United States v. Armendariz ( 2019 )

This opinion is subject to administrative correction before final disposition.
Before
HUTCHISON, TANG, and LAWRENCE,
Appellate Military Judges
_________________________
UNITED STATES
Appellee
v.
Roberto ARMENDARIZ
Master Sergeant (E-8), U.S. Marine Corps
Appellant
No. 201700338
Argued: 11 March 2019—Decided: 22 May 2019
Appeal from the United States Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary.
Military Judges: Colonel Matthew J. Kent (arraignment); Lieutenant
Colonel Brian E. Kasprzyk, USMCR (motions); Lieutenant Colonel
Mark Sameit, USMC (trial). Sentence adjudged 24 July 2017 by a
general court-martial convened at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar,
California, consisting of officer and enlisted members. Sentence ap-
proved by convening authority: confinement for 18 months and a dis-
honorable discharge.
For Appellant: Tami L. Mitchell, Esq. (argued); David P. Sheldon, Esq.
(on brief); Lieutenant Clifton E. Morgan III, JAGC, USN (on brief).
For Appellee: Captain William J. Mossor, USMC (argued); Major Kelli
A. O’Neil, USMC (on brief); Lieutenant Kimberly Rios, JAGC, USN
(on brief).
Judge TANG delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Senior
Judge HUTCHISON and Judge LAWRENCE joined.
United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
_________________________
PUBLISHED OPINION OF THE COURT
_________________________
TANG, Judge:
The appellant was convicted, contrary to his pleas, of two specifications of
violating a lawful general regulation, one specification of sexual assault by
bodily harm, one specification of sexual contact by bodily harm, and one spec-
ification of adultery in violation of Articles 92, 120, and 134, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C.
§ 892, 920, 934 (2012).
The appellant raises and fully briefs nine assignments of error (AOEs):
(1) the evidence is legally and factually insufficient; (2) the military judge
abused his discretion in denying a motion to suppress evidence seized from
the appellant’s body, property, and workspace; 1 (3) trial defense counsel were
ineffective in several regards during the merits phase of trial; (4) the military
judge abused his discretion in admitting evidence to show consciousness of
guilt; (5) the military judge improperly allowed trial counsel to argue the ap-
pellant made a false exculpatory statement; (6) the military judge erred by
refusing to instruct the members on a defense-requested adverse inference;
(7) the trial counsel committed prosecutorial misconduct; (8) the trial defense
counsel were ineffective during the sentencing phase of trial; and (9) the sen-
tence is inappropriately severe. Additionally, he asserts, without briefing, five
summary AOEs, none of which have merit. We find merit in AOE 2 and take
the appropriate corrective action in our decretal paragraph.
I. BACKGROUND
A. The Alleged Misconduct
The appellant was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 373
(MWSS-373), Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11), 3d Marine Air Wing (3d
MAW) and stationed at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, Califor-
nia. The appellant and the victim, Sergeant N, served together in MWSS-373
during a prior tour of duty. When Sergeant N reported for a second tour of
1 On appeal the appellant avers several bases justify suppression of the evidence.
Only two bases were litigated at trial. “[A]rguments for suppression of evidence un-
der M.R.E. 311 that are not made at trial are waived.” United States v. Perkins, No.
18-0365, 2019 CAAF LEXIS 290 at *21 (C.A.A.F. April 23, 2019).
2
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duty at MWSS-373 in June 2016, the appellant was the acting sergeant ma-
jor. Because Sergeant N knew the appellant from their prior tour at MWSS-
373, they exchanged personal cell phone numbers. After that point, they
maintained regular, friendly text message communication. By 25 July 2016,
the appellant was no longer the acting sergeant major.
On 25 July 2016, before 0800, Sergeant N texted the appellant asking
“Are you alive?!” and noted that she had not seen the appellant for about a
week. 2 The appellant texted and then called Sergeant N. During that call,
Sergeant N asked the appellant if he would roll the sleeves on her uniform
blouse because she did not want to do so. The appellant agreed. He met Ser-
geant N outside of the squadron building where he had a private office. Both
the appellant and Sergeant N were wearing physical training clothing con-
sisting of shorts and T-shirts.
To reach the appellant’s office, the appellant and Sergeant N walked
through an open conference room with a large conference table. The appel-
lant’s office opened up to that conference room. When the appellant and Ser-
geant N passed through the conference room, it was approximately 0800, and
a group of personnel from the unit were gathering for a morning meeting.
The appellant and Sergeant N went into his office. The door was closed and
the lights were on. The appellant began rolling the sleeves on Sergeant N’s
uniform blouse, and they made small talk about their lives, future plans, and
clubs in San Diego.
Sergeant N and the appellant also talked about a time they had had con-
sensual sex years ago during their prior tour together. In response to the ap-
pellant’s reference to their prior consensual sexual encounter, Sergeant N
laughed, said she remembered, and said that she did not want to “mess” up
her hair and that people would hear them if they were to have sex in the ap-
pellant’s office.
Sergeant N testified that the appellant locked the office door and turned
off the lights. Then he laid her back on his couch and pushed aside her shorts,
the liner of her shorts, and her underwear. According to Sergeant N, the ap-
pellant then digitally penetrated her vulva without her consent. 3 She told
him to stop and that she didn’t “want people to hear.” 4 Then the appellant
took off his shorts and underwear and penetrated her vulva with his penis for
2 Prosecution Exhibit (PE) 11 at 10.
3 The appellant was acquitted of this offense.
4 Record at 473.
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a short amount of time. 5 Her clothing remained on but pulled to the side.
When Sergeant N said, “I’m not [f***ing] kidding. I don’t want to do this,” 6
the appellant stopped and dressed himself. Sergeant N testified that after the
appellant dressed himself, he commented on her breasts and touched her
breasts underneath her shirt without her consent. 7
Sergeant N remained in the appellant’s office for another 10-15 minutes,
changed into her uniform when the appellant stepped outside to take a call
on his cell phone, and thereafter went to work.
During her lunch break, Sergeant N called a fellow Marine and former
MWSS-373 command member, First Sergeant L. She told First Sergeant L
that the appellant sexually assaulted her. Sergeant N did not want to report
the sexual assault. Against her wishes, First Sergeant L called 911 and re-
ported the assault. As a result of First Sergeant L’s report, agents of the Na-
val Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) contacted Sergeant N, who cooper-
ated with NCIS, made a statement describing the sexual assault, and sub-
mitted to a sexual assault forensic examination (SAFE). She told the agents
she communicated with the appellant by cell phone, and she provided the
specific cell phone number that the appellant used to communicate with her.
B. Searches Authorized by the “Acting” Commanding Officer
Special Agent P was a Marine Corps Criminal Investigative Division
agent assigned to NCIS as a Marine Special Agent. Special Agent P prepared
several Command Authorizations for Search and Seizure requesting authori-
ty to search for evidence of the alleged sexual assault of Sergeant N. At the
time of the searches, the Commanding Officer of MWSS-373, Lieutenant
Colonel W, was deployed with a majority of the squadron. Before deploying,
he signed a letter delegating “acting” and signature authority to Major B, the
unit’s Executive Officer, and he referred to her as the Officer in Charge and
Acting Commanding Officer of the portion of MWSS-373 that remained in
Miramar.
Special Agent P requested, and Major B authorized, a total of three
searches. On 25 July 2016, the day of the sexual assault, Special Agent P re-
quested to search the appellant’s cell phone, office, vehicles, and his body. Al-
so on 25 July 2016, Special Agent P orally requested and received authoriza-
5 This act formed the basis of the sexual assault conviction. See Charge Sheet.
6 Record at 475.
7 This act formed the basis of the sexual contact conviction. See Charge Sheet.
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tion to seize a cell phone from the appellant’s vehicle, wherein he seized two
cell phones. Special Agent P later drafted a document he titled a “verbal affi-
davit” to memorialize the conversation in which Major B orally granted
search authority.
On 26 July 2016, a witness statement suggested that the appellant delib-
erately hid an Apple iPhone with a cracked screen off-base when he was or-
dered—without explanation—to return to MCAS Miramar the day before.
Based on this witness statement, Special Agent P requested and received a
third search authorization, to seize the cracked-screen iPhone. But instead of
finding the cracked-screen iPhone, agents found and seized a Samsung Gal-
axy SIII phone.
