United States v. Richardson ( 2020 )


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  •  This opinion is subject to administrative correction before final disposition.
    Before
    HOLIFIELD, CRISFIELD, and LAWRENCE
    Appellate Military Judges
    _________________________
    UNITED STATES
    Appellee
    v.
    Matthew L. RICHARDSON
    Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Chief Petty Officer (E-7),
    U.S. Navy
    Appellant
    No. 202000071
    Decided: 24 September 2020
    Appeal from the United States Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary
    Military Judges:
    Wilbur Lee (arraignment)
    Ann K. Minami (trial)
    Sentence adjudged 10 December 2019 by a general court-martial con-
    vened at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, consisting of a
    military judge sitting alone. Sentence in the Entry of Judgment: re-
    duction to E-1, confinement for eight years, 1 and a dishonorable dis-
    charge.
    For Appellant:
    Captain Brian L. Farrell, USMCR
    1  The convening authority suspended confinement in excess of five years pursu-
    ant to a pretrial agreement.
    United States v. Richardson, NMCCA No. 202000071
    Opinion of the Court
    For Appellee:
    Brian K. Keller, Esq.
    _________________________
    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 approved findings and sentence are
    correct in law and fact and that no error materially prejudicial to Appellant’s
    substantial rights occurred. 2
    However, the Entry of Judgment is incomplete, as Block 34 (Sentence
    adjudged, accounting for any modifications by reason of any post-trial action
    by the convening authority) contains a scrivener’s error by omitting the word
    “five” in describing the adjudged period of confinement above which the
    convening authority suspended punishment. 3 But we note that this suspen-
    sion was properly reflected in Block 28 of the Post-Trial Action (Convening
    Authority’s Action). Although we find no prejudice from this error, Appellant
    is entitled to have court-martial records that correctly reflect the content of
    his proceeding. 4 In accordance with this Court’s authority under 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   Uniform Code of Military Justice arts. 59, 66, 
    10 U.S.C. §§ 859
    , 866.
    3 “C[onvening] A[uthority]’s Action approved the adjudged confinement but sus-
    pended all confinement in excess of [blank] years.”
    4   United States v. Crumpley, 
    49 M.J. 538
    , 539 (N-M. Ct. Crim. App. 1998).
    2
    United States v. Richardson, NMCCA No. 202000071
    Modified Entry of Judgment
    UNITED STATES                                     NMCCA NO. 202000071
    v.                                                ENTRY
    OF
    Matthew L. RICHARDSON                                  JUDGMENT
    Cryptologic Technician (Collection)
    Chief Petty Officer (E-7)                          As Modified on Appeal
    U.S. Navy
    Accused                         24 September 2020
    On 5 September 2019 and 10 December 2019, the Accused was tried at Joint
    Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, by a general court-martial, consisting of a
    military judge sitting alone. Military Judges Wilbur Lee and Ann K. Minami,
    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 Abuse of a Child by Sexual Contact on or about
    March 2019.
    Plea: Guilty.
    Finding: Guilty.
    Specification 2: Sexual Abuse of a Child by Indecent Conduct between
    on or about October 2018 and on or about March 2019.
    Plea: Guilty.
    Finding: Guilty.
    1
    United States v. Richardson, NMCCA No. 202000071
    Modified Entry of Judgment
    Charge II:   Violation of Article 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice,
    
    10 U.S.C. § 934
    .
    Plea: Guilty.
    Finding: Guilty.
    Specification:     Possessing Child Pornography on or about 27 April
    2018.
    Plea: Guilty.
    Finding: Guilty.
    SENTENCE
    On 10 December 2019, a military judge sentenced the Accused to the following:
    Reduction to pay grade E-1.
    Confinement for eight years.
    A dishonorable discharge.
    The convening authority suspended confinement in excess of five years.
    FOR THE COURT:
    RODGER A. DREW, JR.
    Clerk of Court
    2
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 202000071

Filed Date: 9/24/2020

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 9/25/2020