United States v. Griffith ( 2022 )

This opinion is subject to administrative correction before final disposition.
Before
HOLIFIELD, STEWART, and HACKEL
Appellate Military Judges
_________________________
UNITED STATES
Appellee
v.
Elijah M. GRIFFITH
Lance Corporal (E-3), U.S. Marine Corps
Appellant
No. 202100330
_________________________
Decided: 28 March 2022
Appeal from the United States Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary
Military Judge:
Nicolas S. Henry (arraignment)
Glen R. Hines (trial)
Sentence adjudged 19 August 2021 by a general court-martial convened
at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, consisting of a
military judge sitting alone. Sentence in the Entry of Judgment: reduc-
tion to E-1, confinement for 195 days, 1 forfeiture of all pay and allow-
ances, and a dishonorable discharge.
For Appellant:
Lieutenant Jackson M. Beach JAGC, USN
1 Appellant was credited with having served 195 days of pretrial confinement.
United States v. Griffith, NMCCA No. 202100330
Opinion of the Court
_________________________
This opinion does not serve as binding precedent under
NMCCA Rule of Appellate Procedure 30.2(a).
_________________________
PER CURIAM:
After careful consideration of the record, submitted without assignment of
error, we have determined that the findings and sentence are correct in law
and fact and that no error materially prejudicial to Appellant’s substantial
rights occurred. 2
However, we note that the Entry of Judgment does not accurately reflect
the disposition of the charges. Although we find no prejudice, Appellant is en-
titled to have court-martial records that correctly reflect the content of his pro-
ceeding. 3 In accordance with Rule for Courts-Martial 1111(c)(2), we modify the
Entry of Judgment and direct that it be included in the record.
The findings and sentence are AFFIRMED.
FOR THE COURT:
RODGER A. DREW, JR.
Clerk of Court
2 Articles 59 & 66, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §§ 859, 866.
3 United States v. Crumpley, 49 M.J. 538, 539 (N-M. Ct. Crim. App. 1998).
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UNITED STATES NMCCA NO. 202100330
v. ENTRY
OF
Elijah M. GRIFFITH JUDGMENT
Lance Corporal (E-3)
U.S. Marine Corps As Modified on Appeal
Accused
28 March 2022
On 9 August 2021, the Accused was tried at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune,
North Carolina, by a general court-martial, consisting of a military judge sitting alone.
Military Judge Glen R. Hines presided.
FINDINGS
The following are the Accused’s pleas and the Court’s findings to all offenses the
convening authority referred to trial:
Charge I: Violation of Article 120b, Uniform Code of Military Justice,
10 U.S.C. § 920b.
Plea: Guilty.
Finding: Guilty.
Specification 1: Sexual assault of A.L., a child who had attained the age
of 12 years but had not attained the age of 16 years,
from on or about 30 December 2020 to on or about
31 December 2020, by penetrating A.L.’s vulva with
LCpl Griffith’s penis.
Plea: Guilty.
Finding: Guilty.
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United States v. Griffith, NMCCA No. 202100330
Modified Entry of Judgment
Specification 2: Sexual assault of A.L., a child who had attained the
age of 12 years but had not attained the age of 16
years, from on or about 30 December 2020 to on or
about 31 December 2020, by causing contact between
A.L.’s mouth and LCpl Griffith’s penis.
Plea: Not Guilty.
Finding: Dismissed.
SENTENCE
On 19 August 2021, a military judge sentenced the Accused to the following:
Reduction to pay grade E-1.
For Specification 1 of the Charge:
confinement for 195 days.
Confinement for a total of 195 days.
Forfeiture of all pay and allowances.
A dishonorable discharge.
The Accused has served 195 days pretrial confinement and shall be credited with
195 days of confinement already served, to be deducted from the adjudged sentence to
confinement.
FOR THE COURT:
RODGER A. DREW, JR.
Clerk of Court
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