United States v. Campbell

U NITED S TATES AIR F ORCE
C OURT OF C RIMINAL APPEALS
________________________
No. ACM 38875 (rem)
________________________
UNITED STATES
Appellee
v.
Corey J. CAMPBELL
Staff Sergeant (E-5), U.S. Air Force, Appellant
________________________
Appeal from the United States Air Force Trial Judiciary
On Remand from
the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
Decided 13 December 2017
________________________
Military Judge: Shaun S. Speranza.
Approved sentence: Dishonorable discharge, confinement for 55
months, and reduction to E-1. Sentence adjudged 21 May 2015 by
GCM convened at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
For Appellant: Robert Feldmeier, Esquire; James Trieschmann, Es-
quire.
For Appellee: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph J. Kubler, USAF; Lieutenant
Colonel G. Matt Osborn, USAF; Major J. Ronald Steelman III, USAF.
Before DREW, JOHNSON, and MINK, Appellate Military Judges.
Chief Judge DREW delivered the opinion of the court, in which Senior
Judge JOHNSON and Judge MINK joined.
________________________
This is an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as
precedent under AFCCA Rule of Practice and Procedure 18.4.
________________________
United States v. Campbell, No. ACM 38875 (rem)
DREW, Chief Judge:
A military judge sitting as a general court-martial convicted Appellant,
contrary to his pleas, of one specification of sexual assault by causing bodily
harm in violation of Article 120(b)(1)(B), Uniform Code of Military Justice
(UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. § 920(b)(1)(B) (2012); two specifications of abusive sexual
contact by causing bodily harm in violation of Article 120(d), UCMJ, 10
U.S.C. § 920(d) (2012); 1 one specification of adultery, in violation of Article
134, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 934; and one specification of wrongfully providing
alcohol to a minor, also in violation of Article 134, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 934.
The military judge sentenced Appellant to a dishonorable discharge, con-
finement for 55 months, 2 forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and reduction
to the grade of E-1. The convening authority deferred the adjudged forfeitures
and the reduction in grade and waived the mandatory forfeitures in favor of
Appellant’s dependents until action, at which time he disapproved the ad-
judged forfeitures but otherwise approved the adjudged sentence.
In Appellant’s initial appeal to this court, we affirmed the findings and
sentence. United States v. Campbell, No. ACM 38875, 2017 CCA LEXIS 153(A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 28 Feb. 2017) (unpub. op.) (Campbell I). 3 The United
States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF) granted review on the
issue of whether this court erred when we held that the military judge’s use
of charged conduct for propensity purposes was not constitutional error and
did not test for prejudice using the harmless beyond a reasonable doubt
standard. In United States v. Campbell, 76 M.J. 440 (C.A.A.F. 2017) (mem.)
(Campbell II), CAAF granted the petition, set aside our prior decision, and
1The military judge acquitted Appellant of three additional specifications of abusive
sexual contact, in violation of Article 120(d), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 920(d) (2012).
2 The military judge awarded Appellant with 31 days of credit for lawful civilian
pretrial confinement, in accordance with United States v. Allen, 17 M.J. 126 (C.M.A.
1984). See United States v. Murray, 43 M.J. 507, 513–15 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 1995).
3 In his initial appeal, Appellant raised the following issues:
1. Whether the military judge improperly considered charged offenses for pro-
pensity to commit other charged offenses pursuant to Military Rule of Evi-
dence (Mil. Rule Evid.) 413.
2. Whether his trial defense counsel were ineffective in the case-in-chief, during
the sentencing phase, and during clemency.
3. Whether his conviction for providing alcohol to a minor was factually insuffi-
cient as to the terminal element of Article 134.
2
United States v. Campbell, No. ACM 38875 (rem)
remanded the case to this court for further consideration in light of United
States v. Hukill, 76 M.J. 219 (C.A.A.F. 2017).
The error raised by Appellant in this remand is whether the military
judge improperly considered charged offenses for propensity purposes under
Mil. R. Evid. 413. 4 We find that although the military judge erred, Appellant
was not prejudiced by the error under the specific facts of this case, and we
thus affirm his conviction and sentence.
