United States v. Briggs

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
UNITED STATES
v.
Lieutenant Colonel MICHAEL J.D. BRIGGS
United States Air Force
ACM 38730
23 June 2016
Sentence adjudged 7 August 2014 by GCM convened at Spangdahlem Air
Base, Germany. Military Judge: Dawn R. Eflein (arraignment) and Donald
R. Eller, Jr. (sitting alone).
Approved Sentence: Dismissal, confinement for 5 months, and a reprimand.
Appellate Counsel for the Appellant: Terri R. Zimmerman (civilian counsel)
(argued); Jack B. Zimmerman (civilian counsel); Captain Johnathan D. Legg.
Appellate Counsel for the United States: Major Jeremy D. Gehman (argued);
Colonel Katherine E. Oler; Major Mary Ellen Payne; and Gerald R. Bruce,
Esquire.
Before
ALLRED, MITCHELL, and MAYBERRY
Appellate Military Judges
OPINION OF THE COURT
This opinion is issued as an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as precedent
under Rule of Practice and Procedure 18.4.
MAYBERRY, Judge:
At a general court-martial composed of a judge alone, Appellant was convicted,
contrary to his plea, of rape in violation of Article 120, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 920.1 The court
1
Because the offense occurred in 2005, Appellant was charged with a violation of Article 120, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §
920, for offenses committed prior to 1 October 2017. Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, app. 27 at A27-1
(2012 ed.).
sentenced Appellant to a dismissal, confinement for 5 months, and a reprimand. The
convening authority approved the sentence as adjudged.
On appeal, Appellant raises four issues: (1) his trial defense counsel provided
ineffective assistance of counsel, (2) the military judge erred in failing to disclose all of
SSgt DK’s mental health records, (3) the convening authority erred by denying a request
for rehearing, and (4) the evidence is factually insufficient.
Background
In 2005, Appellant was a Captain stationed at Luke Air Force Base (AFB) as an
F-16 instructor pilot and DK was an A1C also assigned at Luke AFB in aircrew life-
support. In May of 2005, both of them, along with other members from Luke, went TDY
to Mountain Home AFB for a two-week exercise. According to SSgt DK they had never
engaged in sexual contact prior to the rape. Appellant testified they had two consensual
sexual encounters. The event that gives rise to the charge occurred during the last few days
of the TDY.
SSgt DK did not formally report the incident until 3 July 2013, when she was a SSgt
stationed at RAF Lakenheath and Appellant was a Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) stationed
at Spangdahlem Air Base. During the intervening eight years, SSgt DK had “reported” a
sexual encounter without naming Appellant to five individuals. Of those individuals, her
mother and one other witness testified that she characterized it as rape. On 12 July 2013,
SSgt DK participated in a pretext phone call with Appellant. The call lasted approximately
20 minutes. The relevant portions of the phone call follows:
[Appellant]: Lieutenant Colonel Briggs.
[SSgt DK]: Hi, this is Sergeant [K]. Actually, you probably
remember me as Airman [W] from when we were stationed at
Luke together.
[Appellant]: Yes.
[SSgt DK]: I was wondering if I could have a few minutes of
your time to talk to you about something.
[Appellant]: Sure.
[SSgt DK]: Um, I wanted to talk to you about when we were
TDY to Mountain Home together.
[Appellant]: Yeah.
2 ACM 38730
[SSgt DK]: I’ve been going to counseling for a while. Um,
my counselor thought that it would be a good idea if I could
call you to get closure for what happened the last night—
[Appellant]: Okay.
[SSgt DK]: —of our TDY.
[Appellant]: Sure.
[SSgt DK]: I wanted to know why you had sex with me when
I was so drunk?
[Appellant]: Well, I was pretty drunk as well. That’s not an
excuse. Um, you know, we were both really into each other.
