United States v. Calloway

U NITED S TATES AIR F ORCE
C OURT OF C RIMINAL APPEALS
________________________
No. ACM S32509
Misc. Dkt. No. 2018–09
________________________
UNITED STATES
Appellee
v.
Andrew S. CALLOWAY
Senior Airman (E-4), U.S. Air Force, Appellant
________________________
Appeal from the United States Air Force Trial Judiciary
Review of Petition for New Trial Pursuant to Article 73, UCMJ
Decided 11 October 2019
________________________
Military Judge: John C. Degnan.
Approved sentence: Bad-conduct discharge, confinement for 30 days, re-
duction to E-2, and a reprimand. Sentence adjudged 6 September 2017
by SpCM convened at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
For Appellant: Major Jarett F. Merk, USAF.
For Appellee: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph J. Kubler, USAF; Lieutenant
Colonel Brian C. Mason, USAF; Major Dayle P. Percle, USAF; Captain
Peter F. Kellett, USAF; Mary Ellen Payne, Esquire.
Before MAYBERRY, J. JOHNSON, and KEY, Appellate Military Judges.
Senior Judge J. JOHNSON delivered the opinion of the court, in which
Chief Judge MAYBERRY and Judge KEY joined.
________________________
This is an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as
precedent under AFCCA Rule of Practice and Procedure 30.4.
________________________
United States v. Calloway, No. ACM S32509, Misc. Dkt. No. 2018–09
J. JOHNSON, Senior Judge:
A special court-martial composed of a military judge alone convicted Appel-
lant, in accordance with his pleas, of one specification of wrongful use of cocaine
on divers occasions and one specification of wrongful use of 3,4-methylenediox-
ymethamphetamine (MDMA) in violation of Article 112a, Uniform Code of Mil-
itary Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. § 912a. 1 The military judge sentenced Appel-
lant to a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for 30 days, hard labor without
confinement for 30 days, reduction to the grade of E-2, and a reprimand. The
convening authority approved the sentence with the exception of hard labor
without confinement.
Appellant raises five issues on appeal: (1) whether Appellant received inef-
fective assistance of counsel; (2) whether Appellant’s guilty pleas were “invol-
untary;” (3) whether the military judge had the authority to grant Appellant’s
motion for a new trial at a post-trial session pursuant to Article 39(a), UCMJ,
10 U.S.C. § 839(a), directed by the convening authority after the military judge
had authenticated the record; 2 (4) whether the military judge compromised his
impartiality through his questioning of a prosecution witness; and (5) whether
Appellant is entitled to a new trial pursuant to Article 73, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §
873, based on newly-discovered evidence. 3 In addition, we address whether Ap-
pellant is entitled to relief due to facially unreasonable post-trial delay. We
find Appellant did receive ineffective assistance of counsel; accordingly, we
modify the findings, set aside the sentence, and authorize a rehearing as to the
sentence only.
I. BACKGROUND
To explain the issues before us on appeal, it is necessary to review the pro-
cedural history of Appellant’s case in some detail.
1All references in this opinion to the UCMJ, Rules for Courts-Martial, and Military
Rules of Evidence are to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States (2016 ed.).
2In United States v. Anderson, No. ACM 39023, 2017 CCA LEXIS 383, at *9–14 (A.F.
Ct. Crim. App. 31 May 2017) (unpub. op.), rev. denied, 76 M.J. 461 (C.A.A.F. 2017),
this court answered this question contrary to Appellant’s position. We continue to ad-
here to our reasoning in Anderson, and we find this issue does not require further
discussion or warrant relief. See United States v. Matias, 25 M.J. 356, 361 (C.M.A.
1987).
3 Appellant’s petition for a new trial pursuant to Article 73, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 873,
was filed and docketed separately with this court. His brief in support of that petition
is included with his brief addressing the other issues he raises pursuant to Article 66,
UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866, and we address both the petition and appeal in this opinion.
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A. Trial
In February 2017, Appellant was stationed at Holloman Air Force Base
(AFB), New Mexico. On 18 February 2017, Appellant’s unit conducted a uri-
nalysis inspection, also known as a “unit sweep.” Appellant provided a urine
sample which was tested by the Air Force Drug Testing Laboratory (AFDTL).
On 7 March 2017, the AFDTL reported that Appellant’s sample tested positive
for cocaine and MDMA. As a result of this positive test, on 9 March 2017 Ap-
pellant was ordered to provide another urine sample. Appellant’s second sam-
ple was also tested by the AFDTL, which on 22 March 2017 reported a positive
result for cocaine.
On 15 June 2017, Appellant’s squadron commander preferred one charge
and two specifications alleging violation of Article 112a, UCMJ, specifically
wrongful use of cocaine on divers occasions and wrongful use of MDMA. The
convening authority referred the charge and specifications to a special court-
martial on 26 June 2017. On 4 August 2017, Appellant’s trial defense counsel,
Major (Maj) JB, 4 submitted to the Government a written request for discovery
including, inter alia:
e. Any books, papers, documents, photographs, tangible objects,
buildings, or places, or copies of [sic] portions thereof, which are
within the possession, custody, or control of military authorities
and are material to the preparation of the Defense . . . . R.C.M.
[Rule for Courts-Martial] 701(a)(2)(A).
....
n. Any evidence in the Government’s possession, including trial
counsel or any military authorities, that may reasonably tend to:
i. Negate the Accused’s guilt;
ii. Mitigate the degree of the charged offense(s); or
iii. Reduce the Accused’s punishment. R.C.M. 701(a)(6) . . . .
o. Any evidence in the Government’s possession favorable to the
Accused. R.C.M. 701(a)(6).
....
kk. Any Bickel policy5 or other policy on Holloman AFB requir-
ing or permitting the repeated urinalysis testing of Airmen who
initially test positive for drugs on a urinalysis test.
4 Maj JB was a captain at the time of Appellant’s trial.
5 See United States v. Bickel, 30 M.J. 277 (C.M.A. 1990).
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ll. Any documentation related to unit sweeps for urinalysis tests
resulting in positive or negative findings in this case.
(Footnote added).
On 11 August 2017, trial counsel, Captain (Capt) SM, advised Maj JB by
email that he was working to complete the response to the Defense’s discovery
request, which might be delayed due to low manning at the Holloman AFB
legal office. On 24 August 2017, Capt SM emailed Maj JB the location of the
Government’s electronic “discovery folder.” Also on 24 August 2017, the De-
fense submitted an offer for a pretrial agreement (PTA). In exchange for a
three-month limitation on confinement, Appellant offered to, inter alia, plead
guilty to the Charge and Specifications, to enter into a reasonable stipulation
of fact with the Government, and to elect trial by a military judge alone. The
staff judge advocate (SJA) recommended approval, and the convening author-
ity accepted the PTA offer on 31 August 2017.