I. BACKGROUND
In the summer of 2014, Appellant went to a Cincinnati night club with his
wife’s family and friends. The group included Appellant’s wife; his wife’s 17-
year-old sister, MH; and MH’s 17-year-old female friend, AM. Both MH and
AM attended high school at the time. At various times during the evening,
Appellant sat at a table with his wife and AM. Several times during the even-
ing, Appellant purchased alcoholic drinks for his wife and AM, which they
both consumed. While Appellant’s wife was over the legal drinking age of 21,
AM was not.
During the evening, Appellant made flirtatious comments to AM, includ-
ing “you look so good tonight” and “you’re so sexy.” Several times, Appellant,
intending to gratify his sexual desire, rubbed AM’s outer and inner thigh
with his hand, moving his hand upward past the hem of her dress, without
AM’s consent. Each time, AM told Appellant to stop; he initially complied but
later did it again. As the group was leaving the club, Appellant came up be-
hind AM and without her consent grabbed her buttocks through her clothing
with his hand. AM, appearing “surprised and frightened,” immediately told
MH that Appellant had grabbed her buttocks. Soon after, when AM entered
the minivan the group was traveling in to return home, Appellant, who was
already seated, pulled AM onto his lap and again rubbed her legs.
On 24 October 2014, Appellant attended a Halloween costume party at a
private residence with his wife. His wife was dressed as a piñata and Appel-
4 Appellant also attempts to re-raise, in slightly different form, an issue we previous-
ly considered in our prior decision, but that was neither further appealed by Appel-
lant nor considered by CAAF: whether this court must set aside and dismiss Addi-
tional Charge II when the Government offered no proof of the terminal element. As-
suming, without deciding, that the CAAF’s order setting aside our previous decision
rendered our earlier opinion a complete legal nullity, we have reconsidered and re-
state our holdings with respect to ineffective assistance of counsel and factual suffi-
ciency of the evidence in order to ensure it is clear that Appellant received his full
Article 66, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866, appellate review.
3
United States v. Campbell, No. ACM 38875 (rem)
lant wore stereotypical Mexican attire and carried a “piñata stick.” Appel-
lant’s sister-in-law, MH, also attended with another female high-school
friend, KC. During the evening, Appellant repeatedly poked MH and KC in
the buttocks with the piñata stick in a flirtatious manner.
Throughout the evening and into the early morning hours of 25 October,
MH and KC consumed a number of alcoholic drinks, to the point that they
both became intoxicated. MH in particular was feeling dizzy and nauseated
and was having difficulty walking. First KC, then later MH, went into a
spare bedroom to “sleep it off.” Shortly after MH went into the bedroom
where KC was, Appellant’s wife left the residence with others to get food.
While his wife was gone, Appellant entered the darkened bedroom where KC
and MH were lying on a mattress. KC was not quite asleep but was lying on
her side away from MH and remained still. MH was lying on her back, asleep
or unconscious due to alcohol consumption. Appellant got on top of MH and
said “is this okay?” but MH, who was in and out of consciousness, did not re-
spond. MH awoke to find Appellant’s penis inside her vagina. Appellant con-
tinued to engage in sexual intercourse until he ejaculated. Once he got off of
MH, KC jumped up, started yelling “you just raped her!” and pushed Appel-
lant out of the room.
Appellant ran out of the room and down the stairs to the basement. He
turned around and went back up the stairs to the main floor, where he saw
the owner of the house, a friend of his. Appellant, in an excited state, asked
his friend if he had seen Appellant come up the stairs. His friend responded,
“Yeah, I just saw you come upstairs.” Appellant replied, “Well, I didn’t do—I
didn’t do anything. You just saw me come upstairs.” A short time later, Ap-
pellant’s wife returned to the house. Around the same time, Appellant got in-
to his van and drove away at a high rate of speed.
II. DISCUSSION
Prior to trial, the Government provided timely notice that it intended to
offer evidence of similar crimes committed by Appellant in a sexual offense
case pursuant to Mil. R. Evid. 413. The Government also provided separate
timely notice of its intent to also introduce evidence of other crimes, wrongs,
or acts pursuant to Mil. R. Evid. 404(b). The Defense moved to exclude the
Government’s Mil. R. Evid. 413 evidence. The military judge, without benefit
of CAAF’s recent decisions in United States v. Hills, 75 M.J. 350, 352
(C.A.A.F. 2016), and Hukill, analyzed all of the proffered evidence, including
employing the Mil. R. Evid. 403 balancing test, and ultimately ruled that the
following evidence was admissible under the bases noted:
4
United States v. Campbell, No. ACM 38875 (rem)
1. On or about 24–25 October 2014, Appellant repeatedly struck or
poked the buttocks of KC and MH with a stick (Mil. R. Evid. 401, 402,
404(b), 413).