Um, I don’t know if there was any, you know, off-duty stress
in my life or whatever. I’m sure there was, but that’s not an
excuse either. I’ve thought about that a lot, um, over the years
at various functions or various, you know, training or
whatever. Um, you know,—yeah, so we were both really
drunk. I think you were much more drunk than I was. And,
um, I think neither one of us—you know, in hindsight neither
one of us wanted that to happen. Um, that night it seemed like
both of us wanted it to happen. Um, neither one of us—I mean,
both of us were coherent throughout the whole evening and
then it was—I mean, the next day it was, um, you know, a
tremendous amount of regret, um, remorse. “Oh, my God,
what happened? How did I do this?” Um, and I’m—and that
was from my state of drunkenness. From yours I don’t know
what happened. I assume you passed out after—afterwards.
But, you know, I have relived that decision-making and how
did we—how did it get to that point. And, um, I never—I
blame myself certainly, um, just based on my position, you
know, and being less drunk than you were. Um, it’s not like I
didn't know what was happening. Uh, I honestly—I honestly
don’t think that—um, I honestly don’t think that—I honestly
don’t think that we did anything that right at that moment we
didn't want to do. Certainly afterwards neither one of us
wanted to have done that. Certainly we both regret that. Um,
and, you know, our—obviously I haven’t had any contact with
you since, but I can only imagine that it has affected you in a
way as it has affected me, um, in different ways for each of the
3 ACM 38730
two of us. Um, it was definitely a turning point or definitely a
significant point, but, um, —and it is something I’ve learned a
lot from, but when you asked me why did it happen or why did
I do that I didn’t— um, I didn’t make the—I didn’t make the
determination that neither one of us were in our right mind to
make decisions and I wasn’t really thinking about that.
[SSgt DK]: I told you “no”. I said to “stop”. I tried to roll
away from you and you pulled me back. Why?
[Appellant]: [No response].
[SSgt DK]: Why didn't you just quit? You knew how drunk I
was.
[Appellant]: I did. I did. I mean, we could hardly stand when
we were getting checked at the front gate. I did.
[SSgt DK]: Why didn’t you just—
[Appellant]: Um.
[SSgt DK]: —let [E] take me back to my room? Why did you
come with?
[Appellant]: I did. She did take you back to your room. I went
back to mine and then I came back over. Um, yeah, we went
into each of our buildings or whatever and then after I got to
my room and I assume you had gotten to yours that’s when I
came back over. I think I was—um, well, I was young and
immature and, um, younger—um, younger and immature and,
um, had a—didn’t have an appreciation for, uh, everyone as
human beings or everyone as—um, I guess—I don’t know. I
didn’t—I didn’t respect people in the way that I should have.
I didn’t respect everyone as individuals and equals as I should
have. Um, you know, I think I told you this, you know, in the
week or two before that you’re like a little sister. I was really
fond of you; really into you. I think that was obvious. I
didn’t—and, uh, maybe I used your—you know, your—how
you reacted to me when we were, you know, sober when we
were at work, when we were not drunk, um, as like what you
really, really wanted instead of listening to you when I needed
to; when I should have, and doing the responsible and
4 ACM 38730
appropriate thing, which would have been probably just not
even to go over to your room, you know, in the first place. . . .
But it certainly—I mean, I’m sorry.
[SSgt DK]: I bled for days afterwards. I couldn’t sit down. I
was so bruised and swollen. What—
[Appellant]: Oh, my God.
[SSgt DK]: What did you do to me?
[Appellant]: I—I don’t know what to say. I didn’t—I didn’t
know you were—I didn’t know you were physically hurt like
that. I didn’t know. I mean, not no idea; I have no idea. Um—
[SSgt DK]: I told you it hurt. I tried to get away from you. I
told you to stop. Why didn’t you listen to me?
[Appellant]: Um—
[SSgt DK]: Why didn’t you stop?
[Appellant]: I didn’t—
[SSgt DK]: Did you use a condom?
[Appellant]: Yeah.
[SSgt DK]: I want—I need to hear you apologize for what you
did.
[Appellant]: I am so, so sorry for being selfish, for
disrespecting you, for not listening to you, for not being your—
not just your friend, but not being professional and being a
human being when you needed it. I’m so sorry for pushing
myself on you; for putting my selfish, distorted needs and
subjecting you to that; for not respecting you as a person and
listening to you and stopping.
