB, testified by telephone during the Defense’s
presentencing case. During her direct testimony, Ms. CB opined, “I think this
all has something to do with the alcohol use he always did before he was in
[pretrial] confinement.” When the military judge asked Ms. CB whether Ap-
pellant’s offenses seemed “out of character” for him, she replied, “Abso-
lutely. . . . [I]t’s still hard for me to wrap my head around, because that’s not
at all the young man that we raised and that he is. . . . So to me it really is
extremely - alcohol seems to - this is all to what he has done, to alter his per-
sonality, his [inaudible]. That is not [Appellant].”
Appellant’s stepfather, Mr. CB, a retired noncommissioned officer and for-
mer first sergeant in the United States Army, also testified by telephone as a
defense witness. During the direct examination, trial defense counsel asked
Mr. CB what the “rules [were] going to be like concerning alcohol” when Ap-
pellant returned to live with his parents after leaving the Air Force. Mr. CB
responded,
There’s going to be no alcohol. And he needs help. If [he] needs
that help, professional help, to help him overcome that, that is
not of any question. He will get that help. It will be provided to
him, and which I think that is probably along the lines of what
needs to happen. And so that help will be provided to him.
Following the direct examination, the military judge asked Mr. CB, “What
makes you think he’s going to follow your, [sic] and why would he care if he
didn’t care about rules from a Lieutenant Colonel that was his commander?”
Mr. CB provided a lengthy response contrasting the family environment with
the military environment, and describing his Army experience that troubled
4 “ADAPT” is an abbreviation for the “Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treat-
ment” program. See Air Force Instruction 44-121, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention
and Treatment Program (18 Jul. 2018).
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United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
individuals would be removed to a different environment “where they can start
over.” In pertinent part, in the midst of his response Mr. CB stated,
But through all of that, my first assessment of that would be I
don’t know what he did, but was there any treatments, or rec-
ommendations to him as far as attending alcohol classes like
ASAP,[5] or anything like that while he was in the Air Force?
Was there any of that stuff - you know - offered to him? Was it
command driven, or whatever? . . .
The Defense offered and the military judge admitted Defense Exhibit C, a
character letter from two of Appellant’s cousins. The cousins opined that Ap-
pellant “bonded with the wrong people and became addicted by abusing alco-
hol,” and that Appellant’s “only way to recover and change his life, is to be
around his/our family, where he is supported, happy and able to get rid of the
alcohol addiction . . . .”
Appellant also provided a written unsworn statement to the military judge
which included the following:
I want to sincerely apologize for the offenses I have been con-
victed of. All of the decisions were made under the influence of
alcohol. I have struggled with an alcohol problem ever since I got
a DUI in December 2017. . . . Hanging with the wrong crowd in
the dorms caused me to start drinking almost daily . . . . I didn’t
realize I had a serious problem and didn’t seek the right treat-
ment, and I continued to make bad decisions under the influence
of alcohol. . . .
After the Defense rested its presentencing case, the Government recalled
Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) LP, Appellant’s first sergeant, as a rebuttal
witness.6 After SMSgt LP testified that he had been involved in “referrals to
ADAPT” for Appellant, trial defense counsel objected that the Defense had not
“open[ed] the door” to such testimony. Trial counsel responded by citing Mr.
CB’s testimony and the Defense’s cross-examination of TSgt IW. In response,
trial defense counsel argued that Mr. CB did not testify that rehabilitative
measures such as ADAPT had not been attempted, and that the Defense’s
cross-examination of TSgt IW did not refer to ADAPT at all. The military judge
ultimately permitted SMSgt LP to testify in rebuttal, citing primarily Mr. CB’s
testimony to the effect that, as the military judge put it, “there wasn’t enough
5 “ASAP” was evidently a reference to the “Army Substance Abuse Program.” See Army
Regulation 600–85, The Army Substance Abuse Program (28 Nov. 2016).
6 SMSgt LP had previously testified as a government witness for findings with regard
to the Article 92, UCMJ, specifications.
12
United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
done for his son, and that’s why he may have violated the orders and got into
the trouble that he got into.”
In response to questioning by the military judge, SMSgt LP testified that
Appellant had been referred to ADAPT multiple times, the first time following
a DUI incident in December 2017. SMSgt LP described that Airmen referred
to ADAPT who were under investigation were provided the option of deferring
their participation until the investigation concluded, which is what happened
in Appellant’s case following the DUI. After the DUI investigation closed, Ap-
pellant participated in an alcohol dependency evaluation by ADAPT. SMSgt
LP testified that Appellant was referred to ADAPT again after the November
2018 assault and battery of RM in Cambridge, and Appellant again deferred
participation in light of the ongoing investigation. The military judge did not
permit trial counsel to ask SMSgt LP whether Appellant ever “outright de-
clined” to participate in ADAPT, as opposed to choosing to attend or to defer
participation.