As a result of the three search authorizations, agents seized three cell
phones. One phone seized on 25 July was password-protected and not sub-
jected to analysis; the other yielded no relevant evidence as it had not been
used since 2013. The Samsung Galaxy SIII phone was either new or had been
“reset to factory settings.” 8 The Samsung Galaxy SIII was the only phone
from which evidence was presented at trial.
In addition to seizing the appellant’s cell phones, agents seized items of
clothing from a wall locker in the appellant’s office. The search authorizations
compelled the appellant to submit to a SAFE. A sexual assault examiner in-
spected the appellant’s body, swabbed the appellant’s genitalia, and swabbed
the appellant’s cheek to collect his DNA. The DNA evidence was tested by the
U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Laboratory (USACIL). As a result of this
testing, the government concluded that Sergeant N’s DNA was likely present
in the inside crotch of the appellant’s underwear and that DNA belonging to
the appellant was likely found on Sergeant N’s external genitalia and the in-
side crotch of her underwear. 9 This DNA evidence was admitted at trial.
8 Record at 553.
9 The DNA report, admitted as PE 8, indicated that a mixed DNA profile found
on the appellant’s inside crotch was “at least 1.9 quadrillion times more likely if it
originated from [the appellant] and [Sergeant N] than if it originated from [the appel-
lant] and an unknown individual.” The report further indicated that the appellant
and “his paternal male relatives cannot be excluded from the partial Y-STR DNA
profile obtained” from Sergeant N’s underwear and external genitalia. The report
specified that there was a 1:610, 1:540, and 1:810 probability of “randomly selecting a
male individual with this profile” from the “Caucasian”, “Black”, and “Hispanic” pro-
file groups, respectively, matching the profile found in Sergeant N’s underwear. The
comparable statistic for the profile found on Sergeant N’s external genitalia was
1:130, 1:130, and 1:140 for the same profile groups. PE 8 at 2-3.
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On 29 August 2016, in an unrelated case tried in the same circuit, a de-
fense counsel contested Major B’s authority as “acting” commanding officer in
relation to her referral of charges to court-martial. Major B testified in that
case. At some point after 12 September 2016, the new case agent, Special
Agent B asked NCIS cyber agents and USACIL analysts to pause their
search of the evidence seized as a result of the 25 and 26 July 2016 search
authorizations. After Lieutenant Colonel W returned from deployment, Spe-
cial Agent B, presented him with a request for authorization to seize and
search the exact same property that Special Agent P seized months prior. On
18 November 2016, Lieutenant Colonel W granted that request. No new evi-
dence was seized. The record does not indicate the extent of search efforts
that preceded the 18 November 2016 resumption of searches.
C. The Motion to Suppress Evidence
The trial defense counsel moved the court to suppress the results of the 25
and 26 July 2016 searches. The trial defense counsel argued two grounds jus-
tified suppression: (1) that Major B lacked the authority to approve search
authorizations because she was not a commander; and (2) that the search au-
thorizations were not based on probable cause because the government failed
to disclose the affidavits used to justify probable cause. In the government’s
response, the trial counsel disclosed the affidavits that related to the three
search authorizations that Major B approved on 25 and 26 July 2016.
During an Article 39(a) pre-trial motion session, the government present-
ed the testimony of Lieutenant Colonel W, Major B, and NCIS Special Agent
E, who first interviewed Sergeant N. Special Agent P testified on the merits
at trial, but he was not called to testify in relation to the defense motion to
suppress evidence.
Testimony established that MWSS-373 reported to Marine Aircraft Group
11 (MAG-11), which in turn reported to the Third Marine Aircraft Wing
(MAW).
The government presented a letter Lieutenant Colonel W signed to “dele-
gate[ ] the authority to sign ‘Acting’ in the capacity of the Commanding Of-
ficer” of MWSS-373 to Major B. 10 The subject line reads, “Delegation of ‘Act-
ing’ and Signature Authority.” The letter refers to Article 1026, United States
Navy Regulations (1990), and Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5216, the
Navy Correspondence Manual. 11 The letter states that the Commanding
10 Appellate Exhibit (AE) IX at 20.
11 Id.
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Officer’s responsibilities “will absent him from the command for extended pe-
riods of time,” which “necessitates the requirements for delegation of authori-
ty.” 12 Accordingly, he stated his “Commander’s Intent” that the “executive
[sic] Officer will have the need to sign official correspondence and all docu-
ments on the Commanding Officer’s behalf as ‘Acting.’ ” 13 The letter then in-
dicated the exact signature block that Major B was required to use.
Lieutenant Colonel W testified that he deployed to Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan,
and Kuwait with over 300 members of his unit in March 2016. Approximately
200 members of MWSS-373 remained behind at MCAS Miramar. He referred
to the non-deployed Marines of MWSS-373 as a “Remain Behind Element,” or
RBE. 14 He testified that he gave Major B “full authorities as the commanding
officer” to “make decisions in [his] stead,” and that he expected her to make
decisions and to “back brief” him later. 15 He delegated authority for Major B
to sign correspondence as the acting Commanding Officer “on administrative
related matters.” 16 While Lieutenant Colonel W was deployed, the RBE con-
tinued to provide support to MAG-11, and the commander of MAG-11 tasked
Major B directly.
On cross-examination, Lieutenant Colonel W testified that he did not del-
egate authority for Major B to impose nonjudicial punishment (NJP), nor did
she have authority to convene courts-martial. Further, Lieutenant Colonel W
testified that the RBE was not formally established as a separate unit, and
both the deployed and remain-behind elements remained part of MWSS-373
under his command at all times. He referred to Major B as the Officer in
Charge, or OIC, of the RBE. On 25 and 26 July 2016, when Major B signed
the search authorizations, Lieutenant Colonel W was in Kuwait, where he
had an office and regular access to phone, internet, and email. He used those
communication methods to maintain contact with Major B, who provided
“back brief[s]” so that Lieutenant Colonel W maintained awareness of the
RBE’s status. 17 He did not formalize Major B’s status as an OIC with the Sec-
retary of the Navy, although he did inform the commanding officer of MAG-
12 Id.
13 Id.
14 Record at 19.
15 Id.
16 Id.
17 Id.
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11, his direct superior, of his intention for Major B to “make decisions in [his]
stead.” 18
Major B testified that she was the OIC and “acting commander” of the
RBE. 19 She signed correspondence typically reserved for the commanding of-
ficer’s signature, such as re-enlistment contracts, administrative separation
documents, and end-of-tour awards. She believed she had authority to sign
search authorizations and that she exercised authority consistent with that of
an “OIC of a detachment,” which is what she believed “the [RBE] was.” 20 She
testified that the reorganization of MWSS-373 was done internally, and not
by seeking recognition of an OIC by the Secretary of the Navy.
In a written ruling, the military judge denied the defense motion to sup-
press the evidence. He held that Major B could properly authorize the
searches.
Additional facts necessary for resolution of the AOEs are included in the
discussion below.
II. DISCUSSION
A. The Military Judge Erred in Denying the Defense Motion to Sup-
press Evidence
1. The legal standard of review
We review a military judge’s ruling on a motion to suppress evidence for
an abuse of discretion. United States v. Keefauver, 74 M.J. 230, 233 (C.A.A.F.
2015). We are bound by the military judge’s findings of fact unless they are
clearly erroneous, but we conduct a de novo review of conclusions of law. Id.
“[W]e consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing par-
ty.” Id. (alteration in original).
2. The military judge’s findings of fact
In a 26 May 2017 Article 39(s) motions hearing, the military judge re-
ceived evidence in the form of testimony and documents. He issued a ruling
in an email on 16 June 2017, stating, “The defense motion to suppress
18 Id. at 24.
19 Id. at 26.
20 Id. at 30.
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(AE-VIII) is denied.” 21 A different military judge presided over the trial. Fol-
lowing trial on the merits, but before the record was authenticated, on 16 Au-
gust 2017, the military judge who presided over the motions hearing issued a
written ruling which was appended to the record as Appellate Exhibit (AE)
LI.
In his ruling, the military judge made findings of fact, several of which we
discuss below.
The military judge found that Major B “was the Officer-in-Charge of the
[RBE]” of MWSS-373. 22 In accepting the nomenclature used by Lieutenant
Colonel W and Major B, the military judge did not apply the UCMJ defini-
tions pertinent to the term “Officer in Charge.”
