United States v. Addison ( 2020 )

This opinion is subject to administrative correction before final disposition.
Before
CRISFIELD, HITESMAN, and FOIL,
Appellate Military Judges
______________
UNITED STATES
Appellee
v.
Christien S. ADDISON
Corporal (E-4), U.S. Marine Corps
Appellant
No. 201800272
Decided: 11 February 2020.
Appeal from the United States Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary.
Military Judge: Lieutenant Colonel Emily A. Jackson-Hall, USMC.
Sentence adjudged 29 June 2018 by a special court-martial convened
at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, consisting of a
military judge sitting alone. Sentence approved by the convening au-
thority: reduction to pay grade E-1, confinement for 179 days, 1 and a
bad conduct discharge.
For Appellant: Commander C. Eric Roper, JAGC, USN.
For Appellee: Lieutenant Jonathan Todd, JAGC, USN; Lieutenant
Kurt W. Siegal, JAGC, USN.
Judge FOIL delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Chief Judge
CRISFIELD and Senior Judge HITESMAN joined.
1 The convening authority suspended confinement in excess of 90 days pursuant
to a pretrial agreement.
United States v. Addison, NMCCA No. 201800272
_________________________
PUBLISHED OPINION OF THE COURT
_________________________
FOIL, Judge:
Appellant was found guilty, pursuant to his pleas, of one specification of
attempted escape, one specification of willful disobedience of a superior com-
missioned officer, one specification of disrespect toward a noncommissioned
officer, and three specifications of wrongful use of a controlled substance, in
violation of Articles 80, 90, 91, and 112a, Uniform Code of Military Justice
(UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. §§ 880, 890, 891, 912a (2012).
Appellant did not initially assert a specific assignment of error. Following
our preliminary review, however, this Court specified the following issue:
Whether Appellant’s guilty plea to the Specification of Additional Charge II
for disrespect toward a noncommissioned officer was provident. After consid-
ering the briefs of the parties we find merit in the specified issue and set
aside the finding of guilty to Additional Charge II. We reassess the sentence,
and affirm the sentence as adjudged.
I. BACKGROUND
Appellant pleaded guilty to the Specification of Additional Charge II al-
leging a violation of Article 91, UCMJ, for disrespect toward a noncommis-
sioned officer by saying, “F[***]k you, Gunny,” to his platoon sergeant. The
military judge provided the elements of the offense of disrespect toward a
noncommissioned officer and followed with a plea colloquy with Appellant.
The following exchange occurred between Appellant and the military judge:
MJ: Now, on those same dates, did you use certain language
to wit: “F[***]k you, Gunny,” towards Gunnery Sergeant
[J.R.M.]?
ACC: I did, your Honor.
MJ: Please explain the circumstances.
ACC: We were arguing about something with the checkout
process, and he said, “I can tell that you just want to say
‘F[***]k me.’ ” And so he said, “Say ‘F[***]k you, Gun-
ny.’ ” And we went back and forth for a few times, but I
eventually gave in and said, “F[‘***]k you, Gunny.”
Record at 35.
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United States v. Addison, NMCCA No. 201800272
The military judge did not make any specific inquiry as to whether the po-
tential affirmative defense of abandonment of office or divestiture might ap-
ply, and neither side requested additional inquiry on this offense.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Providence Inquiry
Prior to accepting a guilty plea, a military judge must ensure the plea is
supported by a factual basis. Article 45(a), UCMJ; United States v. Care, 40
C.M.R. 247 (C.M.A. 1969); RULE FOR COURTS-MARTIAL (R.C.M.) 910(e), MAN-
UAL FOR COURTS-MARTIAL, UNITED STATES (2016 ed.). The military judge
must elicit sufficient facts to satisfy every element of the offense in question,
and a military judge’s decision to accept a plea of guilty is reviewed for an
abuse of discretion. United States v. Inabinette, 66 M.J. 320, 322 (C.A.A.F.
2008) (citation omitted). Questions of law arising from the guilty plea are re-
viewed de novo. Id. (citing United States v. Pena, 64 M.J. 259 (C.A.A.F.
2007)). A reviewing appellate court may reject a guilty plea only if there is a
substantial basis in law or fact to question the plea. Id. (citing United States
v. Prater, 32 M.J. 433 (C.M.A. 1991)). The military judge must reopen the
providence inquiry if the evidence is inconsistent with the guilty plea. See
United States v. Lloyd, 46 M.J. 19, 23 (C.A.A.F. 1997).