After the military judge received SMSgt LP’s testimony, he commented on
his perspective on Appellant’s decision to defer participation in ADAPT and on
why he admitted SMSgt LP’s testimony:
I’m very familiar with the fact that when a client gets referred
to ADAPT, that many times the client is told [by their defense
counsel], “Don’t say anything. Don’t do anything at this point.
There’s reasons you shouldn’t say anything or do anything.” I
mean, I think we all as lawyers understand that, and I have ex-
perience with it from long ago. So, got it. I mean, if your point is
that he was referred to ADAPT, the unit did what they should
have done and directed him to ADAPT based upon the incidents
that occurred, that I have all the paperwork on, then I got it.
[A]nd I’m going to overrule the objection because I think that’s
legitimate, that at least the unit was doing their job.
Because that was a concern of mine when I asked [TSgt IW] was,
was the unit just letting [Appellant] down and letting him just
flail in the wind, even though he smelled like alcohol and looked
disheveled. I didn’t necessarily get that from [TSgt IW], that the
answer that no, the unit didn’t let him down. It sounds, from
[SMSgt LP’s] testimony that they didn’t let him down. They put
him in the program, and he had the opportunity to decline or to
participate. There’s many reasons why he would decline based
upon what he was alleged to have done. So in my mind, I don’t
see any prejudice to [Appellant], because I completely under-
stand why he might not participate based upon what he was fac-
ing.
13
United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
2. Law
“We review a military judge’s decision to admit evidence for an abuse of
discretion.” United States v. Norwood, 81 M.J. 12, 17 (C.A.A.F. 2021) (citation
omitted). “An abuse of discretion occurs when a military judge either errone-
ously applies the law or clearly errs in making his or her findings of fact.”
United States v. Donaldson, 58 M.J. 477, 482 (C.A.A.F. 2003) (citing United
States v. Humpherys, 57 M.J. 83, 90 (C.A.A.F. 2002)). “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. McElhaney, 54 M.J. 120, 130 (C.A.A.F. 2000)
(quoting United States v. Miller, 46 M.J. 63, 65 (C.A.A.F. 1997); United States
v. Travers, 25 M.J. 61, 62 (C.M.A. 1987)).
The legal function of rebuttal evidence is to “explain, repel, counteract or
disprove the evidence introduced by the opposing party.” United States v. Saf-
erite, 59 M.J. 270, 274 (C.A.A.F. 2004) (quoting United States v. Banks, 36 M.J.
150, 166 (C.M.A. 1992)) (additional citations omitted). “The scope of rebuttal is
defined by evidence introduced by the other party.” Banks, 36 M.J. at 166 (ci-
tations omitted). “Rebuttal evidence, like all other evidence, may be excluded
pursuant to [Mil. R. Evid.] 403 if its probative value is substantially out-
weighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.” Saferite, 59 M.J. at 274 (citing
United States v. Hursey, 55 M.J. 34, 36 (C.A.A.F. 2001)). Military judges are
afforded broad discretion in applying Mil. R. Evid. 403, but we give less defer-
ence to military judges “if they fail to articulate their balancing analysis on the
record.” United States v. Collier, 67 M.J. 347, 353 (C.A.A.F. 2009) (quoting
United States v. Manns, 54 M.J. 164, 166 (C.A.A.F. 2000) (citations and quota-
tion marks omitted)).
Whether an error is harmless is a question of law we review de novo. United
States v. Bowen, 76 M.J. 83, 87 (C.A.A.F. 2017). “When there is error in the
admission of sentencing evidence, the test for prejudice ‘is whether the error
substantially influenced the adjudged sentence.’” United States v. Barker, 77
M.J. 377, 384 (C.A.A.F. 2018) (quoting United States v. Sanders, 67 M.J. 344,
346 (C.A.A.F. 2009)). We consider four factors when determining whether an
error had a substantial influence on the sentence: “(1) the strength of the Gov-
ernment’s case; (2) the strength of the defense case; (3) the materiality of the
evidence in question; and (4) the quality of the evidence in question.” Id. (cita-
tions omitted).