Based on inconsistent witness testimony, the military judge made find-
ings of fact that were, likewise, contradictory and erroneous. Lieutenant
Colonel W testified that he intended Major B to have “full authorities as the
commanding officer” and for her to “make decisions in [the commanding of-
ficer’s] stead.” 23 But Lieutenant Colonel W also testified that he had withheld
from Major B the authority to impose nonjudicial punishment or to convene
courts-martial—authorities that only he would exercise.
Consistent with the witness’s testimony, the military judge found that
Lieutenant Colonel W intended for Major B to exercise “full authorities” and
to “make all the decisions normally reserved to the commanding officer.” 24
But he also found as fact, consistent with witness testimony that “[t]here
were limits to [Major B’s] authority as acting commanding officer,” noting
that she lacked authority to impose nonjudicial punishment and to convene
courts. 25 Though both findings correctly recited the witness’s testimony, the
military judge failed to reconcile the inconsistency between the witness’s in-
tentions and the legal status of a commanding officer.
The military judge found that Major B was “responsible for supervising
the company commanders of MWSS-373 and reported directly to the MAG-11
Commanding Officer.” 26 This finding of fact is incomplete. Although Major B
21 AE XVII.
22 AE LI at 4 (finding 26).
23 Record at 19.
24 AE LI at 5 (findings 28-29).
25 Id. at 5 (finding 36).
26 Id. at 5 (finding 30).
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received tasking from the MAG-11 Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel
W remained her Commanding Officer and remained her reporting senior for
fitness report purposes.
The military judge found that “[w]ith the deployment of [Lieutenant
Colonel W] and the [forward deployed element], MWSS-373 was effectively
split into two organizations.” 27 He further found that MWSS-373 was divided
“in such a way as to operate as two organizations.” 28 In so finding, the mili-
tary judge did not apply any of the rules or regulations that govern the estab-
lishment of military units within the Department of the Navy. The military
judge did not account for the fact that Lieutenant Colonel W did not seek au-
thorization from any person with competent authority to establish an RBE
that would function as a separate unit. 29
The military judge also found that “the MWSS-373 RBE functioned in
substantially the same manner as it did prior to the FDE’s [forward deployed
element’s] departure.” 30 This finding of fact is clearly erroneous. Lieutenant
Colonel W testified that he sought to elevate Major B to a position of OIC and
acting commanding officer because he knew the unit could not function in the
same manner as it did while he was present. Major B did not step into Lieu-
tenant Colonel W’s shoes and fully assume command. She still regularly in-
formed Lieutenant Colonel W of the unit’s work, and at all times, Lieutenant
Colonel W remained the commanding officer and actively commanded the en-
tirety of MWSS-373.
3. De novo review
a. Legal authority to authorize searches
Under MIL. R. EVID. 315(d)(1), a search authorization may be authorized
by a:
Commander or other person serving in a position designated by
the Secretary concerned as either a position analogous to an of-
ficer in charge or a position of command, who has control over
the place where the property or person to be searched is situat-
27 Id. at 10. Although listed under the “Conclusions of Law,” this is a finding of
fact.
28 Id.
29 See U.S. Navy Regulations, Arts. 0722-0723 (1990), further discussed below.
30 Id. at 11.
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ed or found, or, if that place is not under military control, hav-
ing control over persons subject to military law.
RULE FOR COURTS-MARTIAL 103(5), MANUAL FOR COURTS-MARTIAL,
UNITED STATES (2016 ed.), defines “commander” as “a commissioned officer in
command or an officer in charge except in Part V [pertaining to nonjudicial
punishment] or unless the context indicates otherwise.” “Officer in charge”
means a “member of . . . the Marine Corps . . . designated as such by appro-
priate authority.” Article 1(4), UCMJ.
Two Court of Military Appeals precedents apply. They stand for the bina-
ry proposition that Lieutenant Colonel W either impermissibly delegated his
authority to approve search authorizations to Major B, or command authority
automatically devolved to Major B because of Lieutenant Colonel W’s absence
from the command, in which case Major B had authority to approve searches.
In United States v. Kalscheuer, 11 M.J. 373 (C.M.A. 1981), the court eval-
uated a search authorization approved by a deputy base commander. The
base commander specifically delegated authority to authorize searches. Id. at
374. Following a change of command, the new base commander did not spe-
cifically delegate this authority. Id. Agents sought a search authorization, but
the commander was off-base touring satellite installations “a few kilometers”
away, and the commander had left behind his two-way radio. Id. No attempt
was made to reach the commander, and the deputy base commander author-
ized a search. Id.
The C.M.A. rejected the government’s argument—supported in the 1969
MANUAL FOR COURTS-MARTIAL—that “it is quite reasonable to allow busy
commanders to delegate to some neutral and detached person the authority
to order searches.” Id. at 375. The court held that just as neither nonjudicial
punishment authority nor court-martial authority can be delegated, the au-
thority to search, likewise, cannot be delegated. Id. at 376. The court empha-
sized that there are some decisions that are so important that they must be
made by the commander personally, such as the “delicate [and] vital . . . deci-
sions whether to interfere with service members’ privacy by allowing search-
es and seizures.” Id. at 378. In conclusion, the court held, “A search per-
formed by permission of a commander’s delegee—other than a military judge
or magistrate—does not meet the Fourth Amendment requirements of rea-
sonableness.” Id. at 378.
However, the court still affirmed the propriety of the search in Kalscheu-
er, holding that authority as commander devolved to the deputy base com-
mander by virtue of the commander’s absence. Id. at 377. The court cited
“military regulations [and] customs” which provide a “command hierarchy”
for a deputy to “act[ ] in the commander’s stead when he is absent or other-
wise unavailable.” Id. The court held the deputy “acted as commander” in the
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United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
commander’s absence, meaning he had the same authority to authorize
searches as the commander because the deputy had “assumed command re-
sponsibilities” and this authority “exist[ed] apart from any formal delega-
tion.” Id.
The C.M.A. reiterated the distinction between impermissible delegation
and permissible devolution in United States v. Law, 17 M.J. 229 (C.M.A.
1984). In Law, the commander testified that he delegated authority for his
executive officer to authorize searches in his absence. Id. at 234. The com-
mander attended a play rehearsal “some 27 or 28 kilometers” away from his
unit, where there was no phone. Id. In the commander’s absence, the execu-
tive officer authorized a search. The court noted, “Of course, delegation of a
commander’s authority to allow a search has now been held invalid.” Id. at
240, (citing Kalscheuer, 11 M.J. at 373). Although the commander had dele-
gated authority, the court held that “at the time of the search, [the executive
officer] was exercising command authority over the unit” by virtue of the
commander’s absence and lack of communication abilities. Id.
In Kalscheuer, the court looked to service regulations in determining the
authorities of a commanding officer. We will do the same, first looking to the
U.S. Navy Regulations.
b. Service regulations defining “commander”
U.S. Navy Regulations, Art. 1026 (1990), recognizes that an officer may
“succeed[ ] to command” in the absence of the commanding officer due to “in-
capacity, death, departure on leave, detachment without relief or absence due
to orders from competent authority.” The officer who succeeds to command
“has the same authority and responsibility as the officer whom he or she suc-
ceeds.” 31
U.S. Navy Regulations, Art. 0722 states that a “commander may desig-
nate an officer of the staff to act as the commanding officer” of enlisted per-
sons when it is not practicable to assign them to an established activity for
administration and discipline. In similar fashion, U.S. Navy Regulations,
Art. 0723 permits certain officers to designate in writing “organizations
which are separate or detached commands.” 32 In both instances, the com-
mander making the designation must notify the Judge Advocate General and,
for U.S. Navy Regulations, Art. 0722 designations, the Commandant of the
31 U.S. Navy Regulations Art. 1026 Para. 2.
32 Those officers are flag and general officers in command, officers exercising gen-
eral court-martial convening authority, and the senior officer present.
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United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
Marine Corps. In both cases, the designated commanding officer or OIC may
be granted court-martial convening authority only if specifically permitted by
the Secretary of the Navy upon a request by the Judge Advocate General.
Through the Manual of the Judge Advocate General, 33 (JAGMAN), the
Judge Advocate General, by authority of the Secretary of the Navy, issued
regulations implementing and supplementing the MCM. In JAGMAN § 0120,
the Secretary specifically designated additional convening authorities. Perti-
nent to discussion of this case, JAGMAN § 0120 grants special court-martial
convening authority to commanding officers of Marine Corps squadrons.