Before accepting a guilty plea, “the military judge [must] explain the ele-
ments of the offense and ensure there is a factual basis for the plea.” United
States v. Faircloth, 45 M.J. 172, 174 (1996); accord United States v. Care, 40
C.M.R. 247 (C.M.A. 1969); see Art. 45(a), UCMJ. In the course of a guilty-plea
proceeding, if an accused “reasonably raises the question of a defense,” Unit-
ed States v. Timmins, 45 C.M.R. 249, 253 (C.M.A. 1972) (mistake of fact), or
“ ‘sets up matter inconsistent with the plea’ at any time during the proceed-
ing, the military judge must either resolve the apparent inconsistency or re-
ject the plea.” United States v. Garcia, 44 M.J. 496, 498 (1996) (quoting Art.
45(a), UCMJ); see also R.C.M. 910(e) and (h)(2).
At the same time, a military judge may not “arbitrarily reject a guilty
plea.” United States v. Penister, 25 M.J. 148, 152 (C.M.A. 1987). The standard
of review on the issue of a provident plea is whether the record reveals a
“substantial basis in law and fact for questioning the plea.” Prater, 32 M.J. at
436.
The “mere possibility of a defense does not render a plea of guilty improv-
ident.” United States v. Bullman, 56 M.J. 377, 381 (C.A.A.F. 2002) (citing
Prater, 32 M.J. at 436). Before finding a plea improvident, this Court must
apply the statutory standard delineated in Article 45(a), UCMJ. After apply-
ing the Article 45(a), UCMJ, standard, any conclusion reached by this Court
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United States v. Addison, NMCCA No. 201800272
“must overcome the generally applied waiver of the factual issue of guilt in-
herent in voluntary pleas of guilty.” United States v. Dawson, 50 M.J. 599,
601 (N-M. Ct. Crim. App. 1999); accord R.C.M. 910(j).
During the providence inquiry the military judge correctly explained the
elements necessary to establish a violation for disrespect toward a noncom-
missioned officer. Before accepting Appellant’s guilty plea to the Specification
of Additional Charge II, the military judge had to find that there was a suffi-
cient factual basis to satisfy each and every element of the pled offense. Care,
40 C.M.R. at 253. “Mere conclusions of law recited by an accused are insuffi-
cient to provide a factual basis for a guilty plea.” United States v. Outhier, 45
M.J. 326, 331 (C.A.A.F. 1996); accord United States v. Jordan, 57 M.J. 236,
238-39 (C.A.A.F. 2002). If the accused discloses factual matters inconsistent
with his plea, the military judge must either resolve the apparent incon-
sistency or reject the plea. Garcia, 44 M.J. at 498 (citation and internal quo-
tation marks omitted). Once the guilty plea is accepted, however, we will not
disturb it unless the record reveals “a substantial conflict between the plea
and the accused’s statements or other evidence of record.” Id.; accord Prater,
32 M.J. at 436.
An individual can “abandon his rank and position of authority in dealing
with a subordinate by his own misconduct.” United States v. Richardson, 7
M.J. 320 (C.M.A. 1979) (citing United States v. Noriega, 7 C.M.A 196 (C.M.A.
1956)). 2 Based upon the providence inquiry into the Specification of Addition-
al Charge II, we find that the facts obtained by the military judge were defi-
cient in light of her failure to adequately instruct Appellant of possible de-
fenses that were raised by Appellant’s statements. The military judge asked
Appellant if he felt Gunnery Sergeant J.R.M. was acting outside his role as a
noncommissioned officer. 3 Appellant said no. This was not an adequate in-
quiry as to whether a potential affirmative defense of abandonment of office
2 The Government argues that the defense of abandonment of rank only applies
to offenses against commissioned officers and does not apply to offenses against non-
commissioned officers. The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and several Ser-
vice courts, including this one, have held, at least implicitly, that abandonment of
rank is a defense to disrespect or disobedience to a noncommissioned officer. See, e.g.,
United States v. Diggs, 52 M.J. 251, 256-57 (C.A.A.F. 2000); United States v. Sanders,
41 M.J. 485, 486-87 (C.A.A.F. 1995); United States v. Vallenthine, 2 M.J. 1170
(N.C.M.R. 1975); United States v. Revels, 41 C.M.R. 475 (A.C.M.R. 1969); United
States v. McDaniel, 7 M.J. 522, 523 (A.C.M.R. 1979); United States v. Taylor, 30 M.J.