At the court-martial convened on 6 September 2017, in accordance with the
PTA, Appellant elected trial by military judge alone and pleaded guilty. The
military judge conducted an inquiry into the stipulation of fact and the provi-
dency of Appellant’s pleas. 6 Both the providency inquiry and the stipulation
informed the military judge that due to Appellant’s consumption of alcohol on
the night in question, Appellant could not recall using MDMA; however, Ap-
pellant believed he did use it based on the first urinalysis result and infor-
mation provided by a friend of Appellant’s who was present at the time. Appel-
lant did recall and describe using cocaine on two occasions corresponding to
the two positive urinalysis results. After some initial hesitation, the military
judge accepted Appellant’s pleas and found Appellant guilty of the Charge and
Specifications accordingly.
B. Post-Trial
Unbeknownst to trial counsel or to the Defense, on 28 August 2017—nine
days before the trial—the AFDTL decertified Dr. DT, the laboratory certifying
official (LCO) who had certified the results of both of Appellant’s urinalyses,
from the tasks of reviewing and certifying drug testing reports (DTRs). The
AFDTL took this action due to “[i]mproper/incorrect assembly of drug testing
reports.” The AFDTL identified errors with respect to the preparation of both
of Appellant’s DTRs. On 15 September 2017, a different AFDTL LCO recerti-
fied the result of Appellant’s first urinalysis as correct. The AFDTL determined
the second urinalysis did not require recertification because the error was
merely administrative and related to the order of the pages in the DTR.
6 See United States v. Care, 40 C.M.R. 247 (C.M.A. 1969).
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Dr. DT’s errors in both of Appellant’s DTRs related to the assembly of the re-
ports; neither error implicated the scientific accuracy of the test results.
In late September 2017, after Appellant’s trial, the legal advisor to the
AFDTL informed trial counsel, Capt SM, of Dr. DT’s decertification. On 4 Oc-
tober 2017, Capt SM notified Maj JB, Appellant’s trial defense counsel, of the
decertification and provided Maj JB the decertification letter. At trial defense
counsel’s request, on 20 November 2017 the convening authority directed a
post-trial Article 39(a), UCMJ, session be held “to address the late disclosure
by the Government of the decertification” of Dr. DT. On 8 December 2017, the
Defense submitted to the military judge a motion for a new trial on the basis
that the Government’s failure to disclose the decertification affected Appel-
lant’s decision to plead guilty. The Government opposed the motion.
The Article 39(a) hearing convened on 19 December 2017. The Government
called as a witness Dr. RH, the deputy director of the AFDTL, to testify regard-
ing the circumstances of Dr. DT’s decertification as a LCO. The military judge
then heard argument from the parties on the Defense’s motion for a new trial.
The military judge denied the motion in a written ruling dated 5 February
2018. The military judge found that under R.C.M. 1102 he lacked the authority
to grant a new trial after he authenticated the record on 25 September 2017.
Assuming arguendo he did have such authority, the military judge further
found the late disclosure of the LCO decertification, although a discovery vio-
lation, was not “material” because the LCO’s errors were merely administra-
tive and did not impugn the scientific validity of the testing of Appellant’s urine
samples. Accordingly, the military judge concluded “the Defense has not shown
that there is a reasonable probability that had the evidence been disclosed, the
result of th[e] proceeding would have been different; nor is the likelihood of a
different result . . . great enough to undermine[ ] the confidence in the outcome
of [Appellant]’s trial.”
Appellant’s final clemency submission included a memorandum from trial
defense counsel dated 1 March 2018. Therein Maj JB referred once again to
the Government’s failure to disclose the LCO decertification before trial. In
addition, Maj JB raised for the first time a separate discovery issue:
The Government also failed to turn over the Urinalysis Rein-
spection policy in place at Holloman AFB. The Urinalysis Rein-
spection policy states how and when Airmen can be tested after
receiving positive drug test results. This policy indicated it was
only in place for the Random Urinalysis Inspection Program.
[Appellant]’s first positive test, however, was from a unit sweep
and not from a random test. His second positive urinalysis would
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therefore likely not have been admissible against him. [Appel-
lant] was allowed to plead guilty without any of this exculpatory
information being turned over to him.
. . . Because of this, we would be seeking an order for a new trial
from you . . . .
However, Maj JB acknowledged that the remedies available from the conven-
ing authority under Article 60, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 860, were limited. Because
the convening authority was not authorized to grant a new trial or disapprove
the bad-conduct discharge, the Defense requested disapproval of Appellant’s
reduction to the grade of E-2 and 30 days of hard labor without confinement.
In the third and final addendum to the staff judge advocate’s recommenda-
tion (SJAR) to the convening authority, dated 12 March 2018, the acting SJA
found the Defense’s allegation of error with respect to the LCO decertification
without merit in light of the military judge’s ruling on the post-trial Article
39(a) proceedings. However, with respect to the Holloman AFB Urinalysis Re-
inspection policy, she stated:
The policy in place at the time of [Appellant]’s tests states it was
only in place for the Random Urinalysis Inspection Program.
However, [Appellant]’s first positive test was from a unit sweep,
not from a random test. Therefore, the second positive urinalysis
would likely not have been admissible against him, and addi-
tional evidence would have been needed to prove the divers use
of cocaine. Without this additional evidence, [Appellant] would
not have been found guilty of divers use of cocaine. I considered
carefully this allegation of error and find it may have some
merit.
. . . Under R.C.M. 1107(c), because the adjudged sentence in-
cludes a bad conduct discharge, as the convening authority, you
are not authorized to dismiss a charge or specification by setting
aside a finding of guilty thereto, nor can you change a finding of
guilty to a charge or specification to a finding of guilty to an of-
fense that is a lesser included offense of the offense stated in the
charge or specification. Additionally, under R.C.M. 1107(e)(1), as
the convening authority, you are not authorized to order a re-
hearing since the adjudged sentence for this case includes a bad-
conduct discharge. These options are only available to the Air
Force Court of Criminal Appeal[s] or higher appellate authori-
ties. Since these options are not available to you, I recommend
that you approve only so much of the sentence as provides for a
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reprimand, reduction to the grade of E-2, confinement for 30
days, and a bad conduct discharge.
On 14 March 2018, in accordance with the acting SJA’s recommendation,
the convening authority disapproved the adjudged 30 days of hard labor with-
out confinement and approved the balance of Appellant’s sentence.
C. DuBay Hearing
Appellant’s case was initially docketed with this court on 28 March 2018.
Appellant filed his initial assignments of error on 24 October 2018, and the
Government filed its answer on 26 November 2018. Appellant raised, inter
alia, the issue of whether his guilty pleas were “involuntary” due to discovery
violations on the part of the Government. 7 On 12 April 2019, this court ordered
a post-trial fact-finding hearing pursuant to United States v. DuBay, 37 C.M.R.