[SSgt DK]: You raped me. You destroyed me. For eight
years, I have had to live with this by myself. I can’t talk about
it; I can’t tell anybody. You took everything from me. Why?
5 ACM 38730
[Appellant]: I didn’t know the repercussions and even if I did
I wasn’t—I was selfish. I was—
[SSgt DK]: I need to hear you say you are sorry for raping me.
[Appellant]: I am sorry. I have been sorry. I will always be
sorry for raping you.
[SSgt DK]: Thank you.
[Appellant]: If there is anything I could do or can do—if there
is any way I can make amends or help you heal or ease your
suffering or pain, either let me know or have someone let me
know, or whatever.
[SSgt DK]: Just hearing you admit it and say that you did it is
enough for right now. Thank you. I—I have to go now.
[Appellant]: Okay.
[SSgt DK]: Bye.
Additional facts necessary to resolve Appellant’s assignments of error are provided
below.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
In reviewing claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, we look at the questions of
deficient performance and prejudice de novo. United States v. Datavs, 71 M.J. 420, 424
(C.A.A.F. 2012); United States v. Gutierrez, 66 M.J. 329, 330–31 (C.A.A.F. 2008).
To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, “an appellant must demonstrate 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 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (citing Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984)). Under the first prong, the appellant has the burden
to show that his “counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness—that counsel was not functioning as counsel within the meaning of the
Sixth Amendment.” United States v. Edmond, 63 M.J. 343, 351 (C.A.A.F. 2006) (quoting
United States v. Davis, 60 M.J. 469, 473 (C.A.A.F. 2005)). The question is therefore did
“the level of advocacy ‘fall[] measurably below the performance . . . [ordinarily expected]
of fallible lawyers?’” United States v. Haney, 64 M.J. 101, 106 (C.A.A.F. 2006) (quoting
United States v. Polk, 32 M.J. 150, 153 (C.M.A. 1991)) (alterations in original). Under the
6 ACM 38730
second prong, the deficient performance must prejudice the accused through errors “so
serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable.” United
States v. Tippit, 65 M.J. 69, 76 (C.A.A.F. 2007) (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687).
Counsel is presumed competent until proven otherwise. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689.
Trial defense counsel’s strategy was to show that SSgt DK “had a regrettable sexual
experience with a married officer who was a jerk and after eight years she reconstructed
her memory of the event through the lens of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
(SAPR) training, guilt, and emotional instability.” As a tactical choice, trial defense
counsel decided not to try to portray SSgt DK as a liar. This strategy was largely driven
by the fact that Appellant’s statements during the pretext phone call essentially
corroborated every aspect of the sexual encounter except for the issue of consent.
Appellant asserts trial defense counsel’s decision not to introduce evidence of
Appellant’s character for truthfulness and non-violence as well as evidence of SSgt DK’s
character for untruthfulness constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. While appellate
counsel may have chosen a different strategy, it does not mean that the strategy used at trial
was not reasonable. Trial defense counsel did interview potential character witnesses and
made the decision that attacking SSgt DK did not provide them with the best strategy to
win. “Defense counsel do not perform deficiently when they make a strategic decision to
accept a risk or forego a potential benefit, where it is objectively reasonable to do so.”
Datavs, 71 M.J. at 424 (citing United States v. Gooch, 69 M.J. 353, 362–63 (C.A.A.F.
2011)).
Appellant also alleges his trial defense counsel were ineffective by failing to file a
motion to exclude the evidence obtained from his government computer or failing to object
to its admission.
Mil. R. Evid. 314(d) states:
Government property may be searched under this rule
unless the person to whom the property is issued or assigned
has a reasonable expectation of privacy therein at the time of
the search. Under normal circumstances, a person does not
have a reasonable expectation of privacy in government
property that is not issued for personal use. . . .