2. Between on or about 1 August 2014 and 20 October 2014, Appellant
touched MH’s breast through her clothing, without her consent (charged
sex offense 5 and Mil. R. Evid. 401, 402, 413).
3. Between on or about 24 October 2014 and 25 October 2014, Appel-
lant penetrated MH’s vulva with his penis, without her consent (charged
sex offense and Mil. R. Evid. 401, 402, 413).
4. Between on or about 1 July 2014 and 30 August 2014, Appellant
touched AM’s buttocks through her clothing with his hand, without her
consent (charged sex offense and Mil. R. Evid. 401, 402, 413).
Appellant contends that the military judge erred in considering the
charged sexual offense evidence (items 2–4 above) as Mil. R. Evid. 413 pro-
pensity evidence to support the convictions of the sexual assault and two
abusive sexual contact offenses. We agree.
We review a military judge’s decision to admit evidence for an abuse of
discretion. Hukill, 76 M.J. at 221 (citing United States v. Solomon, 72 M.J.
176, 179 (C.A.A.F. 2013)). “The abuse of discretion standard is a strict one,
calling for more than a mere difference of opinion. The challenged action
must be arbitrary, fanciful, clearly unreasonable, or clearly erroneous.” Unit-
ed States v. White, 69 M.J. 236, 239 (C.A.A.F. 2010). A military judge abuses
his discretion when his findings of fact are clearly erroneous or if his decision
is influenced by an erroneous view of the law. United States v. Freeman, 65
M.J. 451, 453 (C.A.A.F. 2008) (citing United States v. Ayala, 43 M.J. 296, 298
(C.A.A.F. 1995)).
The meaning and scope of Mil. R. Evid. 413 is a question of law that we
review de novo. Hukill, 76 M.J. at 221 (citing Hills, 75 M.J. at 354). There are
three threshold requirements for admitting evidence of similar offenses in
sexual offense cases under Mil R. Evid. 413: (1) the accused must be charged
with a sexual offense, as defined by the rule; (2) the proffered evidence must
be evidence of the accused’s commission of another sexual offense; and (3) the
evidence must be relevant under Mil R. Evid. 401 and 402. United States v.
Wright, 53 M.J. 476, 482 (C.A.A.F. 2000). The military judge made detailed
finding of facts, outlining the evidence presented on each specification. He
ultimately found by a preponderance of the evidence that, for purpose of the
5 The military judge acquitted Appellant of this offense.
5
United States v. Campbell, No. ACM 38875 (rem)
motion only, the offenses occurred. He also conducted a detailed Mil. R. Evid.
403 balancing test prior to admitting the evidence, as required under United
States v. Berry, 61 M.J. 91 (C.A.A.F. 2005). In making his ruling, the military
judge clearly articulated that, as he was to be the finder of fact, his ruling
concerned only the Mil. R. Evid. 413 motion. He noted for the record that, as
the factfinder, he would evaluate the evidence on the merits, including the
witness testimony, as it was presented. Additionally, he affirmatively stated
that the Government would be required to prove each of the charged offenses
beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Government concedes that, in light of Hills and Hukill, the military
judge erred in permitting evidence of the charged sexual offenses to be used
pursuant to Mil. R. Evid. 413.
[T]he use of evidence of charged conduct as [Mil. R. Evid.] 413
propensity evidence for other charged conduct in the same case
is error, regardless of the forum, the number of victims, or
whether the events are connected. Whether considered by
members or a military judge, evidence of a charged and con-
tested offense, of which an accused is presumed innocent, can-
not be used as propensity evidence in support of a companion
charged offense.
Hukill, 76 M.J. at 222.
Although the military judge’s ruling is understandable, coming as it did
before the decisions in Hills and Hukill, we must “apply the clear law at the
time of appeal, not the time of trial.” United States v. Mullins, 69 M.J. 113,
116 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (citing United States v. Harcrow, 66 M.J. 154, 159
(C.A.A.F. 2008)).