411, 413 (C.M.A. 1967) (per curiam). 8 The hearing was held on 30 May 2019 at
Holloman AFB, New Mexico, with the original military judge presiding; Appel-
lant was present and represented by his appellate defense counsel. The mili-
tary judge heard testimony from Maj JB, Appellant’s trial defense counsel; the
7In his initial brief to the court Appellant did not assert that he had received ineffective
assistance of counsel.
8Our order directed that, “[a]t a minimum, the following questions will be addressed
during the hearing:”
1. Was the urine sample Appellant was ordered to provide on 9 March
2017 a reinspection collected within the scope of and in accordance with
the urinalysis reinspection policy in effect at Holloman AFB at that
time?
2. Did the Government fail to provide timely disclosure to the Defense
of that urinalysis reinspection policy, or any related information, in vi-
olation of R.C.M. 701 or any other discovery requirement?
3. When and how did trial defense counsel receive or otherwise become
aware of the urinalysis reinspection policy, either by disclosure by the
Government in relation to Appellant’s court-martial or by any other
means?
4. Does the Government’s failure, if any, to disclose the urinalysis rein-
spection policy, or any related information, in compliance with R.C.M.
701 or any other discovery requirement raise a substantial basis in law
or fact to question the providency of Appellant’s guilty pleas?
In addition, our order authorized the military judge to “address any other matters that
may arise during the fact-finding hearing that he or she finds to be pertinent to the
issues in question.”
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two trial counsel at Appellant’s trial; the chief of military justice for the Hollo-
man AFB legal office; and the deputy SJA for the Holloman AFB legal office,
who signed the final SJAR addendum as the acting SJA. The military judge
also received a number of exhibits and heard argument from counsel for both
sides.
After the DuBay hearing, on 2 July 2019 the military judge made a number
of written findings of fact. Inter alia, the military judge made the following
findings which we find to be supported by the record:
• The urine sample Appellant was ordered to provide on 9 March 2017
was not collected within the scope of the base urinalysis reinspection policy
in effect at the time, dated 5 October 2016. The “policy concerned exclu-
sively random urinalysis inspections and follow-up inspections for the pres-
ence of illegal drugs,” and not commander-directed unit inspections.
• The Government failed to provide timely disclosure in pretrial discovery
of the urinalysis reinspection policy. In fact, in spite of the Defense’s spe-
cific discovery request, the Government “never provided the urinalysis re-
inspection policy to Maj [JB].” 9 However, Maj JB did not follow up before
trial on the Government’s failure to provide this document, nor did he in-
dependently contact the base Drug Demand Reduction Program to obtain
a copy of the policy.
At some point shortly before the December 2017 post-trial Article 39(a) hearing
regarding the LCO decertification discovery issue, Maj JB learned from the
local area defense counsel (ADC) at Holloman AFB that “there might be a prob-
lem” with the base’s reinspection policy. Shortly after the Article 39(a) hearing,
Maj JB read an email from the local ADC that contained a base Bickel policy
dated 27 August 2015 which—like the 5 October 2016 policy actually in effect
on 9 March 2017—indicated the policy applied to “random” urinalysis tests,
and not to commander-directed unit inspections.
D. Trial Defense Counsel Declaration
On 6 August 2019, Appellant filed a supplemental assignment of error
wherein, inter alia, he for the first time asserted Maj JB had provided him
ineffective assistance of counsel at trial by advising him “to plead guilty with-
out reviewing the Bickel Policy and verifying the admissibility of the drug test-
ing reports.” At the Government’s request, this court ordered an affidavit from
Maj JB. Accordingly, on 25 August 2019, Maj JB submitted a declaration ad-
dressing Appellant’s ineffective assistance claim.
9Maj JB saw the applicable 5 October 2016 policy memorandum for the first time on
29 May 2019, the day before the DuBay hearing, when Appellant’s appellate defense
counsel showed it to him.
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Inter alia, Maj JB explained that his strategy was initially shaped by his
belief that, in addition to the two positive urinalysis results, at least two wit-
nesses had provided statements to investigators that they had seen Appellant
use “illegal drugs during or near the charged timeframe.” In addition, Maj JB
stated:
I believed suppressing the first positive test would almost assur-
edly lead to the suppression of the second. I put significant effort
into finding problems with the first test, which was conducted
pursuant to a unit sweep. I discussed this with [Appellant]. I re-
searched the issue and interviewed witnesses. I ultimately de-
termined the facts did not support a suppression motion of the
unit sweep urinalysis.
However, as trial drew nearer, it became apparent to Maj JB the Government
did not intend to call any eyewitnesses to Appellant’s drug use.
Maj JB does “not believe [he] ever saw the actual Bickel policy in place be-
fore trial.” However, he “believe[d] or assume[d] there was a [Bickel] policy in
place at the time of [Appellant]’s urinalysis tests and there were insufficient
grounds to challenge the policy . . . .” Maj JB was “not fully confident why [he]
believed that, but [he] would not have actively decided [he] did not need to see
the Bickel policy.” When, after the post-trial Article 39(a) hearing, Maj JB saw
the 27 August 2015 version of the policy for the first time, he was “extremely
alarmed” because it was “so apparent” the policy applied only to random uri-
nalysis testing. Maj JB checked his files but could find no evidence he ever
received the policy.
Maj JB continued:
After seeing the 2016 Bickel policy [applicable to Appellant’s uri-
nalyses], I believe I would have advised [Appellant] differently
regarding pleading guilty on 6 September 2017 if I had seen it
before trial. The decisions to plead guilty or not and to continue
with the [PTA] or not were very close decisions in this case, once
it became apparent the eye witnesses would not be testifying.
Having the 2016 Bickel policy would have certainly pushed the
recommendation toward leaving the PTA and not pleading
guilty. Based on my experience in other cases, my recommenda-
tion would likely have been to file a motion to suppress the uri-
nalysis obtained pursuant to the Bickel policy and then reassess
pleading guilty or not after the results of that motion. At the very
least, it would have changed our bargaining position, more than
likely leading to not accepting and/or following through with the
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PTA signed in this case. The Bickel policy combined with the de-
rogatory information from the [AFDTL] regarding Dr. [DT] . . .
would have pushed the recommendation even farther away from
pleading guilty and accepting or following through with the PTA
in this case.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
1. Law
The Sixth Amendment 10 guarantees an accused the right to effective assis-
tance of counsel. United States v. Gilley, 56 M.J. 113, 124 (C.A.A.F. 2001). In
assessing the effectiveness of counsel, we apply the standard set forth in Strick-
land v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984), and begin with the presumption
of competence announced in United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. 648, 658 (1984).
See Gilley, 56 M.J. at 124 (citing United States v. Grigoruk, 52 M.J. 312, 315
(C.A.A.F. 2000)). Accordingly, we “will not second-guess the strategic or tacti-
cal decisions made at trial by defense counsel.” United States v. Mazza, 67 M.J.