882 (A.F.C.M.R. 1990).
3 Record at 38.
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United States v. Addison, NMCCA No. 201800272
or divestiture by Gunnery Sergeant J.R.M., or even compliance with orders,
existed to the charge after the noncommissioned officer repeatedly badgered
and taunted Appellant to curse him.
Appellant was instructed by the noncommissioned officer to use words
that would disrespect him. This was a clear departure from the standards
required of those in leadership position and it invited a disrespectful response
from Appellant. United States v. Ivory, No. 9401647, 1995 CCA LEXIS 387, at
*10, (N-M. Ct. Crim App. 10 Aug. 1995) (unpub. op.). Appellant admitted to
saying the charged language towards Gunnery Sergeant J.R.M., but only af-
ter he had repeatedly been told to do so by the noncommissioned officer. Ap-
pellant reasonably raised an affirmative defense of abandonment of office, so
the military judge should have resolved the inconsistency or rejected the
plea,” United States v. Timmins, 45 C.M.R. 249, 253 (C.M.A 1972). She did
not. Therefore, we set aside the finding of guilty to the Specification of Addi-
tional Charge II.
B. Sentence Reassessment
Having set aside the finding of guilty to the Specification of Additional
Charge II, we must now determine if we are able to reassess Appellant’s sen-
tence. We have “broad discretion” when reassessing sentences. United States
v. Winckelmann, 73 M.J. 11, 12 (C.A.A.F. 2013). However, we can only reas-
sess a sentence if we are confident “that, absent any error, the sentence ad-
judged would have been of at least a certain severity . . . .” United States v.
Sales, 22 M.J. 305, 308 (C.M.A. 1986). A reassessed sentence must not only
“be purged of prejudicial error [but] also must be ‘appropriate’ for the of-
fense[s] involved.” Id.
In determining whether to reassess a sentence or to order a sentencing
rehearing, we consider the five factors espoused in our superior court’s hold-
ing in Winckelmann: (1) whether there has been a dramatic change in the
penalty landscape and exposure; (2) the forum of the court-martial;
(3) whether the remaining offenses capture the gravamen of the criminal
conduct; (4) whether significant aggravating circumstances remain admissi-
ble and relevant; and (5) whether the remaining offenses are the type with
which we as appellate judges have experience and familiarity to reasonably
determine what sentence would have been imposed at trial. Winckelmann, 73
M.J. at 15-16.
Under the circumstances presented, we find that we can reassess the sen-
tence and it is appropriate for us to do so. First, the penalty landscape has
not changed. Considering Appellant was tried by special court-martial, our
action in setting aside one of six separate offenses has not changed the penal-
ty landscape. Appellant still faces the jurisdictional maximum for that forum.
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United States v. Addison, NMCCA No. 201800272
Second, Appellant was tried by a military judge alone, which makes it easier
for this Court to reassess what the military judge would do at a new sentenc-
ing hearing. Third, the gravamen of Appellant’s conduct is the wrongful use
of various controlled substances on multiple occasions. Appellant remains
convicted of serious offenses with significant aggravating circumstances.
Finally, based on our experience, we are familiar with the remaining offenses
so that we may reliably determine what sentence would have been imposed
at trial.
Taking these facts as a whole, we can confidently and reliably determine
that, absent the error, a military judge would still sentence Appellant to re-
duction to pay grade E-1, at least 179 days confinement, and a bad conduct
discharge. We find this sentence to be an appropriate punishment for the re-
maining convictions and this offender—thus satisfying the requirement for a
reassessed sentence both purged of error and appropriate. Sales, 22 M.J. at
308.
III. CONCLUSION
After careful consideration of the record and briefs of appellate counsel,
we have determined that the finding of guilty to Additional Charge II and the
Specification thereunder are set aside and the Charge is dismissed. The find-
ings of guilty to the remaining charges and specifications are affirmed. After
reassessing the sentence and the entire record, the sentence is affirmed. Fol-
lowing this action, we find no error materially prejudicial to Appellant’s sub-
stantial rights remains. Arts. 59, 66, UCMJ. Accordingly, the findings as
modified by this Court and sentence are AFFIRMED.
Chief Judge CRISFIELD and Senior Judge HITESMAN concur.
FOR THE COURT:
RODGER A. DREW, JR.
Clerk of Court
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