JAGMAN § 0121 contains the procedure to request court-martial convening
authority for designated commanders and OICs of a “separate and detached
unit” created by U.S. Navy Regulations, Art. 0723, or for a commanding of-
ficer of enlisted personnel under U.S. Navy Regulations, Art. 0722. Therefore,
there are procedures in place for formally establishing separate units and for
vesting court-martial authority in the commanders of those separate units—
none of which were followed in this case.
The title “commander” implies the existence of a command. In JAGMAN
§ 0106, pertaining to the authority to impose nonjudicial punishment, the
Judge Advocate General indicated that the term “commander” is defined in
the MCM as a “commissioned . . . officer who, by virtue of rank and assign-
ment, exercising primary command authority over a military organization . . .
which under pertinent official directives (such as the Standard Navy Distri-
bution List (SNDL)) is recognized as a ‘command.’ ” JAGMAN § 0106.a. The
term “command” is not without meaning. It must be officially recognized. See
id. The paragraph continues, “Note, a title does not by itself indicate authori-
ty to impose [nonjudicial punishment]—instead, the title must be associated
with a recognized command.”
For purpose of authority to impose nonjudicial punishment, an OIC may
be designated by: “departmental orders; tables of organization; manpower
authorizations; orders of a flag or general officer in command . . . ; orders of
the senior officer present; or designated as a special court-martial convening
authority.” JAGMAN § 0106.b.
c. Was Major B a commander by designation?
As noted above, we find the military judge’s findings of fact are internally
inconsistent and, in parts, clearly erroneous. Conducting a de novo review of
his conclusions of law, we disagree with his conclusion that Major B had au-
33 Judge Advocate General Instruction 5800.7F § 0723 (26 Jun 2012).
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United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
thority to authorize the 25 and 26 July 2016 searches. Major B was not a
“commander” for the purposes of MIL. R. EVID. 315.
As an initial matter, even though Lieutenant Colonel W referred to Major
B as an OIC, the UCMJ defines an “officer in charge” as a “member of . . . the
. . . Marine Corps . . . designated as such by appropriate authority.” Art. 1(4),
UCMJ. Looking to the service regulations to determine what “appropriate
authority” could designate an OIC, we conclude that Major B was not an OIC.
Major B’s position was not designated by the Secretary of the Navy as a
commander or OIC equivalent. The “RBE” of MWSS-373 was never formally
established as a unit, which would require, at a minimum, written designa-
tion by the Commanding General of 3d MAW and notification to the Com-
mandant of the Marine Corps and the Judge Advocate General.
Lieutenant Colonel W did not seek any formal authority to divide MWSS-
373 into two commands—nor did he in fact divide MWSS-373 into two sepa-
rate commands. He told his superior in command, the MAG-11 commanding
officer who was a Marine Corps Colonel, that he intended for Major B to run
the day-to-day operations of the “RBE” in Miramar in his absence. Even the
MAG-11 commanding officer lacked the authority to designate a separate
unit under applicable regulations unless he was the senior officer present
within 3d MAW. Here, there is no evidence in the record that the MAG-11
commanding officer was the senior officer present within 3d MAW.
Because MWSS-373 was never formally divided into two separate units
by someone with the legal authority to do so, it could not legitimately have
two separate commanding officers. Lieutenant Colonel W was the command-
ing officer of MWSS-373 in its entirety—both the forward deployed Marines
and those in the RBE. The government never contended that Major B exer-
cised any command authority over the portion of MWSS-373 that deployed
overseas. The fact that Major B executed tasking from the MAG-11 com-
manding officer did not elevate her to the status of the commander of MWSS-
373. She exercised duties consistent with the role of an executive officer to
execute the plan of the day and to sign routine administrative correspondence
on behalf of the commanding officer. The unit remained a single unit, com-
manded by one commanding officer—Lieutenant Colonel W.
Thus, Major B was not a commander regardless of any action Lieutenant
Colonel W took to empower her to execute the daily tasking of the RBE. She
simply remained the MWSS-373 executive officer. Nor do we find any legal
effect in the letter, citing the Navy Correspondence Manual, permitting Ma-
jor B to sign correspondence as “acting” commanding officer. Therefore, as the
executive officer of MWSS-373, Major B would never possess the authority to
authorize searches unless full command authority for MWSS-373 devolved to
14
United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
her by operation of statute or regulation as a result of Lieutenant Colonel W’s
absence.
d. Was Major B a commander by devolution, as recognized in
Kalscheuer and Law?
The Navy Regulations demonstrate that a commander may automatically
succeed his or her predecessor in command. When that succession occurs, the
officer assuming command has the same authority as the preceding com-
mander—complete authority as a commander, not partial authority. The cir-
cumstances permitting automatic succession—including incapacity, death,
leave, detachment without relief, or being away on orders—indicate that a
unit may have only one commander. Either the successor is the commander—
in every respect—until the commander returns, or the successor exercises
authority short of command and the absent commander remains the com-
mander.
Lieutenant Colonel W did not intend for complete command authority to
pass to Major B. Although Lieutenant Colonel W’s intent is not controlling,
we find that even he did not intend for Major B to exercise full command au-
thority. First, he specifically withheld from Major B the nonjudicial punish-
ment and court-martial convening authority vested in him as the commander
of MWSS-373 over the members of the RBE. Second, he retained full day-to-
day operational authority over the portion of the command that deployed
with him.
Major B lacked full command authority over the “RBE,” and she certainly
did not have the same authority as Lieutenant Colonel W over the entire
MWSS-373, as formally recognized by Navy directives. Therefore, she did not
“succeed” him in command within the meaning of U.S. Navy Regulation 1026.
The government argues that search authority is separate from nonjudicial
punishment authority and court-martial convening authority. They argue
that Major B’s inability to impose nonjudicial punishment or to convene
courts does not mean she lacked search authority over the members of the
RBE. We disagree. That Major B lacked the authority to do the very things
that commanding officers are empowered to do, reflects the fact that com-
mand did not devolve to her upon Lieutenant Colonel W’s deployment.
Rather, to the extent that Lieutenant Colonel W intended or wanted Ma-
jor B to approve search authorizations, the mechanism by which he attempt-
ed to effectuate his intent was impermissible.
This case is distinguishable from Kalscheuer and Law. The company ex-
ecutive officer in Law was “exercising command authority over the unit.” 17
M.J. at 240. In Kalscheuer, the Deputy Base Commander “was functioning as
the commander in connection with the command decisions then being made”
15
United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
“at the time and place in question.” 11 M.J. at 380. In those cases, the com-
mander was incidentally, temporarily away from the command. In this case,
as evidenced by Major B’s regular reports on the status of the RBE’s opera-
tions, Lieutenant Colonel W was never away from the command. In fact, he
was actively involved in commanding MWSS-373 as the squadron carried out
both its deployed and garrison missions. To the extent he was “absent” at all
it was only from that portion of the command that did not deploy. But this
“absence” was pre-planned. He discussed the division of labor between him-
self and Major B—all of which operated to facilitate accomplishment of the
mission while he remained in command but deployed—with the majority of
the command—away from the smaller RBE. Although Major B would accom-
plish the day-to-day tasking of the RBE, she routinely informed him of
events, and when she signed correspondence, she did so while “acting” on his
behalf. In sum, Major B could exercise only so much authority as Lieutenant
Colonel W lawfully delegated to her. She did not have command authority,
making Kalscheuer and Law distinguishable.
Accordingly, we find that Major B was not the commander of MWSS-373,
or even its RBE, and therefore she lacked authority to authorize searches of
the appellant’s body, office, and personal property.
B. Analysis of Exclusionary Rule
“Evidence obtained from reasonable searches conducted pursuant to a . . .
search authorization . . . is admissible at trial when relevant and not other-
wise inadmissible . . . .” MIL. R. EVID. 315(a). Evidence that results from un-
lawful searches is subject to exclusion. Exclusion is “a judicially created rem-
edy designed to safeguard Fourth Amendment rights generally through its
deterrent effect.” United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897, 906 (1984) (quoting
United States v. Calandra, 414 U.S. 338, 348 (1974)).
The exclusionary rule is codified in military practice in MIL. R. EVID.
311(a). Evidence obtained unlawfully is subject to exclusion if:
(1) the [appellant] makes a timely motion to suppress or an
objection to the evidence under this rule;
(2) the [appellant] had a reasonable expectation of privacy
in the person, place, or property searched; . . . and
(3) exclusion of the evidence results in appreciable deter-
rence of future unlawful searches or seizures and the benefits
of such deterrence outweigh the costs to the justice system.”
MIL. R. EVID. 311(a).