470, 475 (C.A.A.F. 2009) (quoting United States v. Anderson, 55 M.J. 198, 202
(C.A.A.F. 2001)). We review allegations of ineffective assistance de novo.
United States v. Gooch, 69 M.J. 353, 362 (C.A.A.F. 2011) (citing Mazza, 67 M.J.
at 474).
To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, “an appellant must demon-
strate both (1) that his counsel’s performance was deficient, and (2) that this
deficiency resulted in prejudice.” United States v. Green, 68 M.J. 360, 361–62
(C.A.A.F. 2010) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687; Mazza, 67 M.J. at 474). “In
order to show prejudice under Strickland, ‘[t]he defendant must show that
there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors,
the result of the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probabil-
ity is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.’” Green,
68 M.J. at 362 (alteration in original) (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694)
(additional citation omitted).
“[E]ntry of a guilty plea is a critical stage of the litigation, where a criminal
defendant is entitled to effective assistance of counsel.” United States v. Rose,
71 M.J. 138, 143 (C.A.A.F. 2012) (citations omitted). “In the context of a guilty
plea, the prejudice question is whether ‘there is a reasonable probability that,
but for counsel’s errors, [the defendant] would not have pleaded guilty and
10 U.S. CONST. amend. VI.
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would have insisted on going to trial.’” Id. at 144. (alteration in original) (quot-
ing Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 59 (1985)) (additional citation omitted).
2. Analysis
Appellant alleges Maj JB provided him ineffective assistance by (1) failing
to discover Dr. DT’s decertification prior to trial by calling the AFDTL himself;
and (2) failing to review the 5 October 2016 Bickel policy and thereby discov-
ering the inadmissibility of the second positive urinalysis result. We address
each allegation separately.
a. LCO Decertification
We are not persuaded Appellant has demonstrated that Maj JB’s failure to
personally contact the AFDTL and discover Dr. DT’s 28 August 2017 decertifi-
cation in the few days before Appellant’s 6 September 2017 trial date fell
“measurably below” the performance expected of fallible lawyers. See United
States v. Polk, 32 M.J. 150, 153 (C.M.A. 1991) (citation omitted). The Govern-
ment had a duty to provide such information to the Defense under its existing
discovery obligations. Maj JB’s declaration describes what information trial
counsel “normally” provided and what steps he independently “regularly” took
in drug cases to identify potential derogatory data regarding the AFDTL. Alt-
hough Maj JB does not specifically assert what actions he took in this regard
in Appellant’s case, under the circumstances of this case, we are not persuaded
Appellant has overcome the “strong presumption” that Maj JB’s performance
was “within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance” in this re-
gard. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689 (citation omitted). Moreover, the military
judge’s ruling on Appellant’s post-trial motion for a new trial found that the
nondisclosure of Dr. DT’s decertification was not “material” because, inter alia:
(1) Dr. DT was decertified only with respect to assembly, review, and certifica-
tion of drug testing reports (DTRs), and not for other tasks such as screening
and data review; (2) all Dr. DT’s errors identified in DTRs were administrative
in nature, including pages missing or out of order; (3) the review “did not dis-
close any tests that were compromised, adulterated in any way, or tests results
that were invalid due to Dr. [DT]’s administrative errors;” (4) Dr. DT was the
LCO for both Appellant’s urinalysis DTRs, but he did not handle or test the
urine samples, and, as in the other cases, his errors related to the assembly of
the DTRs rather than the validity of the underlying tests. In short, Dr. DT’s
decertification did not specifically impugn the scientific validity of Appellant’s
test results. Therefore, we do not find a “reasonable probability” that Appellant
would have changed his plea on this basis. See Green, 68 M.J. at 362 (citations
omitted).
b. Bickel Policy
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Maj JB’s failure to review the 5 October 2016 Bickel policy is a different
matter. In a prosecution based in part on a positive urinalysis test purportedly
obtained as a reinspection pursuant to Bickel, particularly one where the ac-
cused considered pleading not guilty, trial defense counsel’s failure to review
the applicable policy purporting to authorize the reinspection is “measurably
below” competent performance. See Polk, 32 M.J. at 153 (citation omitted). As
Maj JB concedes, this was not a reasonable tactical or strategic decision on his
part to which we owe deference. It was simply an error. Nor is it sufficient
excuse that the Government failed to provide the policy in response to the De-
fense’s specific discovery request—although that was an error on the Govern-
ment’s part. Trial defense counsel had a responsibility to monitor the Govern-
ment’s discovery responses and to pursue the information he required to com-
petently prepare for Appellant’s trial.
In addition to deficient performance, we find prejudice. As the military
judge found and as the Government concedes, the urine sample Appellant was
ordered to provide on 9 March 2017 was collected outside the scope of the ap-
plicable 5 October 2016 reinspection policy. Therefore, it was not a lawful in-
spection and was not generally admissible at trial as evidence of Appellant’s
guilt. See generally Mil. R. Evid. 313; Bickel, 30 M.J. at 286 (“[T]he testing
must be performed on a nondiscriminatory basis pursuant to an established
policy or guideline that will eliminate the opportunity for arbitrariness . . . .”
(citation omitted)). So far as the record indicates, this inadmissible test was
the sole evidence of Appellant’s guilt of the second use of cocaine, other than
the stipulation of fact and Appellant’s own statements during the military
judge’s guilty plea inquiry which were direct products of the PTA and Appel-
lant’s decision to plead guilty.
The Government concedes Maj JB “overlooked his obligation to review the
Bickel policy letter,” but contends Maj JB nevertheless “made a reasonable
trial strategic decision to stop discovery and get a plea deal done quickly” in
light of other potential witnesses to Appellant’s drug use who may have dis-
closed additional misconduct. The Government argues “Appellant has not met
his burden to say why his plea would have changed.” We disagree. First,
Maj JB did not make a “strategic decision” to fail to review the Bickel policy;
this was simply an error as he mistakenly believed for some reason that he had
determined the second urinalysis test result was admissible. Second, once the
discrepancy with the second urinalysis was identified, it became apparent to
all parties that the second test was not admissible as evidence of guilt of a
second use of cocaine. The Government speculates as to the availability of other
potential witnesses to drug abuse by Appellant, but it is entirely unclear from
the record who, if anyone, might have testified, or if they did that they would
have testified to the second cocaine use for which Appellant was convicted. In
order to demonstrate prejudice, Appellant is not required to prove what would
12
United States v. Calloway, No. ACM S32509, Misc. Dkt. No. 2018–09
have happened had the error not occurred; it is sufficient that he demonstrate
a “probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome” of the trial.
Green, 68 M.J. at 362 (citations omitted). We find a reasonable probability that,
had the error not occurred, Appellant would not have pleaded guilty to the “on
divers occasions” language in Specification 1 of the Charge. See Rose, 71 M.J.
at 143.