(Emphasis added.) The analysis to this rule recognizes that the presumption that there is
no reasonable expectation of privacy in government property is rebuttable. Manual for
Courts-Martial, United States, app. 22 at A22-26 (2012 ed.).
Whether there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in government property is
determined under the totality of the circumstances, which includes the rebuttable
7 ACM 38730
presumption that an accused has no reasonable expectation of privacy in government
property. See, e.g., Samson v. California, 547 U.S. 843, 848 (2006); Mil. R. Evid. 314(d).
In United States v. Long, 64 M.J. 57, 63 (C.A.A.F. 2006), our superior court held that the
accused had a subjective expectation of privacy in emails sent on her government
computer, but this decision was based on the facts of that case, primarily the compelling
testimony of the command’s network administrator asserting the agency practice of
recognizing the privacy interests of users in their email. A short time later, in United States
v. Larson, 66 M.J. 212, 216, (C.A.A.F. 2008), the court reiterated that its decision in Long
was rooted in the “particular facts of that case,” and held that there was no expectation of
privacy when the facts established that when the appellant logged on to the computer, he
was required to click a button accepting conditions listed in a banner, which stated that the
computer was Department of Defense property, was for official use, and that he consented
to monitoring.
Appellant’s case is more analogous to Larson in that to log on to his computer
Appellant had to click on a banner acknowledging he was aware his computer activity
could be monitored. Moreover, none of the evidence presented was password protected
beyond standard system security protocols. The only evidence before us is that the
evidence offered and admitted consisted of a history of Appellant’s Internet usage
immediately prior to and after the pretext phone call on 12 July 2013.
Trial defense counsel’s decision not to file a motion to exclude the computer
evidence and their decision not to object to its admission was not deficient. As clearly
stated in their supporting affidavits, they made the decision based on their understanding
of the law as well as the facts and circumstances surrounding a military member’s use of
government furnished computer equipment. “When an appellant argues that counsel was
ineffective for erroneously waiving a motion, it makes sense to deny the claim if the
appellant would not be entitled to relief on the erroneously waived motion, because the
accused cannot show he was harmed by not preserving the issue.” United States v. Bradley,
71 M.J. 13 (C.A.A.F. 2012) (citing United States v. Cornelius, 37 M.J. 622, 626 (A.C.M.R.
1993)).
After considering the totality of the evidence presented at trial, we find Appellant
failed to meet his burden of demonstrating that his trial defense counsel’s conduct resulted
in prejudice. See Green, 68 M.J. at 361. The trial defense counsel made tactical decisions
regarding the appropriate strategy they believed would be most successful in light of the
totality of the evidence, including admissions by Appellant. This was an “objectively
reasonable choice in strategy from the alternatives available at the time” to the defense.
United States v. Dewrell, 55 M.J. 131, 136 (C.A.A.F. 2001). We decline to second-guess
those reasonable decisions made at trial by defense counsel. See United States v. Perez, 64
M.J. 239, 243 (C.A.A.F. 2006). In light of these conclusions and applying the applicable
standards, we find Appellant has failed to meet his burden of demonstrating that any
deficiency in his defense counsel’s conduct resulted in prejudice.
8 ACM 38730
Failure by Military Judge to Disclose SSgt DK’s Mental Health Records2
Prior to trial, the defense requested, pursuant to Mil. R. Evid. 513, the mental health
records of SSgt DK. The bases for the request were to determine what she may have said
regarding the charged offense to her providers, what any diagnosis was, what treatment
techniques were used, and what the effects of her treatment were on her ability to accurately
recall the events in question and truthfully testify nine years later. The military judge held
the required hearing where SSgt DK acknowledged seeing mental health providers at three
duty stations but only speaking about the rape at one of those locations. SSgt DK’s special
victims’ counsel (SVC) was present at the hearing and indicated to the military judge that
he possessed what he believed to be all of SSgt DK’s mental health records from those
locations. He provided those records, totaling 96 pages, to the military judge.