16
United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
The appellant moved to suppress the evidence, and the military judge
properly held that the appellant had a reasonable expectation of privacy in
his own body and in the places and property that were searched.
Two exceptions to the exclusionary rule are potentially implicated in this
case: the good faith exception and the inevitable discovery exception. We will
analyze those exceptions in turn.
1. Good faith
In United States v. Leon, the Supreme Court held that evidence gained as
a result of an unlawful search or seizure is not subject to suppression if the
officers acted “in objectively reasonable reliance on a subsequently invalidat-
ed search warrant.” Leon, 468 U.S. at 422.
The good faith exception is codified in MIL. R. EVID. 311(c)(3) and permits
evidence “obtained as a result of an unlawful search or seizure” to be used if
three elements are met:
(A) the search or seizure resulted from an authorization to
search, seize or apprehend issued by an individual competent
to issue the authorization under MIL. R. EVID. 315(d) or from a
search warrant or arrest warrant issued by competent civilian
authority;
(B) the individual issuing the authorization or warrant had
a substantial basis for determining the existence of probable
cause; and
(C) the officials seeking and executing the authorization or
warrant reasonably and with good faith relied on the issuance
of the authorization or warrant. Good faith is to be determined
using an objective standard.
Without citing the three elements of MIL. R. EVID. 311(c)(3), the military
judge held that “NCIS reasonably relied in good faith” on the authorizations
Major B signed because they “reasonably concluded” she had authority to
sign authorizations “based on their previous interactions” with her. 34 Con-
ducting our de novo review, we find the military judge’s conclusion was erro-
neous.
The C.A.A.F. recently interpreted the MIL. R. EVID. 311(c)(3) good faith
exception in United States v. Perkins, No. 18-0365, 2019 CAAF LEXIS 290
34 AE LI at 12.
17
United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
(C.A.A.F. Apr. 23, 2019). In Perkins, the C.A.A.F. acknowledged a conflict in
its treatment of the good faith exception in United States v. Carter, 54 M.J.
414 (C.A.A.F. 2001) and in United States v. Hoffmann, 75 M.J. 120 (C.A.A.F.
2016). The conflict involved the court’s treatment of the second and third el-
ements of the exception.
In Carter, the court interpreted the second element of the good faith ex-
ception as being “satisfied if the law enforcement official had an objectively
reasonable belief that the magistrate had a ‘substantial basis’ for determin-
ing the existence of probable cause.” Carter, 54 M.J. at 422. It did so because
the contrary interpretation would “effectively abolish the good faith exception
in military practice.” Id. at 421. This effective abolishment would result be-
cause any search authorization found lacking under the test in Illinois v.
Gates, 462 U.S. 213 (1983), affirming admissibility of evidence under search
warrants so long as the magistrate had a “substantial basis for . . . concluding
that probable cause existed,” would not qualify for the good faith exception
because it would fail the second element. Id. (quoting Gates, 462 U.S. at 238)
(alteration in original) (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted).
In Hoffmann, without citing Carter, the C.A.A.F. simply applied a literal
reading of MIL. R. EVID. 311(c)(3) and found that because the magistrate
lacked a substantial basis to believe probable cause existed, that ended the
good faith analysis. Hoffmann, 75 M.J. at 128.
In Perkins, the C.A.A.F. resolved this discrepancy in favor of the interpre-
tation it used in Carter. In deciding Perkins and affirming the holding in
Carter, the C.A.A.F. cited Supreme Court precedent interpreting the good
faith exception, such as United States v. Leon, 486 U.S. 897 (1984), and Mas-
sachusetts v. Sheppard, 468 U.S. 981 (1984). The holdings in Perkins and
Carter align our practice with those precedents.
Perkins focused on the second and third elements of the exception under
M.R.E. 311(c)(3)(B) and (C). However, the C.A.A.F. noted that this court
evaluated the first element under MIL. R. EVID. 311(c)(3)(A), finding that the
individual was competent to authorize a search of the appellant’s “on-base
residence,” and ultimately the C.A.A.F. agreed that all three elements of the
good faith exception were met. Perkins, 2019 CAAF LEXIS 290 at *9, *20.
We find no authority, in Perkins or elsewhere, that permits us to interpret
the first element—that the search authorization was issued by a competent
individual—in light of the third element. That is, we cannot apply the good
faith exception to support the admissibility of evidence obtained in a search
that was unlawful because it was not authorized by a competent individual—
even if we were to find that agents reasonably believed Major B had search
authority.
18
United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals addressed a similar case in United
States v. Scott, 260 F.3d 512 (6th Cir. 2001). There, officers approached a re-
tired judge, who issued a search warrant. Id. at 513-14. The trial court denied
a defense motion to suppress evidence, relying on the good faith exception. Id.
at 514. The Sixth Circuit reversed, in what it noted was a case of first im-
pression, holding that the good faith exception in Leon “presupposed that the
warrant was issued by a magistrate or judge clothed in the proper legal au-
thority.” Id. at 515. The court held that the warrant contained more than a
“mere technical deficiency” and it was “void ab initio.” Id. 35
Other Circuit Courts of Appeals have applied the good faith exception in
circumstances when a warrant was void ab initio after a magistrate author-
ized a search outside the issuing magistrate’s territorial jurisdiction under
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41. See, e.g., United States v. Henderson,
906 F.3d 1109, 1118 (9th Cir. 2018); United States v. Horton, 863 F.3d 1041
(8th Cir. 2017); United States v. Workman, 863 F.3d 1313 (10th Cir. 2017). 36
Some courts have admitted the evidence “so long as the executing officers had
an objectively reasonable belief that the warrant was valid” because the
courts held that “[p]enalizing the officer for the magistrate’s error, rather
than his own, cannot logically contribute to the deterrence of Fourth
Amendment violations.” Henderson, 906 F.3d at 1119 (alteration in original).
In spite of these holdings, we find this case to be distinguishable from the
more recent precedents and we are persuaded by the reasoning in Scott.
Those Circuit Courts that have applied the good faith exception where the
search was void ab initio did so only after concluding that the deficiency re-
sulted from the magistrate authorizing a search outside his or her district. By
contrast, the Sixth Circuit, in Scott, concluded the good faith exception did
35 The Sixth Circuit later distinguished Scott in a case in which a judge author-
ized a search outside of the judge’s jurisdiction in United States v. Master, 614 F.3d
236 (6th Cir. 2010). In Master, the Sixth Circuit applied the good faith exception
when an investigator sought a search warrant from a competent judge in the juris-
diction where he reasonably believed the suspect resided and executed the warrant in
a different jurisdiction. Id. at 243.
36 The cases cited involved a complex child pornography operation in which a
magistrate in the Eastern District of Virginia authorized installation of tracking
software, known as a network intrusion device, on a child pornography website serv-
er in the magistrate’s district, and that software in turn installed “malware onto the
user’s computer,” which enabled law enforcement officials to identify users in other
districts. Workman, 863 F.3d at 1316.
19
United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
not apply, because the individual who authorized the search was not compe-
tent to authorize any search. The appellant’s case is similar.
Absent binding authority requiring the interpretation the government
proposes, we must read the first element as written. For the reasons de-
scribed above, Major B was not a “competent” commander under MIL. R.
EVID. 315(d)(1) to issue the search authorizations, and no civilian warrant
existed.
We next consider whether the evidence would have nevertheless been
admissible because it would have been inevitably discovered.
2. Inevitable discovery and Lieutenant Colonel W’s 18 November 2016 au-
thorization
Under MIL. R. EVID. 311(c)(2), it is an exception to the exclusionary rule if
evidence obtained in an unlawful search or seizure “would have been ob-
tained even if such unlawful search or seizure had not been made.” The
C.A.A.F. has held:
[A]fter an accused challenges the legality of a search, the pros-
ecution must, by a preponderance of the evidence, establish . . .
that when the illegality occurred, the government agents pos-
sessed, or were actively pursuing, evidence or leads that would
have inevitably led to the discovery of the evidence and that
the evidence would inevitably have been discovered in a lawful
manner had not the illegality occurred.
United States v. Dease, 71 M.J. 116, 122 (C.A.A.F. 2012) (first alteration in
original) (emphasis added) (quoting United States v. Kozak, 12 M.J. 389, 394
(C.M.A. 1982)).
a. Inevitable discovery by proper action if agents discovered their mis-
take
It is not enough that the agents would have obtained a search authoriza-
tion from the proper commander had they realized that Major B did not have
authority to authorize the search. The doctrine of inevitable discovery “can-
not rescue evidence obtained via an unlawful search simply because probable
cause existed to obtain a warrant when the government presents no evidence
that the police would have obtained a warrant.” United States v. Wicks, 73
M.J. 93, 103 (C.A.A.F. 2014) (alteration in original).