However, we are not so persuaded with respect to Appellant’s guilty pleas
to the first use of cocaine and the use of MDMA. Nothing in the record impugns
the admissibility or scientific validity of the first positive urinalysis result. We
recognize it would presumably have been less difficult for Appellant to defend
against one positive urinalysis rather than two. However, Maj JB acknowl-
edges that investigators had received statements from at least two witnesses
regarding some illegal drug use by Appellant. We note that according to Ap-
pellant this first drug use occurred at a party attended by “20 to 30 people,”
and Appellant remembers using cocaine with a group of “several” others. Fur-
thermore, despite his memory problems, Appellant knew he had used MDMA
because a friend saw him use it and told him about it, indicating Appellant was
aware of at least one witness to that offense. In addition, we note Maj JB’s
declaration does not go so far as to say he would have advised Appellant to
plead not guilty to all the allegations. In short, Appellant has not met his bur-
den to demonstrate a reasonable probability that he would have pleaded not
guilty to the first use of cocaine and to using MDMA had his counsel reviewed
the Bickel policy.
Accordingly, we except the words “on divers occasions” from Specification 1
of the Charge, and we substitute the words “prior to the 54th Aircraft Mainte-
nance Squadron’s urinalysis inspection on 18 February 2017” therefor. See
United States v. English, 79 M.J. 116, 120 (C.A.A.F. 2019) (“In performing its
review under Article 66(c), UCMJ, a Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) may
narrow the scope of an appellant’s conviction to that conduct it deems legally
and factually sufficient.” (citations omitted)). We set aside and dismiss the ex-
cepted words and set aside the sentence.
B. Providency of Appellant’s Guilty Plea
1. Law
An “unconditional guilty plea waives all nonjurisdictional defects at earlier
stages of the proceedings.” United States v. Hardy, 77 M.J. 438, 442 (C.A.A.F.
2018) (quoting United States v. Lee, 73 M.J. 166, 167 (C.A.A.F. 2014)). The
appellant has the burden to demonstrate a substantial basis in law and fact
for questioning his guilty plea. United States v. Finch, 73 M.J. 144, 148
(C.A.A.F. 2014) (quoting United States v. Negron, 60 M.J. 136, 141 (C.A.A.F.
2004)).
13
United States v. Calloway, No. ACM S32509, Misc. Dkt. No. 2018–09
2. Analysis
Having set aside the “on divers occasions” language in Specification 1, we
focus our analysis of the providency of Appellant’s pleas of guilty to the remain-
ing charged language, that Appellant used cocaine and MDMA at a party some-
time before 18 February 2017. The providency of Appellant’s pleas in light of
the Government’s discovery violations with respect to the decertification of
Dr. DT and the 5 October 2016 Bickel policy is a legally distinct issue from the
prejudice resulting from Maj JB’s alleged ineffective assistance regarding
these matters, analyzed above. However, for similar reasons, we find these dis-
covery violations, like Maj JB’s failure to uncover this information himself, do
not generate a substantial basis in law or fact to question the providency of
Appellant’s pleas to the first cocaine use and to using MDMA.
We agree with the military judge’s findings at the post-trial Article 39(a)
session and the DuBay hearing that the failure to disclose before trial Dr. DT’s
decertification and the 5 October 2016 Bickel policy, respectively, were discov-
ery violations by the Government. See generally R.C.M. 701.
However, as described above, we also agree with the military judge’s con-
clusion that the failure to disclose Dr. DT’s decertification, although erroneous,
was not “material.” Neither the decertification itself nor the underlying admin-
istrative errors impugned the scientific validity of Appellant’s first positive uri-
nalysis result. Accordingly, this nondisclosure does not present a substantial
basis to question Appellant’s plea, particularly given the Defense’s awareness
of potential corroborating witnesses.
Although more significant, the inadmissibility of the second urinalysis sim-
ilarly does not present a substantial basis to question Appellant’s pleas with
respect to the first cocaine use and the MDMA use. Again, there was no indi-
cation the first urinalysis result was unreliable. In addition, Appellant knew
he used cocaine with a group of other people at a party attended by numerous
individuals. Moreover, trial defense counsel knew the Government had re-
ceived statements from witnesses to Appellant’s illegal drug use. Although Ap-
pellant might have obtained a more favorable PTA, a lesser sentence, or both
with the second cocaine use suppressed, we conclude Appellant has not demon-
strated a substantial basis to question his guilty plea to the non-divers first
use of cocaine and to using MDMA.
C. Military Judge Impartiality
1. Additional Background
At the post-trial Article 39(a) session convened to address the untimely dis-
covery of Dr. DT’s decertification, the Government called Dr. RH, the AFDTL
deputy director, to testify by telephone. Dr. RH initially provided basic infor-
mation about her background and position at the AFDTL and stated she had
14
United States v. Calloway, No. ACM S32509, Misc. Dkt. No. 2018–09
testified as “an expert” approximately 250 times. Dr. RH then identified herself
as the author of a report that found administrative errors in DTRs that ulti-
mately led to an investigation and to Dr. DT’s decertification. She explained
that some of the DTRs that Dr. DT initially certified that were found to contain
errors were recertified by another LCO, but some DTRs were not recertified
because “all the data was present” in the reports which were “just out of order.”
Then, in response to a question by trial counsel, Dr. RH opined that an “inde-
pendent expert” not employed at AFDTL would be able to review the DTRs
that had not been recertified and conclude that “the results were valid,” and in
fact, such an expert “likely would not recognize that pages were out of order.”
At that point, the following colloquy ensued between the military judge, the
trial counsel, and the witness:
MJ [Military Judge]: Thank you, Doctor. Government, before
you get into additional opinions from the this [sic] witness, do
you want to qualify this witness as an expert witness?
TC (Trial Counsel]: Yes, Your Honor. We would offer this wit-
ness as an expert witness.
MJ: In what field?
TC: Your Honor, in the field of pharmacology and, sir, as the su-
pervisory official at AFDTL.
MJ: Doctor, what are you typically recognized as an expert in
when you’re recognized as an expert in court?
WIT [Dr. RH]: Typically, I’m recognized as an expert in pharma-
cology, toxicology, and forensic urine drug testing.
TC: And, Your Honor, we would like to offer the expert.
MJ: One moment, government.
TC: Yes, Your Honor.
The military judge then asked Dr. RH a series of questions. He established
that Dr. RH had worked at AFDTL for over 19 years, including approximately
15 years as the forensic sciences branch chief. In that capacity, she supervised
all AFDTL employees in the forensic sciences section, including the LCOs and
expert witnesses, and she was responsible for “ensur[ing] that all the data is
certified correct and accurate.” Dr. RH confirmed that throughout her employ-
ment at the AFDTL she had been “involved in forensic urinalysis testing . . . in
either supervising or reviewing or certifying laboratory reports.” She further
testified the AFDTL received approximately 4,000 urine samples for testing
each day, and approximately 75,000 to 80,000 samples each month.
