United States v. Koutsovalas

U NITED S TATES A IR F ORCE
C OURT OF C RIMINAL APPEALS
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No. ACM 39010
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UNITED STATES
Appellee
v.
Shannon L. KOUTSOVALAS
Senior Airman (E-4), U.S. Air Force, Appellant
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Appeal from the United States Air Force Trial Judiciary
Decided 21 April 2017
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Military Judge: Joseph S. Imburgia.
Approved sentence: Bad-conduct discharge, confinement for 13 months,
and reduction to E-1. Sentence adjudged 16 November 2015 by GCM
convened at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.
For Appellant: Major Mark C. Bruegger, USAF.
For Appellee: Lieutenant Colonel Lance R. Smith, USAF; Gerald R.
Bruce, Esquire.
Before MAYBERRY, SANTORO, and C. BROWN, Appellate Military
Judges
Judge SANTORO delivered the opinion of the court, in which Senior
Judge MAYBERRY and Judge C. BROWN joined.
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This is an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as
precedent under AFCCA Rule of Practice and Procedure 18.4.
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SANTORO, Judge:
A military judge sitting as a general court-martial convicted Appellant,
pursuant to her pleas, of wrongfully using and possessing methamphetamine,
wrongfully possessing Clonazepam, and operating a vehicle while drunk and
United States v. Koutsovalas, No. ACM 39010
impaired by alcohol and methamphetamine, in violation of Articles 112a and
111, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. §§ 912a, 911. The
adjudged and approved sentence was a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for
13 months, and reduction to E-1.
Appellant raises three assignments of error, all pursuant to United States
v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431 (C.M.A. 1982): (1) she was subjected to illegal pretrial
punishment under Article 13, UCMJ; (2) trial counsel’s sentencing argument
was improper; and (3) her sentence is unduly severe. We disagree and affirm.
I. BACKGROUND
Appellant was selected to provide a urine sample as part of a random in-
spection. Her sample tested positive for the presence of the methamphetamine
metabolite. Approximately three weeks later, on the day that investigators
learned about her test result and interviewed her, she was exhibiting the
symptoms of an additional use of methamphetamine. Investigators found
methamphetamine on her person. They also learned that she had ingested
methamphetamine the night before the interview then drove her son to school
that morning. A search of her residence yielded a quantity of Clonazepam, a
Schedule IV controlled substance. A second urine sample, taken the day of her
interview with investigators, also tested positive for methamphetamine. Ap-
proximately six weeks later, Appellant drove onto Davis-Monthan Air Force
Base after having again ingested methamphetamine and alcohol.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Pretrial Punishment
Appellant argues that she was subjected to illegal pretrial punishment
while in pretrial confinement because, in accordance with an update to Air
Force Instruction 31-105, Air Force Corrections System, her custody classifica-
tion was changed from medium to maximum. As a result she was unable to
access the gym, work on details in her squadron, or otherwise leave the facility.
She also had more limited access to the restroom because she required an es-
cort to and from her cell.
Appellant offered to waive all waivable motions as part of a pretrial agree-
ment. The military judge reviewed this provision with her at length and spe-
cifically discussed the same conduct that Appellant now claims constituted pre-
trial punishment. The military judge told Appellant that if she remained a
party to the pretrial agreement, she would be waiving appellate consideration
of this issue. After thorough discussion, Appellant agreed that she wanted to
waive this issue because she believed doing so was in her best interest.
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When an error is waived, “there is no error at all” preserved for appellate
review. United States v. Chin, 75 M.J. 220, 222 (C.A.A.F. 2016) (quoting United
States v. Weathers, 186 F.3d 948, 955 (D.C. Cir. 1999)). Appellant does not ar-
gue that she could not validly waive this issue (see United States v. McFadyen,
51 M.J. 289, 291 (C.A.A.F. 1999)); instead, she argues that she did not fully
understand the scope of Article 13’s protections. See Article 13, UCMJ, 10
U.S.C. § 813. Having reviewed the entire record of trial, including the military
judge’s detailed and specific discussions with Appellant about this very issue
(as required by McFadyen), we see no indication that she did not understand
the full extent of the issues she was waiving. And despite her waiver of this
issue, the sentencing authority (the military judge) nevertheless considered
the nature of Appellant’s pretrial confinement because she described it in her
unsworn statement. We therefore find that Appellant waived appellate review
of this issue and that there is nothing about this claim requiring exercise of
our Article 66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866(c), authority to correct.
B. Sentencing Argument
Appellant contends that four aspects of the Government’s sentencing argu-
ment were improper: that (1) she “chose to bring methamphetamine and
clonazepam” onto Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, (2) “she was responsible for
the care of her three children” at the time of her positive urinalysis tests, (3) a
scale with methamphetamine was found “in a location within an arm’s reach
of a child,” and (4) the Government’s recommended term of confinement was
appropriate so Appellant would be “unable to expose her children to illegal
substances.” Trial defense counsel did not object to any of these statements.