3. Analysis
Appellant contends the military judge abused his discretion by admitting
SMSgt LP’s rebuttal testimony regarding Appellant’s command-directed refer-
rals to the ADAPT program. He concedes that at trial the Defense attempted
14
United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
to “establish as a matter in mitigation that during the charged timeframe
. . . Appellant struggled with alcohol abuse.” However, he asserts “[n]o witness
mentioned military alcohol treatment programs in response to a defense ques-
tion.” Appellant further contends the military judge mistakenly believed the
Defense, rather than the military judge himself, first brought up the subject of
ADAPT.7
Reviewing under the deferential abuse of discretion standard, we do not
find the military judge erred. Information elicited by the Defense, independent
of information elicited by the military judge, suggested the Air Force had not
done enough to assist Appellant with alcohol dependency as a matter in miti-
gation. For example, the assertion in Defense Exhibit C that the “only way [for
Appellant] to recover and change his life, is to be around his/our family, where
he is supported, happy and able to get rid of the alcohol addiction” implied
Appellant had not received such support or opportunities from his chain of
command. In that light, SMSgt LP’s testimony that Appellant’s command had
referred him to ADAPT multiple times for evaluation was relevant to “coun-
teract” the Defense’s presentation. See Saferite, 59 M.J. at 274. Furthermore,
although the military judge did not conduct an explicit balancing analysis un-
der Mil. R. Evid. 403, he could reasonably conclude the danger of unfair preju-
dice in this judge-alone proceeding did not substantially outweigh the proba-
tive value. See Sanders, 67 M.J. at 346 (citations omitted) (“[A] military judge
is presumed to know the law and apply it correctly, absent clear evidence to
the contrary.”). In this regard, the military judge noted he found it entirely
understandable that Appellant would defer or decline participation in ADAPT
in light of the ongoing investigation and proceedings. Accordingly, we find the
military judge’s ruling to permit limited rebuttal testimony that Appellant’s
command had referred him to ADAPT was neither arbitrary, fanciful, nor
clearly unreasonable. See McElhaney, 54 M.J. at 130.
Assuming arguendo the military judge did err by admitting SMSgt LP’s
rebuttal testimony, we conclude such an error did not substantially influence
Appellant’s sentence. The Government’s sentencing case was very strong. Ap-
pellant not only participated in the unprovoked violent assault on RM leading
to Appellant’s arrest by British police, but engaged in further misconduct by
blatantly disobeying his commander’s orders to have no contact with Amn NB
and to be restricted to base while under investigation for that assault. Moreo-
7 The military judge accepted trial defense counsel’s proposition that the military
judge’s own questions would not open the door to rebuttal evidence, stating: “I know I
asked about ADAPT, but that obviously wouldn’t open the door in my mind. But I be-
lieve [D]efense - it was mentioned in the answer that [D]efense got [from TSgt IW],
and that’s why I actually asked about it.”
15
United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
ver, the Government introduced evidence of numerous other instances of mis-
conduct from Appellant’s service record, including three nonjudicial punish-
ment actions and two vacation of suspended punishment actions under Article
15, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 815, two letters of reprimand (including one for a DUI
conviction in British court), and an administrative demotion. In addition, the
military judge received RM’s unsworn statement and testimony from RM’s fi-
ancée describing RM’s medical, emotional, and financial problems following
the assault. The Defense’s sentencing case was not insubstantial—in particu-
lar, the testimony of Dr. KB, an Air Force neurologist, cast some doubt on the
extent to which RM’s problems were attributable to Appellant’s actions. How-
ever, the Defense’s case otherwise relied primarily on Appellant’s unsworn
statement and statements or testimony of family members, who attempted to
portray Appellant as an individual with considerable talent and potential who
was unfortunately bedeviled by alcohol abuse. On the whole, the Government’s
evidence in aggravation and the extensive negative information from Appel-
lant’s service record significantly outweighed the evidence in mitigation and
extenuation.
As for the materiality and quality of the rebuttal evidence, SMSgt LP’s tes-
timony was not significantly harmful to the Defense. SMSgt LP essentially tes-
tified that Appellant’s command had referred him to ADAPT after his DUI in
late 2017 and after the November 2018 assault on RM, and that Appellant had
initially deferred participation while the investigations were ongoing. The mil-
itary judge made a point of stating he “completely underst[oo]d” why Appellant
would defer participation under the circumstances, and that testimony would
not prejudice Appellant. Moreover, we find no prospect that SMSgt LP’s testi-
mony regarding the simple fact of Appellant’s referral to ADAPT substantially
influenced the sentence. TSgt IW’s testimony during the Government’s presen-
tencing case already implied Appellant had been so referred; SMSgt LP’s tes-
timony did not directly contradict any other statement or testimony; and this
collateral information regarding the official response to Appellant’s misconduct
was of slight if any significance in comparison to the weight of other evidence
bearing on aggravation, mitigation, and extenuation.