15
United States v. Calloway, No. ACM S32509, Misc. Dkt. No. 2018–09
Maj JB then objected to Dr. RH testifying as an expert. Maj JB explained
the Defense had been provided no notice Dr. RH would be testifying in that
capacity, rather than simply as a factual witness regarding Dr. DT’s decertifi-
cation. The military judge clarified there was no objection to Dr. RH’s qualifi-
cations as an expert in pharmacology, toxicology, and forensic urinalysis test-
ing, and the military judge recognized her as an expert in those fields. In addi-
tional colloquy with the military judge, Maj JB indicated he had no objection
to Dr. RH testifying as a witness to facts and matters within her knowledge.
However, Maj JB believed the Defense would be “hampered” with respect to
certain opinion testimony by not having its own expert, which he acknowledged
had been waived pursuant to the PTA. Ultimately, the military judge advised
Maj JB: “”[I]f you believe you have been hampered in some way by not having
an expert, [if] you believe the questioning by the government is going too far
[a]field, then just make your objection and we’ll have that discussion.”
Maj JB did not object during the remainder of the trial counsel’s direct ex-
amination of Dr. RH, which essentially dealt with explaining the nature of the
administrative errors Dr. DT made in compiling Appellant’s two DTRs. After
a short cross-examination and redirect examination, the military judge asked
Dr. RH approximately 55 more questions, going into much greater detail re-
garding the specific errors in Appellant’s two DTRs and Dr. DT’s role with re-
gard to Appellant’s urinalyses. After a short recross-examination by Maj JB,
the military judge asked approximately ten more questions regarding the
AFDTL’s status as a forensic laboratory, its quality control procedures, and
how discrepancies discovered at the AFDTL are communicated to the field.
2. Law
An accused has a right to an impartial military judge. United States v.
Butcher, 56 M.J. 87, 90 (C.A.A.F. 2001) (citations omitted); see R.C.M. 902(a),
(b). “When an appellant . . . does not raise the issue of disqualification [of a
military judge] until appeal, we examine the claim under the plain error stand-
ard of review.” United States v. Martinez, 70 M.J. 154, 157 (C.A.A.F. 2011) (cit-
ing United States v. Jones, 55 M.J. 317, 320 (C.A.A.F. 2001)). “Plain error oc-
curs when (1) there is error, (2) the error is plain or obvious, and (3) the error
results in material prejudice.” Id. (citing United States v. Maynard, 66 M.J.
242, 244 (C.A.A.F. 2008)).
R.C.M. 902(a) provides, in pertinent part, “a military judge shall disqualify
himself or herself in any proceeding in which that military judge’s impartiality
might reasonably be questioned.” The test on appeal is “‘whether, taken as a
whole in the context of this trial, a court-martial’s legality, fairness, and im-
partiality were put into doubt’ by the military judge’s actions.” Martinez, 70
M.J. at 157–58 (quoting United States v. Burton, 52 M.J. 223, 226 (C.A.A.F.
2000)). The military judge’s appearance of impartiality is reviewed under an
16
United States v. Calloway, No. ACM S32509, Misc. Dkt. No. 2018–09
objective standard of a reasonable person with knowledge of all the circum-
stances. Id. (quoting United States v. Kincheloe, 14 M.J. 40, 50 (C.M.A. 1982))
(additional citations omitted).
3. Analysis
Appellant contends the military judge “crossed the line of acceptable judi-
cial inquiry and became an advocate for the prosecution.” Appellant concedes
a military judge is not a “mere figurehead,” United States v. Kimble, 49 C.M.R.
384, 386 (C.M.A. 1974), and that a military judge is permitted to “interrogate
witnesses,” Mil. R. Evid. 614(b), and, where sitting as a court-martial, “to ob-
tain evidence in addition to that presented by the parties,” R.C.M. 801(c). How-
ever, in this case Appellant contends the military judge went too far by asking
the necessary questions to qualify Dr. RH as an expert witness, and by eliciting
testimony that tended to minimize the significance of Dr. DT’s errors and
thereby to undermine the Defense’s request for a new trial. We are not per-
suaded.
It is important to consider the context for the military judge’s actions; what
may be appropriate questioning by a military judge in one setting may be in-
appropriate in another. First, in this case, there were no court members who
might be improperly swayed by an appearance of partiality on the part of the
military judge. Second, the questioning occurred at a post-trial Article 39(a)
hearing that the convening authority had specifically directed in order for the
military judge “to address the late disclosure by the Government of the decer-
tification;” therefore it was not inappropriate for the military judge to ask a
witness questions in order to ensure the hearing achieved the directed purpose.
The military judge was not required to sit mute in the presence of the witness
with the necessary information to answer the inquiry the military judge was
directed to undertake. Third, after the Defense’s initial objection to opinion
testimony, the military judge advised trial defense counsel he could continue
to object as necessary if he believed his lack of access to an expert was “ham-
pering” the Defense. Maj JB never objected again. In fact, from that point on
Dr. RH’s testimony was largely limited to factual matters about AFDTL DTRs,
a line of inquiry Maj JB stated he generally had no objection to. Fourth, at no
point did Maj JB challenge the military judge’s questioning as inappropriate
or an abandonment of his impartial role, or object to the military judge’s con-
tinued participation in the case.
We would be more concerned if the military judge had asked these ques-
tions before court members during presentation of evidence for findings or sen-
tencing. However, in this case, we do not find it “plain or obvious” that a rea-
sonable observer with knowledge of all the circumstances would doubt the
court-martial’s legality, fairness, or impartiality. See Martinez, 70 M.J. at 157–
58 (citations omitted).
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United States v. Calloway, No. ACM S32509, Misc. Dkt. No. 2018–09
D. Petition for New Trial
1. Law
A petitioner may petition for a new trial “on the grounds of newly discov-
ered evidence or fraud on the court.” Article 73, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 873. A
petition for a new trial does not proceed through the usual appellate process.
See id.; United States v. Brooks, 49 M.J. 64, 68 (C.A.A.F. 1998). Instead, it is
submitted to The Judge Advocate General, who acts on the petition unless the
case is pending before an appellate court, in which case he refers the petition
to the appellate court where the case is pending. R.C.M. 1210(a), (e).
“No fraud on the court-martial warrants a new trial unless it had a sub-
stantial contributing effect on a finding of guilty or the sentence adjudged.”
R.C.M. 1210(f)(3). Examples of fraud on a court-martial that may warrant
granting a new trial include, inter alia, “willful concealment by the prosecution
from the defense of evidence favorable to the defense which . . . would probably
have resulted in a finding of not guilty . . . .” R.C.M. 1210(f)(3), Discussion.