At trial, the government did not argue that they were pursuing the same
evidence through alternative means. During the Article 39(s) motions hear-
ing, the government presented the testimony of NCIS Special Agent E, who
was the agent who first interviewed Sergeant N. Although Special Agent P
20
United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
applied for and received all three of the July 2016 search authorizations at
issue, the government did not present Special Agent P’s testimony on the mo-
tion. Special Agent E’s testimony did not demonstrate whether she was a
peer, supervisor, or co-worker to Special Agent P.
Special Agent E testified that NCIS agents had been providing reports
and updates on MWSS-373 cases to Major B in Lieutenant Colonel W’s ab-
sence. She testified that they “would have approached either the MAG-11 CO
or the base CO for the authorization for the search” if Major B had stated she
lacked the authority to order searches. 37 However, Special Agent E was not
apparently involved in drafting or presenting any of the July 2016 search au-
thorizations, and the record does not establish why Special Agent E was qual-
ified to speculate about Special Agent P’s likely action. 38
The government cites United States v. Eppes, 77 M.J. 339 (C.A.A.F. 2018),
in arguing that the agents would have sought authorization from a competent
authority had they known that Major B could not authorize searches. In
Eppes, investigators prepared an affidavit “in support of a request for sepa-
rate search authority” for a number of items, including Eppes’ personal bags.
Eppes, 77 M.J. at 347. Although a military magistrate approved the search,
the authorization did not “expressly authorize a search of [Eppes’] bags.” Id.
at 343. The C.A.A.F. held that the inevitable discovery doctrine applied be-
cause it was “likely the omission of the bags from the search authorization
was simply a scrivener’s error because the agent who swore the affidavit also
apparently authored the search authorization signed by the magistrate.” Id.
at 347.
As an initial matter, we find the potential scrivener’s error in Eppes to be
distinguishable from the appellant’s case. In Eppes, a competent authority
approved the search. We further distinguish Eppes because the court’s opin-
ion was also based on two factors not present in this case: (1) the officers in
Eppes were “actively pursuing leads that would have led them to the same
evidence”; 39 and (2) because the officers conducted their search “within the
confines of the affidavit.” Id. at 348. In the appellant’s case the investigators
37 Record at 42.
38 Appellate Exhibits VIII and IX contain the affidavit, applications, attachments,
and search authorizations pertaining to the appellant’s case. No document bears the
name of Special Agent E.
39 Specifically, in Eppes, the investigators used both military search authoriza-
tions and a civilian warrant, and they built probable cause for subsequent searches
based on the fruits of their prior searches.
21
United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
did not conduct any additional seizures after 26 July 2016, even though they
believed the cracked screen iPhone was pertinent to the case, it was never
recovered. Additionally, the 26 July 2016 search authorization was based on
an affidavit reciting probable cause to seize and search a cracked-screen
iPhone. Finding no such iPhone, agents instead seized and searched the
Samsung Galaxy SIII.
b. Inevitable discovery based on Lieutenant Colonel W’s November au-
thorization
The government argues that Lieutenant Colonel W’s authorization,
signed on 18 November 2016, means discovery of the evidence was inevitable
and thereby saves the evidence from suppression. The government further
argues that “once a concern was raised about [Major B’s] authority, they did
not search the evidence seized until [Lieutenant Colonel W] returned and au-
thorized the search,” which “cured any defect in the original search authori-
zation.” 40
We do not agree that the record demonstrates that the government did
not complete the searches under the 25 and 26 July 2016 authorizations. At
least one item of evidence, the Samsung Galaxy SIII, was searched prior to
12 August 2016. 41 An NCIS-generated report dated 21 November 2016 indi-
cates that the agents were notified on 12 September 2016 that Major B may
have lacked search authority. The report states:
As a consequence, the NCIS Cyber Agent that was analyzing
two of [the appellant’s] cellular telephones was told to stop ex-
aminations/analyses and, ultimately, the U.S. Army Criminal
Investigations Laboratory (USACIL) was told to stop all exam-
inations/analyses on the submitted evidence until the updated
[search authorization] could be obtained. 42
The report does not indicate when agents ordered all ongoing searches
and examinations to be stopped. There is insufficient evidence in the record
to indicate that the searches were not substantially completed prior to Lieu-
tenant Colonel W’s authorization.
Even if Lieutenant Colonel W’s 18 November 2016 authorization could
justify resumption of the paused searches, it did not justify the initial seizure
40 Appellee’s Answer of 23 Apr 19 at 16.
41 AE VIII at 42.
42 AE VIII at 51.
22
United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
of evidence. 43 Searches and seizures are “separate concepts,” requiring sepa-
rate Fourth Amendment analyses. United States v. Wallace, 66 M.J. 5, 8
(C.A.A.F. 2008) (citing Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives’ Ass’n, 489 U.S.
602, 616 (1989)). The seizure occurs when there is “some meaningful interfer-
ence with an individual’s possessory interest.” Id. (quoting United States v.
Jacobsen, 466 U.S. 109, 113 (1984)). A seizure may or may not be accompa-
nied by an “attendant search.” Id.
More importantly, the record does not let us properly evaluate Lieutenant
Colonel W’s search authorization. Although the affidavits supporting the 25
and 26 July 2016 searches are included in the record, any affidavit used to
support the 18 November 2016 search authorization was not so appended.
The affiant was different—Special Agent B. As further described below, the
18 November 2016 search authorization repeats glaring errors contained in
the 25 and 26 July 2016 authorizations. We cannot presume that the affidavit
correctly recited the facts, or that the facts revealed to Lieutenant Colonel W
did not include any facts discovered during the initial phases of the searches
based upon the improper authorization granted by Major B. Lieutenant Colo-
nel W’s authorization simply re-authorized the same searches of 25 and 26
July 2016, even though investigators would have known that there was no
responsive evidence on at least one of the cellular phones and that the iPhone
with a cracked screen was never recovered.
The 18 November 2016 search authorization does not make discovery of
the evidence inevitable. Therefore, we find that there is no exception from the
exclusionary rule. Hence, the evidence is subject to exclusion if it meets the
balancing test under MIL. R. EVID. 311(a)(3).
3. Do the Benefits of Deterrence from Exclusion Outweigh the Costs to the
Justice System?
The military judge recited, without analysis, that “exclusion of the evi-
dence . . . would not result in appreciable deterrence of future unlawful
searches, nor would the benefit outweigh the costs to the justice system.” 44
43The government cites dicta in Hoffmann which posits the theory that a valid
search authorization, issued months later, could “overcome the fact that the . . . [evi-
dence searched] was seized illegally.” Hoffmann, 75 M.J. at 125. However, the
C.A.A.F. found the time-late search authorization was not based on probable cause
and ruled the evidence should have been suppressed.
44 AE LI at 12.
23
United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
We disagree. Exclusion of the evidence would deter unlawful searches in two
ways.
a. Deterrence relating to seeking search authorization from an indi-
vidual incompetent to issue it
First, exclusion will deter future commanders from impermissibly dele-
gating their inherent command authorities, to include their authority to au-
thorize searches, to others. Although Lieutenant Colonel W attempted to del-
egate almost all of his command authorities over the RBE, and his delegation
was broader than the specific delegations of search authority that were given
in Law and Kalscheuer, the legal effect was the same. He could not delegate
search authority. A regulatory process was in place to formally establish the
RBE as unit with its own commander or officer in charge with its own inde-
pendent command authorities, but Lieutenant Colonel W did not follow it.
There is no evidence in the record that anyone at any level within the MWSS-
373 chain of command consulted a judge advocate for advice about the pro-
posal to divide the MWSS in two separate and independent units. Nor is
there evidence that anyone consulted a judge advocate on the search authori-
zations in this case. Exclusion of the evidence will deter commanders from
failing to seek legal advice prior to taking actions which serve to impermissi-
bly delegate search authority.