C. Sentence Severity
1. Additional Background
During presentencing proceedings, pursuant to Rule for Courts-Martial
1001(c), RM submitted a written unsworn statement which he also read to the
military judge. Therein, RM described several financial, emotional, and medi-
cal problems he had experienced following the November 2018 assault. The
medical problems he described included tinnitus, headaches, panic attacks, de-
pression, anxiety, and loss of sleep and appetite, among others. In addition,
RM related that he attempted suicide in February 2019, and in March 2019 he
16
United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
suffered a “mild stroke” which he “believe[d] . . .was caused, at least in part,”
by injuries suffered in the assault. RM’s fiancée, TC, testified as a government
presentencing witness and provided similar information.
The military judge sentenced Appellant on 21 August 2019 to a bad-conduct
discharge, confinement for a total of five months, and a reprimand. The con-
vening authority approved the sentence.
Amn NB and Amn MO were also charged and tried by special courts-mar-
tial for their involvement in the assault and battery of RM.
Amn NB was tried by a military judge sitting alone. Amn NB pleaded guilty
to one specification of absence without leave and one specification of false offi-
cial statement, in violation of Articles 86 and 107, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 886,
907; the military judge found him guilty, contrary to his pleas, of committing
assault consummated by battery on RM by unlawfully striking him on the head
and body with his hand and by kicking him on the head and body with his foot,
in violation of Article 128, UCMJ.8 Bah, unpub. op. at *1–2. The military judge
sentenced Amn NB to a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for six months,
reduction to the grade of E-1, and a reprimand. Id. at *2. This court affirmed
the findings and sentence. Id. at *30.
This court has not reviewed Amn MO’s court-martial. However, on appeal,
Appellant moved to attach the summarized record of Amn MO’s special court-
martial, and we granted the motion over the Government’s opposition. The rec-
ord provided to the court indicates that, pursuant to a pretrial agreement, Amn
MO elected to be tried by a military judge alone, and pleaded guilty to one
specification of assault consummated by battery on RM by striking RM in the
body and head with his hand in violation of Article 128, UCMJ.9 The military
judge—the same judge who presided at Appellant’s trial, but not Amn NB’s
trial—found Amn MO guilty in accordance with his pleas and on 24 October
2019 sentenced him to confinement for 15 days, reduction to the grade of E-1,
and a reprimand.
2. Law
We review issues of sentence appropriateness de novo. United States v.
Lane, 64 M.J. 1, 2 (C.A.A.F. 2006) (citing United States v. Cole, 31 M.J. 270,
272 (C.M.A. 1990)). We may affirm only as much of the sentence as we find
8 As described above, this court affirmed the guilty findings in part on the basis of the
military judge’s finding that Amn NB was liable as a principal for blows struck by
others involved in the assault, particularly Amn MO. Bah, unpub. op. at *12, *18–21.
9 Amn MO did not plead guilty to additional language in the specification alleging he
also kicked RM in the head and body with his foot. The Government withdrew this
excepted language after the military judge entered his findings.
17
United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
correct in law and fact and determine should be approved on the basis of the
entire record. Article 66(d), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866(d). “We assess sentence
appropriateness by considering the particular appellant, the nature and seri-
ousness of the offense[s], the appellant’s record of service, and all matters con-
tained in the record of trial.” United States v. Sauk, 74 M.J. 594, 606 (A.F. Ct.
Crim. App. 2015) (en banc) (per curiam) (alteration in original) (quoting United
States v. Anderson, 67 M.J. 703, 705 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2009)). Our sentence
appropriateness review includes “considerations of uniformity and evenhand-
edness of sentencing decisions.” United States v. Sothen, 54 M.J. 294, 296
(C.A.A.F. 2001) (citations omitted). Although we have “broad discretionary
power to review sentence appropriateness,” United States v. Kelly, 77 M.J. 404,
405 (C.A.A.F. 2018), we have no authority to grant mercy. United States v. Ne-
rad, 69 M.J. 138, 146 (C.A.A.F. 2010).