The military judge performed an in camera review of the records. During that
review, he determined that they were incomplete because one page indicated it was “page
1 of 2” but the next page was not in the records. The military judge informed counsel,
including the SVC, and signed an order requesting the records be sent directly to him from
the facility in question. In response, the military judge received 67 pages by email, some
of which were duplicates, some were “new,” and the “missing” page was still not
provided.3 After his review, he released 83 pages (out of 1274), including all but one page
from the facility where she discussed the rape,5 to the trial and defense counsel. The
military judge announced that he reviewed the records with a “did she talk about this case”
filter. After reviewing those documents, civilian trial defense counsel indicated that his
expert opined that there were some records disclosed that should have generated additional
records (questionnaires that typically result in notes when provider discussing those with
patient). The consultant further asserted that there was nothing that caused him to ask for
the notes, he was really just asking to see if they were present. The military judge indicated
that those notes did in fact exist in what he had reviewed, but he did not find them relevant.
After SSgt DK testified during sentencing, the military judge released all of her mental
health records to both parties.
2
These briefs were filed under seal and oral argument on this issue was conducted in a closed court proceeding based
on the sensitive nature of the evidence. Our opinion excludes any direct references to the contents of the records
except as necessary for this holding.
3
Our review of the record confirms that there is a page in both Appellate Exhibit XXI and Appellate Exhibit XXXI
that states it is page 1 of 2 and the page following is not page 2 of 2. However, a thorough comparison of the records
reveals that there is a page 2 of 2 located in the records which follows what is marked as page 1 of 1. Furthermore,
our review of the content of the page marked 1 of 2 and comparison to similar documents within the same set of
records supports that page 1 contains all of the substantive records associated with that date’s visit, including the
signature of the provider. We do not believe this “missing” page, if it is in fact not contained elsewhere, affects the
content of the records for that date.
4
Although there were 163 total pages reviewed by the military judge, 36 pages were exact duplicates.
5
One page, the General Instructions for completing the DD Form 2870 (Authorization for Disclosure of Medical or
Dental Information) was not provided.
9 ACM 38730
We review a military judge’s ruling on a discovery request for abuse of discretion.
United States v. Roberts, 59 M.J. 323, 326 (C.A.A.F. 2004). “A military judge abuses his
discretion when his findings of fact are clearly erroneous, when he is incorrect about the
applicable law, or when he improperly applies the law.” Id. In the case before us, like
Roberts, we are reviewing the military judge’s determination of whether this requested
evidence was “material to the preparation of the defense” for purposes of the Government’s
obligation to disclose under Rule for Courts-Martial (R.C.M.) 701(a)(2)(A). “The military
judge’s determination of materiality in this respect is a question of law that we review de
novo.” Id. “Our review of discovery/disclosure issues utilizes a two-step analysis: first,
we determine whether the information or evidence at issue was subject to disclosure or
discovery; second, if there was nondisclosure of such information, we test the effect of that
nondisclosure on the appellant’s trial.” Id. at 325.
Appellant now argues that the records are incomplete because there are no in-patient
records despite the fact that a box was checked requesting both in and out patient records
and that he should have received all of the mental health records as discovery, pursuant to
R.C.M. 701. He asserts these records were material to the preparation of the defense in
that they could have assisted the defense in the development of strategies, cross-
examination, and argument on findings as well as sentencing. R.C.M. 701(a)(2)(B) entitles
the defense, upon request, “to inspect . . . [a]ny results or reports of physical or mental
examinations . . . which are within the possession, custody, or control of military
authorities, the existence of which is known or by the exercise of due diligence may become
known to the trial counsel, and which are material to the preparation of the defense . . . .”
R.C.M. 701(g) places responsibility for regulating discovery on the military judge. R.C.M.
703(a) gives the prosecution and the defense “equal opportunity to obtain witnesses and
evidence, including the benefit of compulsory process.” However, because the information
being sought is privileged, the articulated basis for materiality must first justify piercing
the privilege.