The use of charged conduct evidence as Mil. R. Evid. 413 propensity evi-
dence for other charged offenses creates constitutional concerns regardless of
the forum. Hukill, 76 M.J. at 222. As such, the erroneous use of evidence
must be tested for prejudice under the harmless beyond a reasonable doubt
standard. Id. (citing Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 22–24 (1967)). The
error is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt when the error did not contrib-
ute to the appellant’s conviction or sentence. Hills, 75 M.J. at 357 (citation
omitted). An error is not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt when there is a
reasonable possibility that the error might have contributed to the conviction.
Id. (citation omitted).
To say that an error did not “contribute” to the ensuing verdict
is not, of course, to say that the [factfinder] was totally una-
ware of that feature of the trial later held to have been errone-
ous. . . .
6
United States v. Campbell, No. ACM 38875 (rem)
To say that an error did not contribute to the verdict is, rather,
to find that error unimportant in relation to everything else the
jury considered on the issue in question, as revealed in the rec-
ord.
United States v. Othuru, 65 M.J. 375, 377 (C.A.A.F. 2007) (citing Yates v.
Evatt, 500 U.S. 391, 403 (1991), overruled on other grounds by Estelle v.
McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 72 n.4 (1991)) (omission in original).
The propensity evidence 6 played very little part in the Government’s case
or argument. The senior trial counsel did make a brief mention that Appel-
lant “prior to this assault, demonstrated over a period of months, a desire, a
willingness, and a brazen capacity to fondle teenage girls without their con-
sent.” This line of argument, while not particularly persuasive, does assert
propensity. Much more persuasive was the Government’s direct evidence of
Appellant’s acts, including the testimony of the victims and eye witnesses.
Military judges are presumed to know the law and to follow it, absent
clear evidence to the contrary. United States v. Mason, 45 M.J. 483, 484
(C.A.A.F. 1997). This presumption includes the ability to maintain the pre-
sumption of innocence and to apply the appropriate burden of proof in as-
sessing Appellant’s guilt—issues “seriously muddled and compromised” by
the instructions provided to court members in Hills, 75 M.J. at 357. Here, the
military judge affirmatively stated on the record that he would hold the Pros-
ecution to its burden to establish Appellant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,
notwithstanding his erroneous ruling regarding the charged offense propensi-
ty evidence.
The evidence in this case was strong—so strong that much of it was not
disputed by Appellant during his trial, including the critical fact that he had
sexual intercourse with his teenaged sister-in-law during a night of heavy
drinking. AM’s testimony that Appellant had grabbed her buttocks and
rubbed her inner thigh at the bar was significantly corroborated by her im-
mediate report to MH and by MH’s testimony that she saw Appellant in the
van with AM on his lap and his hand on AM’s leg. Where the evidence was
less strong, specifically concerning Appellant’s intent for the three other sex-
ual contact offenses, the military judge determined that the Government did
not overcome the presumption of innocence and acquitted him. Our review of
6 The propensity evidence concerning the uncharged sexual offenses of repeatedly
striking or poking the buttocks of KC and MH with a stick, which was not challenged
by Appellant, was properly admitted under Mil. R. Evid. 413 as well as Mil. R. Evid.
404(b), as Appellant was not charged with those offenses at his court-martial.
7
United States v. Campbell, No. ACM 38875 (rem)
the record convinces us that the propensity evidence was of marginal value
and it did not have a substantial influence on the military judge’s findings.
We are convinced that the military judge’s error in considering the
charged offense evidence for propensity purposes was unimportant in relation
to everything else the military judge considered in finding Appellant guilty of
the sexual assault and two abusive sexual contact offenses. We conclude that
there is no reasonable possibility that the error might have contributed to
Appellant’s conviction for these offenses. Accordingly, we find that the error
is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
III. CONCLUSION
The approved findings and sentence are correct in law and fact, and no
error materially prejudicial to the substantial rights of Appellant occurred.
Articles 59(a) and 66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 859(a), 866(c). Accordingly, the
findings and the sentence are AFFIRMED.
FOR THE COURT
KATHLEEN M. POTTER
Acting Clerk of the Court
8