Courts of Criminal Appeals (CCAs) are “not required . . . to engage in sen-
tence comparison with specific [other] cases ‘except in those rare instances in
which sentence appropriateness can be fairly determined only by reference to
disparate sentences adjudged in closely related cases.’” United States v. Lacy,
50 M.J. 286, 288 (C.A.A.F. 1999) (quoting United States v. Ballard, 20 M.J.
282, 283 (C.M.A. 1985)). Cases are “closely related” when, for example, they
involve “coactors involved in a common crime, servicemembers involved in a
common or parallel scheme, or some other direct nexus between the service-
members whose sentences are sought to be compared.” Id. “[A]n appellant
bears the burden of demonstrating that any cited cases are ‘closely related’ to
his or her case and that the sentences are ‘highly disparate.’ If the appellant
meets that burden . . . then the Government must show that there is a rational
basis for the disparity.” Id.; see also United States v. Durant, 55 M.J. 258, 261–
63 (C.A.A.F. 2001) (holding a highly disparate sentence in a closely related case
did not warrant sentence relief where a rational basis for the difference ex-
isted).
3. Analysis
Appellant contends his sentence is highly disparate compared to that in the
closely related case of Amn MO, and that there is no rational basis for the dis-
parity.
As an initial matter, the Government contends we may not consider the
summarized record of trial from Amn MO’s court-martial because it is outside
the “entire record of trial,” as defined in United States v. Jessie, 79 M.J. 437,
440 (C.A.A.F. 2020). We disagree. In Jessie, the United States Court of Appeals
for the Armed Forces (CAAF) explained that, as a general rule, a CCA review-
ing a case referred to it “cannot consider matters outside the ‘entire record,’”
defined as the “record of trial,” “allied papers,” and “briefs and arguments that
government and defense counsel (and the appellant personally) might present
18
United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
regarding matters in the record of trial and ‘allied papers.’” Id. at 440–41 (ci-
tations omitted). The outcome of Amn MO’s court-martial does not appear in
the entire record of Appellant’s court-martial, as defined by Jessie. However,
in Jessie the CAAF recognized, and declined to overrule, precedent creating an
exception to this general rule where material from outside the record “is nec-
essary for resolving issues raised by materials in the record.” Id. at 444. As
noted above, our superior court has long required CCAs to consider highly dis-
parate sentences in closely related cases as an aspect of sentence appropriate-
ness review under Article 66, UCMJ. See, e.g., United States v. Wacha, 55 M.J.
266, 267 (C.A.A.F. 2001); Lacy, 50 M.J. at 288; United States v. Brock, 46 M.J.
11, 13 (C.A.A.F. 1997). The CAAF has not overturned this line of precedent in
light of Jessie. Accordingly, we reconcile Jessie with this preexisting precedent
by placing the results of closely related courts-martial within Jessie’s exception
for matters necessary to resolve issues raised by matters contained in the rec-
ord of trial where, as in this case, the role of the servicemember whose sentence
is sought to be compared is apparent from the appellant’s record. Cf. Brock, 46
M.J. at 12–13 (noting appellant moved the CCA to take notice of the promul-
gating order of the coactor’s court-martial, and finding the CCA erred by refus-
ing to consider it). Therefore, we have reviewed the summarized transcript of
Amn MO’s court-martial to determine if his case was in fact closely related to
Appellant’s, if the sentences are highly disparate, and if so whether there is a
rational basis for the different results.
We find Amn MO’s case is closely related to Appellant’s. Cases are closely
related when there is a “direct nexus” between the two servicemembers, such
as “coactors involved in a common crime.” Lacy, 50 M.J. at 288. In this case,
Appellant and Amn MO were both part of the same group of Airmen who ini-
tiated the assault on RM, and both were convicted of committing assault con-
summated by a battery on RM at the same time and place. Accordingly, we
find a direct nexus between the two servicemembers and their courts-martial.
Although Appellant was also convicted of two later violations of Article 92,
UCMJ, not involving Amn MO, the CAAF has not held that convictions must
be identical in order for the cases to be closely related for purposes of sentence
comparison. See, e.g., Brock, 46 M.J. at 11–13 (finding CCA erred by failing to
consider whether another Airman’s case involving non-identical offenses were
closely related to the appellant’s).
The next step in our analysis is to determine whether the sentences are
highly disparate. Appellant received, inter alia, confinement for five months
and a bad-conduct discharge; Amn MO received confinement for only 15 days
and no punitive discharge. These are significantly different outcomes. The Gov-
ernment argues the sentences are nevertheless not highly disparate, in part
because Appellant was sentenced for three offenses and Amn MO sentenced
for only one offense. We recognize that very dissimilar sentences adjudged in
19
United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
closely related cases may not necessarily be highly disparate for purposes of
sentence comparison, depending on various factors. Cf. Durant, 55 M.J. at 262
(assuming without deciding that appellant’s sentence including a bad-conduct
discharge and confinement for 12 months and the coactor’s sentence including
neither a punitive discharge nor confinement were highly disparate). However,
we note the military judge sentenced Appellant to five months of confinement
specifically for the assault and battery of RM, compared to the 15 days Amn
MO received. We will assume that Appellant’s sentence and Amn MO’s sen-
tence are highly disparate for purposes of our analysis under Lacy.