“[R]equests for a new trial . . . are generally disfavored,” and are “granted
only if a manifest injustice would result absent a new trial . . . .” United States
v. Hull, 70 M.J. 145, 152 (C.A.A.F. 2011) (quoting United States v. Williams,
37 M.J. 352, 356 (C.M.A. 1993)).
2. Analysis
Appellant 11 asserts he is entitled to a new trial under Article 73, UCMJ, on
the basis of fraud upon the court because he was “fraudulently induced into
pleading guilty based on misrepresented evidence.” 12 Specifically, Appellant
identifies the Government’s failure to disclose before trial both the AFDTL’s
decertification of Dr. DT and the 5 October 2016 base urinalysis reinspection
policy, as described above. Although we do find the Government violated its
discovery obligations, as we have addressed, we are not persuaded that Appel-
lant has demonstrated he is entitled to a new trial due to fraud.
First, although we recognize the descriptions of fraud warranting a new
trial given in the Discussion of R.C.M. 1210(f)(3) are non-exclusive examples,
we do not find “willful concealment” by the Government. With respect to the
11We recognize that for purposes of the petition for a new trial under Article 73, UCMJ,
Appellant is more properly styled “Petitioner.” However, for consistency we continue
to refer to him as “Appellant” in this section.
12Appellant does not contend he is entitled to a new trial on the basis of newly-discov-
ered evidence. See R.C.M. 1210(a) (“A petition for a new trial of the facts may not be
submitted on the basis of newly discovered evidence when the petitioner was found
guilty of the relevant offense pursuant to a guilty plea.”).
18
United States v. Calloway, No. ACM S32509, Misc. Dkt. No. 2018–09
decertification, trial counsel were simply unaware of Dr. DT’s status at the
time of Appellant’s trial. Once trial counsel became aware after the trial, they
notified trial defense counsel, leading to the post-trial Article 39(a) hearing.
With respect to the urinalysis reinspection policy, the nondisclosure was an
unintentional error. At the DuBay hearing, the base legal office’s chief of mili-
tary justice testified the failure to put the Bickel policy memorandum in the
discovery folder for the Defense was an “oversight.” All five of the Holloman
AFB legal office personnel who testified at the DuBay hearing indicated they
were not aware of the discrepancy that the policy did not cover Appellant’s
second urinalysis until after Appellant’s trial. Although neither Article 73 nor
R.C.M. 1210 specifically define “fraud on the court,” the term “fraud” indicates
an intent to deceive which is not borne out in the record before us. 13
Second, Appellant has not demonstrated a new trial is required to avert
“manifest injustice.” See Hull, 70 M.J. at 152 (citation omitted). Because these
two discovery violations were uncovered before Appellant’s case was docketed
with this court, he has properly raised them in his direct appeal to us under
Article 66, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866. Accordingly, we have addressed the errors
in detail above, and we take the warranted corrective action in our decretal
paragraph below. Appellant’s petition under Article 73, UCMJ, although also
properly before us, imposes a higher burden for Appellant to demonstrate his
entitlement to relief, and thus adds nothing of substantial benefit to Appellant
in our analysis of these errors.
Accordingly, we deny Appellant’s petition for a new trial.
E. Post-Trial Delay
1. Additional Background
Appellant was sentenced on 6 September 2017. The initial SJAR to the con-
vening authority was signed on 12 October 2017, and served on Appellant and
trial defense counsel five days later, on 17 October 2017. On 26 October 2017,
trial defense counsel requested a post-trial Article 39(a) hearing to address the
non-disclosure of Dr. DT’s decertification by the AFDTL, as described above.
Appellant submitted his initial clemency request on 15 November 2017, and
the acting SJA signed the first Addendum to the SJAR on 19 November 2017. 14
On 20 November 2017, the convening authority ordered the Article 39(a) hear-
ing which was held on 19 December 2017. On 5 February 2018 the military
13See Fraud, BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY (6th ed. 1990) (“An intentional perversion of
truth for the purpose of inducing another in reliance upon it to part with some valuable
thing belonging to him or to surrender a legal right.”).
14 The SJAR and first Addendum were signed by Capt AW as acting SJA.
19
United States v. Calloway, No. ACM S32509, Misc. Dkt. No. 2018–09
judge made his written findings and denial of Appellant’s request for a new
trial.
The acting SJA signed a second Addendum to the SJAR on 22 February
2018 addressing, inter alia, the results of the Article 39(a) hearing and the
military judge’s findings and ruling. On 1 March 2018, the Defense responded
with a second clemency submission, raising inter alia the Government’s failure
to disclose the urinalysis reinspection policy, as described above. On 12 March
2018, the acting SJA signed the third and final Addendum to the SJAR. 15 The
convening authority took action on 14 March 2018, 189 days after Appellant
was sentenced.
Appellant’s case was initially docketed with this court on 28 March 2018.
Appellant filed his initial assignments of error as well as his petition for new
trial on 24 October 2018. The Government filed its answer on 26 November
2018. On 12 April 2019, this court ordered a DuBay hearing, which was held
on 30 May 2019. The military judge made his written findings on 2 July 2019.
Appellant submitted supplemental post-DuBay hearing assignments of error
on 6 August 2019, the Government answered on 9 September 2019, and Appel-
lant replied to the Government’s answer on 16 September 2019. Thus, this
opinion was issued 18 months and 13 days after Appellant’s case was initially
docketed with this court.
2. Law
In United States v. Moreno, the United States Court of Appeals for the
Armed Forces (CAAF) established a presumption of facially unreasonable de-
lay when the convening authority does not take action within 120 days of trial,
when a record of trial is not docketed with the court of criminal appeals within
30 days of the convening authority’s action, and when the court of criminal
appeals does not render a decision within 18 months of the case being docketed.
63 M.J. 129, 142 (C.A.A.F. 2006). Where there is such a delay, we examine the
four factors set forth in Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 530 (1972): (1) the length
of the delay; (2) the reasons for the delay; (3) the appellant’s assertion of his
right to a timely review; and (4) prejudice to the appellant. Moreno, 63 M.J. at
135 (citing United States v. Jones, 61 M.J. 80, 83 (C.A.A.F. 2005); Toohey v.
United States, 60 M.J. 100, 102 (C.A.A.F. 2004)). “No single factor is required
for finding a due process violation and the absence of a given factor will not
prevent such a finding.” Id. at 136 (citing Barker, 407 U.S. at 533). However,
where an appellant has not shown prejudice from the delay, there is no due
process violation unless the delay is so egregious as to “adversely affect the
15 The second and third Addenda to the SJAR were signed by Maj BR as acting SJA.
20
United States v. Calloway, No. ACM S32509, Misc. Dkt. No. 2018–09
public’s perception of the fairness and integrity of the military justice system.”
United States v. Toohey, 63 M.J. 353, 362 (C.A.A.F. 2006).