Second, exclusion will deter those who are not commanders, and therefore
lack command authority, from attempting to exercise authorities they do not
possess. And exclusion will reinforce the need for investigators to ensure that
they have obtained authorization to search from a commander with the au-
thority to approve the search. Here, no investigator ever believed Major B
was the actual commanding officer of MWSS-373, and Special Agent E’s tes-
timony demonstrates that at least one agent in the field office was aware that
the MAG-11 commanding officer and the 3d MAW commanding general—
both located at Miramar—were empowered to authorize the searches if Lieu-
tenant Colonel W was out of communication.
b. Deterrence related to careful document drafting
Additionally, we find several glaring flaws with the search authorizations
that Special Agent P prepared and that Major B signed. We find that exclu-
sion of the evidence will deter careless drafting by law enforcement officials
in the future and exclusion will deter search authorities from signing blatant-
ly flawed authorizations.
24
United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
All three search authorizations misspell the appellant’s name in the
header, citing the case as “United States of America vs. MSGT Robert
Amendariz, USMC.” 45 The appellant’s name is Roberto Armendariz. Though
not legally dispositive, and not a ground for suppression, we note that Special
Agent P, Special Agent B, Lieutenant Colonel W, and Major B, all failed to
correct this fundamental, repeated error.
In addition to the scrivener’s errors, the search authorizations lack speci-
ficity as to the places to be searched. Under the Fourth Amendment, “no
Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirma-
tion, and particularly describing the place to searched, and the persons or
things to be seized.” 46 “General warrants . . . are prohibited by the Fourth
Amendment” because they permit officers to engage in “a general, explorato-
ry rummaging in a person’s belongings.” Andresen v. Maryland, 427 U.S. 463,
480 (1976).
The first 25 July 2016 authorization granted authority to search “[a]ny
vehicle registered to [the appellant] should the articles of clothing from the
incident not be discovered within [the appellant’s] workspace.” 47 Special
Agent P made no apparent attempt to ascertain any identifying characteris-
tics of any vehicle the appellant may have owned. The MWSS-373 command-
er would not have authority to order a search of a vehicle maintained any-
where other than in an area under the control of the MWSS-373 command-
er. 48 If, for instance, the appellant owned multiple vehicles and one of those
vehicles was located on board Miramar in an area not under the control of the
MWSS commander or it was located in another state for the use of a family
member, the MWSS commander would not have authority to search that ve-
hicle. Yet Special Agent P requested, and Major B granted, authority to
search, without limitation to location, “[a]ny vehicle” registered to the appel-
lant. 49
Additionally, Special Agent P requested, and Major B approved the search
for data on the appellant’s cellular phones without limitation. Later, Special
Agent B made the same request, and Lieutenant Colonel W approved it. The
25 July, 26 July, and 18 November 2016 search authorizations, prepared by
45 AE VIII at 30, 33, 36.
46 U.S. CONST. amend. IV.
47 AE VIII at 31 (emphasis added).
48 See MIL. R. EVID. 315(d)(1); MIL. R. EVID. 315(c)(3).
49 Id.
25
United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
two different agents, all reference two attachments listing the “Location and
Property to be Searched” and “Items to be Seized/Searched,” respectively. All
three search authorizations granted the agent authority to search, without
limitation, the following items from the appellant’s cell phone:
Files, data, images, software, operating systems, deleted files,
altered files, system configurations, passwords and encryption
of drive and disk configurations, date and time, and unallocat-
ed and slack space, stored photographs, videos, chat messages,
stored electronic mail, including attachments, web browsing
history, stored web pages, web caches, internet history files,
peer to peer file sharing history, stored documents, and data
stored in any application. 50
The search authorizations purport to authorize a general search of all of
the appellant’s cell phone data, not limited to evidence pertaining to Sergeant
N’s allegation of sexual assault. They list all classes of data without limiting
their search to evidence pertaining to the crime of which the appellant was
suspected and without any temporal limitation. See generally Andresen v.
Maryland, 427 U.S. at 479-82 (holding that a warrant was not general even
though it authorized seizure of “fruits, instrumentalities, and evidence of
crime at this [time] unknown” because that phrase was modified by a limiting
phrase relating to the offense in question).
The affidavit in support of the 25 July 2016 search authorization recites
Special Agent P’s “opinions and conclusions” that “[w]ithin the cellular tele-
phone it is also believed there will be evidence of the communication between
[the appellant and Sergeant N] that may provide additional context of the
nature of their relationship prior to this incident.” 51 The search authorization
does not expressly incorporate the affidavit, and nothing in the affidavit or
search authorization limits the search of the appellant’s cellular phone for
only communications pertaining to Sergeant N’s allegation.
The affidavit in support of the 26 July 2016 search authorization similarly
contains no express limitation, but recites under “Opinions and Conclusions”
that:
50 AE VIII at 30-32 (Command Authorization of 25 Jul 2016, with attachments);
AE VIII at 33-35 (Command Authorization of 26 Jul 2016, with attachments); AE
VIII at 36-38 (Command Authorization of 18 Nov 2016, with attachments).
51 AE IX at 23.
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United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
The items listed in [the pertinent attachment] are believed to
contain evidence related to the sexual assault of [Sergeant N]
within a cellular telephone [sic] was utilized to communicate
with [the appellant]. 52
This sentence is the result of an apparent cut-and-paste error, and it does
nothing to limit the scope of the general search that Special Agent P request-
ed and Major B granted.
We do not find that these affidavits expressly limit the general search
permitted by the search authorization. Even if the affidavits seemed to limit
the general search, we cannot consider them for that purpose. Unless the
search authorization expressly, or by reference, incorporates the supporting
affidavit, the affidavit cannot cure a particularity defect in the search author-
ization.
In Groh v. Ramirez, 540 U.S. 551 (2004), the Supreme Court held that a
warrant was “plainly invalid” because it did not describe the “things to be
seized.” 540 U.S. at 557. Although the search warrant application listed the
items to be seized with particularity, the warrant “did not incorporate by ref-
erence the itemized list contained in the application.” Id. at 554-55. The war-
rant did “recite that the Magistrate was satisfied the affidavit established
probable cause.” Id. at 555. Nevertheless, the Court held that “[t]he fact that
the application adequately described the ‘things to be seized’ does not save
the warrant from its facial invalidity” because the Fourth Amendment “by its
terms requires particularity in the warrant, not in the supporting docu-
ments.” Id. at 557 (emphasis omitted). The Court then surveyed several Cir-
cuit Court of Appeals cases and noted that “most Courts of Appeals have held
that a court may construe a warrant with reference to a supporting applica-
tion or affidavit if the warrant uses appropriate words of incorporation, and if
the supporting document accompanies the warrant.” 540 U.S. at 557-58.
In this case, similar to the facts in Groh v. Ramirez, the command author-
ization stated that the person authorizing the search was “satisfied that
there is probable cause . . . as stated in the supporting affidavit(s).” 53 Howev-
er, it did nothing to “incorporate by reference” any language in the affidavit
that might serve to limit the general search of the appellant’s phones. 540
U.S. at 554-55.
52 AE IX at 31.
53 AE VIII at 30.
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United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
As a further reason justifying suppression of the evidence, Special Agent
P sought and received permission to search a third cellular phone after al-
ready seizing two. Probable cause was based on the statement of a witness
who saw the appellant retrieve an iPhone with a cracked screen under suspi-
cious circumstances, which suggested that the appellant deliberately hid this
particular phone off base after he was ordered to return to base without ex-
planation. Although probable cause was specific to an iPhone with a cracked
screen, the search authorization was not specifically limited to that uniquely
identifiable iPhone. Instead, it authorized search of the appellant’s person,
workspace, and “[a]ny vehicle registered” to him for any cellular telephone.
Unable to find an iPhone with a cracked screen, Special Agent P seized and
searched a Samsung Galaxy SIII.
Because of these glaring errors, we cannot presume that any affidavit
presented to Lieutenant Colonel W in November 2016 was valid. And we are
convinced that suppression of evidence will deter further similar abuses. We
remind law enforcement officers and commanders of their duty to carefully
review the documents to be used to justify such significant intrusions into a
Service Member’s body and property. Accordingly, we find that all evidence
resulting from the 25 and 26 July and 18 November 2016 search authoriza-
tions to be inadmissible.
4. Was the appellant prejudiced by admission of inadmissible evidence?
Even though we find the military judge abused his discretion in denying
the defense motion to suppress evidence, the appellant is entitled to relief on-
ly if he can show material prejudice to a substantial right. Article 59(a),
UCMJ. The error here is of a “constitutional dimension.” Hoffmann, 75 M.J.
at 128. Constitutional error is harmless only when “it appears beyond a rea-
sonable doubt that the error complained of did not contribute to the verdict
obtained.” Id. (quoting Mitchell v. Esparza, 540 U.S. 12, 17-18 (2003)). The
burden is on the government to prove the constitutional error was harmless.