Therefore, the question becomes whether there is a rational basis for the
disparity. Lacy, 50 M.J. at 288. We find that there is. We note the following,
non-exclusive potential reasons contributing to the different sentences.
First, as noted, Appellant was convicted of three offenses, whereas Amn
MO was convicted only of one. Moreover, in contrast to Amn MO, Appellant
continued to engage in significant misconduct after he was arrested for the
assault of RM and while he knew he was under investigation for that offense,
leading to his pretrial confinement. Thus Appellant was sentenced for a greater
amount of misconduct, and the military judge could reasonably have found the
circumstances reflected unfavorably on Appellant’s contrition and rehabilita-
tive potential in comparison to Amn MO.
In addition, whereas Appellant pleaded not guilty to the charges against
him, Amn MO pleaded guilty to assaulting and battering RM. Although it
would be inappropriate for the military judge to increase Appellant’s sentence
for maintaining his right to require the Government to prove his guilt—and we
find no indication the military judge did so—the military judge could reasona-
bly consider Amn MO’s guilty plea and acceptance of responsibility as a posi-
tive signal regarding his rehabilitative potential. See United States v. Ed-
wards, 35 M.J. 351, 355 (C.M.A. 1992) (“[A] guilty plea is a positive first step
to rehabilitation and may be considered as a mitigating factor at sentencing.”).
Furthermore, Appellant was the only participant in the assault on RM
noted to have used a weapon, albeit an improvised one, specifically a belt with
a buckle. In addition, the CCTV video depicted Appellant and Amn NB ap-
proaching RM from behind on either side at the same time. Although Amn NB
apparently struck first, Appellant swung at RM with the belt immediately
thereafter. In contrast, according to Amn MO’s statements at his court-martial,
and supported by the CCTV video, Amn MO swung at RM only at a later point
in the incident. The military judge could have reasonably found these details
indicated a greater degree of premeditation and responsibility regarding the
incident on Appellant’s part as compared to Amn MO.
20
United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
Additionally, Appellant’s sentencing case was arguably weaker than Amn
MO’s. The two were similar in some respects. Whereas Appellant’s parents tes-
tified on his behalf, Amn MO’s spouse and brother-in-law (a United States
Army veteran and civilian police officer) testified on his behalf. The Govern-
ment introduced evidence of additional misconduct from each Airman’s person-
nel records, but Appellant’s history of misconduct was significantly more ex-
tensive. In addition, whereas TSgt IW specifically testified to the “extremely
poor” quality of Appellant’s duty performance, there was no equivalent nega-
tive testimony from Amn MO’s command or supervisors. Appellant offered a
two-page written unsworn statement; Amn MO provided an oral as well as
written unsworn statement that were arguably more effective. RM provided
similar unsworn victim impact statements in each case. Both Appellant and
Amn MO called the same Air Force neurologist, Maj KB, who provided similar
testimony in each case. Maj KB essentially testified that she doubted a stroke
RM suffered months after the assault was caused by the incident, and she
opined that the tinnitus and headaches RM described experiencing after the
assault could have other causes, such as preexisting drug prescriptions RM
was taking. However, Amn MO additionally called a civilian psychiatrist, Dr.
PO, who had reviewed some of RM’s medical records and interviewed RM. In
combination, the testimony of Maj KB and Dr. PO in Amn MO’s court-martial
went much further in detailing RM’s significant preexisting and subsequent
physical and mental health issues, in effect going substantially further to cast
doubt on the negative victim impact attributable to the assault itself. While we
cannot know the military judge’s exact reasoning, the relative strength of Amn
MO’s sentencing case compared to Appellant’s provides an additional rational
basis for additional differences in their adjudged punishments.
Finally, we note that Appellant’s sentence was similar and not highly dis-
parate compared to Amn NB’s sentence; in fact, Appellant received slightly less
punishment than Amn NB. In that sense, Amn MO’s sentence rather than Ap-
pellant’s was the outlier of the three. Although we are required to compare
highly disparate sentences in closely related cases as part of our sentence ap-
propriateness review, we are not required to reduce an otherwise appropriate
sentence where one Airman happened to receive a lower sentence than multi-
ple others who were involved. See Durant, 55 M.J. at 261 (“[T]he military sys-
tem must be prepared to accept some disparity in the sentencing of codefend-
ants, provided each military accused is sentenced as an individual.”) (citations
omitted). More to the point, applying Lacy in light of the considerations above,
we find a rational basis for the military judge to have imposed the differing
sentences in Appellant’s court-martial and Amn MO’s court-martial.