3. Analysis
Although Appellant does not raise post-trial delay as an error, he notes the
189 days that elapsed between the announcement of sentence and the conven-
ing authority’s action exceeded by 69 days the 120-day standard for a presump-
tively unreasonable post-trial delay. See Moreno, 63 M.J. at 142. In addition,
we note that over 18 months elapsed between the initial docketing of Appel-
lant’s case with this court and the issuance of this opinion, which is also a pre-
sumptively unreasonable delay. See id. Therefore, we have considered the four
Barker factors to determine whether Appellant’s due process right to timely
post-trial and appellate review has been violated in this case. We find it has
not.
In Moreno, the CAAF identified three types of cognizable prejudice for pur-
poses of an Appellant’s due process right to timely post-trial review: (1) oppres-
sive incarceration; (2) anxiety and concern; and (3) impairment of the appel-
lant’s ability to present a defense at a rehearing. Id. at 138–39 (citations omit-
ted). In this case, we find no oppressive incarceration because Appellant’s 30-
day sentence to confinement expired long before the 120-day Moreno threshold
for unreasonable post-trial delay was reached. Nor do we discern any impair-
ment of Appellant’s ability to present a defense at a rehearing. We do not au-
thorize a rehearing as to the set-aside language of Specification 1 of the
Charge, and therefore there will be no retrial on the merits. In addition, Ap-
pellant raises no potential impairment as to a sentencing rehearing arising
from the delay, and we perceive none.
As for anxiety and concern, the CAAF has explained “the appropriate test
for the military justice system is to require an appellant to show particularized
anxiety or concern that is distinguishable from the normal anxiety experienced
by prisoners awaiting an appellate decision.” Id. at 140. Appellant has asserted
no such particularized concern. Furthermore, at both the post-trial and appel-
late stages, the convening authority and this court actively responded to con-
cerns raised by the Defense by directing post-trial hearings to address the Gov-
ernment’s discovery failures. Thus, Appellant was not in the position of merely
awaiting action by reviewing authorities with little sense that any progress
was being made to address the issues he raised. On the contrary, Appellant
personally attended post-trial hearings to thoroughly examine those issues. In
that sense, Appellant may have experienced less than the “normal anxiety” of
those simply “awaiting an appellate decision.” See id.
Where, as here, there is no qualifying prejudice from the delay, there is no
due process violation unless the delay is so egregious as to “adversely affect the
21
United States v. Calloway, No. ACM S32509, Misc. Dkt. No. 2018–09
public’s perception of the fairness and integrity of the military justice system.”
Toohey, 63 M.J. at 362. We do not find such an egregious delay here. At both
the post-trial and appellate stages, the additional delay was largely due to
post-trial hearings to ensure the discovery issues Appellant raised were ad-
dressed. Although government discovery violations necessitated such proceed-
ings, we find the fact that reviewing authorities directed further proceedings
to ensure assignments of error raised by Appellant were thoroughly addressed
tends to reflect positively rather than negatively on the “fairness and integrity”
of the military justice system. See id. Accordingly, we find no violation of Ap-
pellant’s due process rights.
Recognizing our authority under Article 66(c), UCMJ, we have also consid-
ered whether relief for excessive post-trial delay is appropriate even in the ab-
sence of a due process violation. See United States v. Tardif, 57 M.J. 219, 225
(C.A.A.F. 2002). After considering the factors enumerated in United States v.
Gay, 74 M.J. 736, 744 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2015), aff’d, 75 M.J. 264 (C.A.A.F.
2016), we conclude it is not.
F. Sentence Reassessment
Because we have modified the findings of guilty of Specification 1 of the
Charge, wrongful use of cocaine, by excepting and dismissing the words “on
divers occasions,” we consider whether we can reassess the sentence. We have
broad discretion first to decide whether to reassess a sentence and then to ar-
rive at a reassessed sentence. United States v. Winckelmann, 73 M.J. 11, 12
(C.A.A.F. 2013). To determine whether to reassess a sentence or to order a re-
hearing, we consider the totality of the circumstances, including the following
illustrative, non-exhaustive factors: (1) “Dramatic changes in the penalty land-
scape and exposure;” (2) “Whether an appellant chose sentencing by members
or a military judge alone;” (3) “Whether the nature of the remaining offenses
capture[s] the gravamen of criminal conduct included within the original of-
fenses and . . . whether significant or aggravating circumstances addressed at
the court-martial remain admissible and relevant to the remaining offenses;”
and (4) “Whether the remaining offenses are of the type that judges of the
courts of criminal appeals should have the experience and familiarity with to
reliably determine what sentence would have been imposed at trial.” Id. at 15–
16 (citations omitted). However, in order to approve a reassessed sentence, we
must “determine to [our] satisfaction that, absent any error, the sentence ad-
judged would have been of at least a certain severity.” Id. at 15 (quoting United
States v. Moffeit, 63 M.J. 40, 41 (C.A.A.F. 2006)).
In this case, we find a rehearing on the sentence to be appropriate. Alt-
hough our modification to the findings does not alter the number of specifica-
tions of which Appellant was convicted or the maximum punishment to which
22
United States v. Calloway, No. ACM S32509, Misc. Dkt. No. 2018–09
he could be sentenced, it does significantly alter the factual basis for his pun-
ishment. The remaining use of cocaine and the use of MDMA for which Appel-
lant remains convicted occurred on the same night at an off-base party at
which Appellant became highly intoxicated. Early the following morning, Ap-
pellant provided a urine sample pursuant to a unit drug sweep. Although the
record is not clear at what point Appellant was informed of the MDMA use that
he did not remember, at the time he provided his 18 February 2017 urine sam-
ple he knew at a minimum that he had wrongfully ingested cocaine. In that
light, evidence of Appellant’s subsequent decision to wrongfully use cocaine—
the finding that we have set aside—transforms what might have been charac-
terized as a one-time incident into a pattern of drug abuse, regardless of con-
sequences, with significant potential negative impacts on the Defense’s sen-
tencing case. Yet Appellant remains convicted of substantial offenses. Because
we cannot determine to our satisfaction that Appellant’s sentence would have
been of at least a certain severity that is also proportionate to the remaining
offenses, we find it appropriate to authorize a rehearing on the sentence.
III. CONCLUSION
The Petition for New Trial dated 24 October 2018, Misc. Dkt. No. 2018–09,
is DENIED.
The finding of guilty with regard to Specification 1 of the Charge is modified
as follows: the words “on divers occasions” are excepted, and the words “prior
to the 54th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron’s urinalysis inspection on 18 Feb-
ruary 2017” are substituted therefor. The excepted words are SET ASIDE and
DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
The sentence is SET ASIDE. The case is returned to The Judge Advocate
General for further processing consistent with this opinion. A rehearing on
sentence is authorized. Article 66(e), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866(e).
FOR THE COURT
CAROL K. JOYCE
Clerk of the Court
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