With regard to the “missing” in-patient records, there is no showing that any actually
exist. There is nothing more than a request for records which resulted in the production of
only out-patient records. Additionally, when the records were provided to counsel after
SSgt DK testified on sentencing, there was no inquiry or request for additional records by
any party. Under Mil. R. Evid. 513(a), and in accordance with R.C.M. 701(f), records of
psychotherapist-patient communication are generally protected from release during
discovery. Among the enumerated exceptions permitting release, only Mil. R. Evid.
513(d)(8)—authorizing disclosure when “constitutionally required”—applies to the
present case.6 Appellant categorizes the withheld evidence as Brady evidence under Brady
v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87, (1963) and Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150, 154,
(1972).
6
In 2015, Mil. R. Evid. 513 was amended, eliminating the “constitutionally required” exception.
10 ACM 38730
Appellant’s reliance on a due process right to compulsory discovery was addressed
by the United States Supreme Court in Pennsylvania v. Ritchie, 480 U.S. 39 (1987). The
court held that the Confrontation Clause7 does not amount to a constitutionally compelled
rule of pretrial discovery. Id at 52. Moreover, the holding explicitly stated that the
Supreme Court “has never held—even in the absence of a statute restricting disclosures—
that a defendant alone may make the determination as to the materiality of the information.”
Id. at 59. “There is no general constitutional right to discovery in a criminal case, and
Brady did not create one.” Weatherford v. Bursey, 429 U.S. 545, 559 (1977). The Court
in Ritchie held that in camera review by the judge, guided by a specific request by the
defense for information alleged to be material ensures a fair trial. Ritchie, 480 U.S. at 60.
In camera review balances the need to protect the privilege and the right to discovery of
material information. The Ritchie ruling indicates that an evidentiary privilege may
constitutionally prevent disclosure based on policy reasons, as Mil. R. Evid. 513 does.
Among the records not disclosed to the Defense was a two-page intake form,
prepared in 2006, wherein SSgt DK denies being hurt within the last 12 months and does
not circle the options “sexual abuse” or “victim of violence.” Appellant argues before us
that the comments on the form were inconsistent with SSgt DK’s testimony and should
have been released. We note, however, that the cross-examination of SSgt DK at trial
repeatedly covered the fact that she had not reported the sexual assault to her providers
prior to 2013, so while the intake form is inconsistent with her testimony that she was raped
by Appellant in 2005, it is consistent with her testimony that she did not report the rape
until years later. We recognize that SSgt DK’s “statements” when filling out that intake
form could constitute an inconsistent statement. We find that the judge abused his
discretion by not disclosing these pages in discovery.
In Roberts, our superior court clarified the respective tests and burdens articulated
in a number of their decisions dealing with materiality of undisclosed, discoverable
evidence. They adopted two appellate tests for determining materiality with respect to the
erroneous nondisclosure of discoverable evidence; the first test applies to those cases in
which the defense either did not make a discovery request or made only a general request
for discovery. Roberts, 59 M.J. at 326. In those instances, once the appellant demonstrates
wrongful nondisclosure, “the appellant will be entitled to relief only by showing that there
is a ‘reasonable probability’ of a different result at trial had the evidence been disclosed.”
Id at 326–27. “The second test is unique to our military practice and reflects the broad
nature of discovery rights granted the military accused under Article 46. Where an
appellant demonstrates that the Government failed to disclose discoverable evidence in
response to a specific request or as a result of prosecutorial misconduct.” Id. at 327. In
those situations, “the appellant will be entitled to relief unless the Government can show
that nondisclosure was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.”
7
U.S. CONST. amend. VI.
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In the case before us, the military judge reviewed the evidence under Mil. R. Evid.
513 and R.C.M 701. These facts distinguish the issue before us from a direct application
of the process set forth in Roberts because there, our superior court held that it was not
reviewing any trial level decision. Roberts, 59 M.J. at 327 n.3. Here, the military judge’s
decision to even conduct an in camera review must be given deference because it is a
prerequisite to any further consideration of the evidence at issue.
The Defense rationale for piercing the Mil. R. Evid. 513 privilege was the need to
consider prior inconsistent statements and possible memory reconstruction techniques.