Accordingly, having given individualized consideration to Appellant, the
nature and seriousness of the offenses, Appellant’s record of service, all other
matters contained in the record of trial, and the sentences adjudged in closely
21
United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
related courts-martial, we conclude Appellant’s sentence is not inappropriately
severe.
D. Admission of the CCTV Video
1. Additional Background
Before Appellant entered his pleas, the Government sought to preadmit
Prosecution Exhibit 1, the CCTV video of the assault on RM in Cambridge on
25 November 2018. To that end, the Government called SrA DG, one of the
Airmen who was with Appellant that night and was present at the incident.
Trial counsel asked SrA DG a series of questions summarizing his recollection
of events of that night leading up to the point that the “physical altercation”
with RM occurred.
Trial counsel then played the video from Prosecution Exhibit 1 for SrA DG
to view. In response to further questioning, SrA DG agreed that he recognized
what the video depicted, specifically a “fight” outside the club. In particular,
SrA DG testified he recognized himself, Appellant, and Amn NB in the video.
SrA DG further agreed the video was “a fair and accurate representation of the
way that that altercation took place.”
On cross-examination, trial defense counsel elicited that there were a num-
ber of aspects of the incident that SrA DG did not remember. These details
included who struck or received the first blow; how many individuals were in-
volved; whether SrA DG pushed anyone, was himself pushed, or if he fell on
the ground; and SrA DG’s inability to identify RM on the video or in person.
When trial defense counsel asked whether SrA DG was “basing [his] testimony
here today on that video,” he responded, “[s]ome from memory, some from the
video,” and later elaborated, “from the video and a little bit from memory.” On
redirect examination, SrA DG agreed that he “remember[ed] some portions of
the altercation, and some portions were not as clear.” He further agreed that
“every single part of what [he] did remember,” Prosecution Exhibit 1 showed
“accurately.” The Government did not call additional witnesses to preadmit
Prosecution Exhibit 1.
The Defense objected to the admission of Prosecution Exhibit 1 on the basis
of “foundation and authentication.” After receiving argument, the military
judge issued an oral ruling admitting Prosecution Exhibit 1. He explained:
I do find that there is a foundation and authentication. For the
authentication piece, it goes to the weight and not the admissi-
bility, because we don’t have - as far as I know, there’s nobody
going to be called in to talk about the video, to how it was rec-
orded, where it’s kept, and all that stuff. But I’m still admitting
it based upon [SrA DG’s] testimony, that it would in fact help his
22
United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
testimony, and that it was, from his memory, an accurate record-
ing of what happened that night outside of [the club].
The military judge later supplemented his oral ruling with a written ruling.
He wrote, in part:
[T]he recording is helpful in demonstrating how the attack oc-
curred and it assists witnesses in testifying by allowing them to
point out where they were as the attack on RM transpired. The
court is comfortable with the foundation and authentication of
the recording because of the number of witnesses who can iden-
tify the scene and describe what transpired in the recording
without needing the recording to do so. The recording does aid
those witnesses[’] testimony and sometimes refreshes their rec-
ollections, but it is not the primary source of their memory, what
happened on the street that evening, or what their part in the
event was.
The military judge further explained the probative value of the video was
“high” and not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice or
any other countervailing consideration. See Mil. R. Evid. 403; United States v.
Berry, 61 M.J. 91, 95 (C.A.A.F. 2005).
2. Law
We review a military judge’s decision to admit evidence for an abuse of dis-
cretion. Norwood, 81 M.J. at 17 (citation omitted). “A military judge abuses his
discretion when his findings of fact are clearly erroneous, [his] decision is in-
fluenced by an erroneous view of the law, or [his] decision on the issue at hand
is outside the range of choices reasonably arising from the applicable facts and
the law.” United States v. Miller, 66 M.J. 306, 307 (C.A.A.F. 2008) (citations
omitted). “The abuse of discretion standard is a strict one . . . .” McElhaney, 54
M.J. at 130.
“To satisfy the requirement of authenticating or identifying an item of evi-
dence, the proponent must produce evidence sufficient to support a finding that
the item is what the proponent claims it is.” Rule for Courts-Martial 901(a).
“Evidence may be authenticated through the testimony of a witness with
knowledge ‘that a matter is what it is claimed to be.’” United States v. Lubich,
72 M.J. 170, 173 (C.A.A.F. 2013) (quoting Mil. R. Evid. 901(b)(1)).
Generally speaking, the proponent of a proffered item of evi-
dence needs only to make a prima facie showing that the item is
what the proponent claims it to be. . . .