See id. at 128. An error that “did not contribute to the verdict” is one which
was “unimportant in relation to everything else the jury considered on the
issue in question, as revealed in the record.” Id. (quoting Yates v. Evatt, 500
U.S. 391, 403 (1991)).
The searches of the appellant’s body and property yielded evidence that
the government used to establish the appellant’s guilt to each and every of-
fense of which he was convicted. First, the analysis of the appellant’s DNA
exemplar enabled the government to argue the appellant’s DNA was present
inside Sergeant N’s underwear and on her external genitalia. Second, the
search of his underwear revealed the presence of Sergeant N’s DNA. Third,
the search of the appellant’s cellular phones yielded evidence that the Sam-
sung Galaxy SIII was in factory reset mode. The military judge allowed the
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United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
government to argue that the appellant “may have hidden a mobile phone
outside the gate and purchased a brand new mobile phone despite the fact
that he already had a phone” to show the appellant’s consciousness of guilt in
relation to the Article 92, UCMJ, violations and the Article 134, UCMJ, adul-
tery specification. 54
Although in some cases, DNA may not be of central importance, in this
case it was. At trial, the government characterized the DNA evidence as “one
of the strongest pieces of evidence the government has.” 55
The appellant never conceded that he committed any of the charged sexu-
al acts or contact. The appellant made no statements to NCIS. The only
statement admitted at trial was a comment the appellant made to a Gunnery
Sergeant who testified that the appellant told him that Sergeant N made a
sexual advance upon him; he rejected her advances; that she “didn’t take it
too well”; and that she “proceeded to kind of egg him on and call him out for”
rejecting her advance. 56
During argument, the defense never conceded the government had proved
the sexual act or any specific sexual contact. The defense’s position was two-
fold: (1) any contact, which was not specifically admitted, was consensual and
Sergeant N falsely alleged it was non-consensual because she felt guilty that
she had cheated on her boyfriend; and (2) Sergeant N’s account was not cred-
ible.
In opening, the defense counsel conceded the appellant became “too close”
to Sergeant N, that they “crossed the line” and that Sergeant N “cheated on
her boyfriend,” without specifying how. 57 Defense counsel conceded that the
appellant and Sergeant N exchanged “familiar” text messages. 58 Defense
counsel stated he expected Sergeant N would “continue to deny that anything
that happened . . . between the two was consensual.” 59 He stated there was
“mutual touching” and that the SAFE findings were “consistent with consen-
sual sexual acts.” 60
54 Record at 633.
55 Id. at 128.
56 Id. at 454.
57 Id. at 332.
58 Id.
59 Id. at 334.
60 Id. at 335.
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In closing, defense counsel again stated the two “got too close to each oth-
er and crossed the line” and that Sergeant N “cheated” on her boyfriend. 61 He
explained that no one heard any noises because they were being “secretive”
and “didn’t want to get caught messing around.” 62 Defense counsel further
argued that it was not “unreasonable” to believe that Sergeant N “came onto”
the appellant; that he “gave in”; that they “fooled around a little bit”; then
caught themselves and stopped. 63 He characterized the government’s evi-
dence as being that the two “supposedly had sex.” 64 He also said, “[t]hey
hooked up.” 65
But the arguments and statements of counsel are not evidence. United
States v. Fletcher, 62 M.J. 175, 183 (C.A.A.F. 2005) (citation omitted). In spite
of the defense counsel’s concessions, we cannot find that the DNA evidence
was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. We find the appellant was preju-
diced, and this prejudice extends to every offense of conviction except for Ad-
ditional Charge I, alleging an Article 92, UCMJ, orders violation for fraterni-
zation.
Without evidence of penetration, there could be no conviction for sexual
assault or adultery. The DNA evidence obtained from the appellant and the
evidence of Sergeant N’s DNA in the appellant’s underwear both corroborated
Sergeant N’s claim that the appellant penetrated her vulva with his penis.
Consequently, we find the evidence substantially prejudiced the appellant
with regard to the offenses charged in Charge II, Specification 3 and the
Specification of Additional Charge II.
Looking to the evidence supporting the conviction for sexual contact un-
der Charge II, Specification 4, we find this conviction turned on Sergeant N’s
credibility. 66 Sergeant N testified the offense occurred and the only statement
of the appellant admitted at trial denied that he initiated or participated in
any sexual contact, rebuffing Sergeant N’s advances. As we noted above, the
DNA evidence strongly suggested that the appellant penetrated Sergeant N’s
vulva with his penis. This strongly corroborated Sergeant N’s version of
61 Id. at 650.
62 Id. at 651.
63 Id. at 660.
64 Id. at 663.
65 Id. at 664.
66 Although male DNA was found on the outside of Sergeant N’s bra, no “conclu-
sive[ ]” interpretations could be made. PE 8 at 3.
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United States v. Armendariz, No. 201700338
events in comparison to the appellant’s statement. We cannot find beyond a
reasonable doubt that the members’ verdict was not impacted by the errone-
ously admitted evidence.
We next analyze prejudice to the appellant in the context of the two Arti-
cle 92 offenses. The Specification under Charge I alleged that the appellant
violated the the Department of Defense Joint Ethics Regulation, DoD
5500.07-R, by misusing a government office for “sexual activity.” 67 This of-
fense could be proven by an act of sex or a sexual contact short of sex. We
cannot find that the DNA evidence—which was highly suggestive of sex—had
no impact on, or was unimportant to, the members’ finding.
We finally analyze the sole Specification under Additional Charge I, alleg-
ing fraternization under Article 92, UCMJ for violating Article 1165 of the
U.S. Navy Regulations by “having an unduly familiar relationship” with Ser-
geant N. 68 The specification alleging fraternization could be proven by an act
short of sex—it could have been based on kissing, “fooling around,” or merely
exchanging overly familiar text messages. The appellant told the Gunnery
Sergeant that Sergeant N made a sexual advance on him. This took place be-
hind a closed door after Sergeant N had texted the appellant on his personal
cell phone and asked him to roll her uniform sleeves. The ongoing text mes-
sage conversation establishes that the appellant engaged in an unduly famil-
iar relationship with a Marine several grades junior to him in the same com-
mand. The government admitted the appellant’s text message conversation
with Sergeant N as PE 11. This evidence was provided by Sergeant N and
was not the result of any of the government’s searches of the appellant’s
property. Based on PE 11, combined with Sergeant N’s testimony and the ap-
pellant’s statement to the Gunnery Sergeant, we find that the improperly
admitted evidence did not impact the finding of guilt on this specification.
However, we must also analyze whether the MIL. R. EVID. 404(b) evidence
impacted the findings. The government was permitted to argue that the ap-
pellant deliberately hid a cell phone and purchased a new one because he
knew that the contents of his old phone would incriminate him. In light of the
content of the text messages between the appellant and Sergeant N, Sergeant
N’s testimony, and the appellant’s statement admitting that some form of
unduly familiar contact occurred, we find beyond a reasonable doubt that the
improperly admitted evidence did not impact the findings. In light of the
overwhelming evidence that some form of affectionate contact took place in
67 Charge Sheet.
68 Id.
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the appellant’s office, we find the evidence seized unlawfully to be “unim-
portant” in relation to the other evidence.
Accordingly, we find that the erroneous admission of evidence prejudiced
the appellant with regard to all offenses of which he was convicted, except the
Specification of Additional Charge I.
C. Remaining Assignments of Error
In light of our action setting aside all of the appellant’s convictions with
the exception of the Specification of Additional Charge I, we find the remain-
ing AOEs are either moot or lack merit.
III. CONCLUSION
The findings of guilty to Charge I and its Specification; Charge II, Specifi-
cations 3 and 4; and Additional Charge II and its Specification and the sen-
tence are SET ASIDE. The appellant’s conviction of the Specification of Ad-
ditional Charge I is AFFIRMED. The Record of Trial is returned to the
Judge Advocate General. A rehearing on the set aside convictions is author-
ized. In the alternative, a rehearing on the sentence for the Specification of
Additional Charge I is authorized, or in the alternative, the convening au-
thority can approve a sentence of no punishment.
Senior Judge HUTCHISON and Judge LAWRENCE concur.
FOR THE COURT:
RODGER A. DREW, JR.
Clerk of Court
32