Improper argument involves a question of law that we review de novo.
United States v. Frey, 73 M.J. 245, 248 (C.A.A.F. 2014). Where, as here, trial
defense counsel did not object, we review for plain error. United States v.
Marsh, 70 M.J. 101, 104 (C.A.A.F. 2011). To establish plain error, Appellant
must prove: “(1) [T]here was an error; (2) it was plain or obvious; and (3) the
error materially prejudiced a substantial right.” Id. (quoting United States v.
Erickson, 65 M.J. 221, 223 (C.A.A.F. 2007)). Error occurs when counsel fail to
limit their arguments to “the evidence of record, as well as all reasonable in-
ferences fairly derived from such evidence.” United States v. Baer, 53 M.J. 235,
237 (C.A.A.F. 2000) (citing United States v. Nelson, 1 M.J. 235, 239 (C.M.A.
1975)). It is also error for trial counsel to make arguments that “unduly . . .
inflame the passions or prejudices.” Marsh, 70 M.J. at 102 (quoting United
States v. Schroder, 65 M.J. 49, 58 (C.A.A.F. 2007)); see also Rule for Courts-
Martial 919(b), Discussion. On the other hand, trial counsel is expected to zeal-
ously argue for an appropriate sentence, so long as the argument is fair and
reasonably based on the evidence. United States v. Kropf, 39 M.J. 107, 108
(C.M.A. 1994).
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Appellant signed a seven-page stipulation of fact detailing her offenses. The
stipulation included evidence that she was ingesting methamphetamine while
responsible for the care of her children. There was also evidence that her chil-
dren lived with her in the same residence where investigators found Clonaze-
pam pills on a kitchen counter and a scale with methamphetamine residue in
a lower kitchen cabinet. We find no error, plain or otherwise, in the Govern-
ment’s sentencing argument.
The military judge specifically stated that he would not consider any un-
charged misconduct when determining Appellant’s sentence. In the absence of
evidence to the contrary, military judges are presumed to know and follow the
law. Erickson, 65 M.J. at 225. Thus, even if any or all of trial counsel’s argu-
ments constituted plain error, Appellant suffered no prejudice and is therefore
entitled to no relief.
C. Sentence Severity
Appellant contends that her sentence, which includes a punitive discharge
and confinement for 13 months, is inappropriately severe. This court “may af-
firm only . . . the sentence or such part or amount of the sentence, as it finds
correct in law and fact and determines, on the basis of the entire record, should
be approved.” Article 66(c), UCMJ. In determining whether a sentence should
be approved, our authority is “not legality alone, but legality limited by appro-
priateness.” United States v. Nerad, 69 M.J. 138, 141 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (quoting
United States v. Atkins, 23 C.M.R. 301, 303 (C.M.A. 1957)). This authority is
“a sweeping congressional mandate to ensure a fair and just punishment for
every accused.” United States v. Baier, 60 M.J. 382, 384 (C.A.A.F. 2005) (quot-
ing United States v. Bauerbach, 55 M.J. 501, 504 (Army Ct. Crim. App. 2001)).
This task requires “‘individualized consideration’ of the particular accused ‘on
the basis of the nature and seriousness of the offense and the character of the
offender.’” United States v. Snelling, 14 M.J. 267, 268 (C.M.A. 1982) (quoting
United States v. Mamaluy, 27 C.M.R. 176, 180–81 (C.M.A. 1959)). In conduct-
ing this review, we must also be sensitive to considerations of uniformity and
evenhandedness. United States v. Sothen, 54 M.J. 294, 296 (C.A.A.F. 2001) (cit-
ing United States v. Lacy, 50 M.J. 286, 287–88 (C.A.A.F. 1999)). However,
while we have a great deal of discretion in determining whether a particular
sentence is appropriate, we are not authorized to engage in exercises of clem-
ency. Lacy, 50 M.J. at 288; United States v. Healy, 26 M.J. 394, 395–96 (C.M.A.
1988).
The maximum sentence for the offenses to which Appellant pleaded guilty
was a dishonorable discharge and confinement for over 12 years. The approved
sentence was well below that maximum imposable sentence and also under the
pretrial agreement’s limit of 16 months of confinement.
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We have reviewed the entire record of trial and paid particular attention to
the matters raised by Appellant. While we acknowledge the domestic and
child-care challenges she faced, we conclude that the approved sentence is not
inappropriately severe for this Airman who knowingly and repeatedly used
and possessed prohibited substances and drove her vehicle while impaired, en-
dangering her life and the lives of others.
III. CONCLUSION
The findings of guilt and the sentence are correct in law and fact and no
error materially prejudicial to the substantial rights of Appellant occurred. Ar-
ticles 59(a) and 66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 859(a), 866(c). Accordingly, the find-
ings and sentence are AFFIRMED.
FOR THE COURT
MICAH L. SMITH
Deputy Clerk of the Court
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