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United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
Once the proponent has made the requisite showing, the trial
court should admit the item, assuming it meets the other pre-
requisites to admissibility . . . in spite of any issues the opponent
has raised about flaws in the authentication. Such flaws go to
the weight of the evidence instead of its admissibility.
Id. at 174 (quoting 5 Jack B. Weinstein & Margaret A. Berger, Weinstein’s
Federal Evidence § 901.02[3], at 901-13 to 901-14 (Joseph M. McLaughlin ed.,
2d ed. 2003)).
3. Analysis
Appellant contends the military judge abused his discretion by admitting
Prosecution Exhibit 1. He asserts the military judge relied upon clearly erro-
neous factfinding in two respects. First, Appellant cites the written ruling’s
reference to multiple witnesses who could “identify the scene and describe
what transpired,” when the military judge had only received evidence from SrA
DG at the point he admitted Prosecution Exhibit 1. Second, Appellant contends
the finding that the video was “not the primary source” of SrA DG’s memory
conflicts with SrA DG’s statement that his testimony was “a little bit from
memory.” In addition, Appellant also contends the military judge’s references
to the potential for Prosecution Exhibit 1 to aid witnesses’ testimony or refresh
their recollection indicate he erroneously confused such non-substantive uses
with the authentication requirements for substantive evidence.
We find the military judge did not abuse his discretion when he preadmit-
ted Prosecution Exhibit 1. SrA DG’s testimony met the relatively low standard
of a prima facie showing that the exhibit was what the Government purported
it to be—an accurate videorecording of the altercation wherein RM was as-
saulted. SrA DG testified that Prosecution Exhibit 1 was a “fair and accurate
representation” of exactly that. He could identify himself, Appellant, and Amn
NB in the video. Although there were aspects of the incident SrA DG could not
remember, or perhaps did not observe at the time, the video “accurately” de-
picted “every single part” of what he did remember. Accordingly, the military
judge could reasonably find any gaps in the authentication applied to the ex-
hibit’s weight rather than its admissibility.
We acknowledge the references to other witnesses in the written ruling do
little to clarify the military judge’s rationale. Appellant is correct that, at the
point the military judge admitted Prosecution Exhibit 1, only SrA DG had tes-
tified about it. Perhaps these references may be understood as explaining the
anticipated relevance and materiality of the video in light of the Government’s
proffers as to expected witnesses; or perhaps it was simply an error in a written
24
United States v. Blow, No. ACM S32631 (f rev)
ruling drafted at a later point in the court-martial. Regardless, any inartful-
ness or ambiguity in the written ruling in this regard does not defeat the suf-
ficiency of SrA DG’s testimony authenticating the exhibit.
In a similar vein, Appellant’s arguments regarding the military judge’s ap-
parent legal rationale make a valid point but are ultimately unavailing. We
agree with Appellant that potential use of the CCTV video as a demonstrative
aid for witness testimony or to refresh recollection would not be a basis to ad-
mit Prosecution Exhibit 1 as substantive evidence. It is not clear why the mil-
itary judge elected to include such uses in his ruling. However, it is additionally
clear the military judge found Prosecution Exhibit 1 highly relevant evidence
in its own right, noting it depicted Appellant’s “presence at the scene of the
attack on RM and how the attack occurred.” Stripping away any rationales
regarding use as demonstrative evidence or to refresh recollection, SrA DG’s
testimony and the military judge’s oral and written rulings indicate the admis-
sion of Prosecution Exhibit 1 was neither arbitrary, fanciful, nor clearly unrea-
sonable. See McElhaney, 54 M.J. at 130.
Accordingly, although another trial judge might reasonably have required
more authentication from the Government, we conclude the admission of Pros-
ecution Exhibit 1 on the basis of SrA DG’s testimony was within “the range of
choices reasonably arising from the applicable facts and the law,” and not an
abuse of discretion. Miller, 66 M.J. at 307.
III. CONCLUSION
We affirm the finding of guilty as to the Specification of Charge I, excepting
the words “and head” and “with his hand;” the excepted words are set aside.
The findings of guilty as to Charge I, Charge II, and the specifications of
Charge II, and the sentence, as reassessed, are correct in law and fact, and no
error materially prejudicial to the substantial rights of Appellant occurred. Ar-
ticles 59 and 66(d), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 859, 866(d). Accordingly, the findings,
as modified, and sentence, as reassessed, are AFFIRMED.
FOR THE COURT
ANTHONY F. ROCK, Maj, USAF
Acting Clerk of the Court
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