Based on Appellant’s assertion that trial defense counsel’s strategy was deficient, counsel
now urge that we not only review the military judge’s decision to conduct an in camera
review and subsequent disclosure but also to substitute a completely different rationale for
doing an in camera review focusing on SSgt DK’s motive to lie. We give deference to the
military judge’s decision to conduct the in camera review based on the justification
provided by trial defense counsel. Using that factual scenario, we will review the military
judge’s erroneous failure to provide those two pages using the “harmless beyond a
reasonable doubt” standard.
SSgt DK’s responses on the intake form, that she had not been raped or been a victim
of violence, were both relevant to cross-examination. However, Appellant’s counsel
extensively cross-examined SSgt DK on her failure to report the sexual assault; the fact
that while she did seek counseling for a number of issues, she never mentioned the sexual
assault until 2013; her inability to recall details; and how her memory gained more
specificity over the course of her interviews with OSI. Disclosure of the additional
evidence from the mental health records regarding “untruthfulness by omission” by SSgt
DK would not have created reasonable doubt that did not otherwise exist. The undisclosed
information might have weakened the reliability of SSgt DK’s testimony somewhat, but
the fact that she had failed to report the rape for many years despite repeated counseling
was before the factfinder. However, in light of the evidence of Appellant’s guilt, much of
it coming from his own admissions, any argument Appellant could have made would have
been minimally effective, at best. This non-disclosure prior to sentencing was harmless
beyond a reasonable doubt.
The remainder of the records that Appellant now cites as being impermissibly
withheld by the military judge deal with evidence that he asserts could have been used to
formulate strategy, investigation, and cross-examination. Primarily, Appellant asserts that
if his trial defense counsel had known about the full extent of SSgt DK’s insecurities, it
could have changed their investigative and strategic decisions, to include conducting a
stronger cross-examination and arguing this point to the factfinder. The only specific
reference as to how these records would have been used comes from the declaration of the
area defense counsel which says that it might have provided the “missing link they needed
to substantiate their theory that SSgt DK had reconstructed her memory.”
12 ACM 38730
We review the military judge’s decision not to disclose these matters using the
“reasonable probability of a different result at trial if the evidence had been disclosed”
standard. Roberts, 59 M.J. at 326–27. Impeachment evidence is material only if there is a
reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of
the proceeding would have been different. United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 682
(1985). “The determination of materiality ‘calls for assessment of the omission in light of
the evidence in the entire record.’” United States v. Morris, 52 M.J. 193, 197 (C.A.A.F.
1999).
While it is true that SSgt DK’s credibility as to whether or not she consented was
an issue, the only issue after Appellant’s admissions on the pretext phone call, there is not
a reasonable probability that the result would have been different had the evidence been
disclosed to the Defense during findings.
Convening Authority’s Denial of a Rehearing
We review a convening authority’s decision not to grant a post-trial hearing for an
abuse of discretion. United States v. Lofton, 69 M.J. 386, 391 (C.A.A.F. 2011). A
convening authority has discretion to order a post-trial Article 39a, UCMJ, session after
authentication of the record, but before action under R.C.M. 1102. The purpose of a post-
trial Article 39a session is to “resolve a matter that arises after trial and that substantially
affects the legal sufficiency of any findings of guilty or the sentence.” R.C.M. 1102(b)(2).
As such, in United States v. Scaff, this court observed, “We view the purpose of R.C.M.
1102 as a vehicle for precluding a miscarriage of justice from occurring.” 26 M.J. 985,
988 (A.F.C.M.R. 1988), rev’d on other grounds, 29 M.J. 60 (C.M.A. 1989). When taking
action, the convening authority may order a rehearing under R.C.M. 1107(e). “A rehearing
may be appropriate when an error substantially affecting the finding or sentence is noticed
by the convening authority.” R.C.M. 1107(e), Discussion. While there is interplay and
similarities between a post-trial Article 39a session under R.C.M. 1102 and a rehearing
under R.C.M. 1107, these options, and requests for them, are distinct and separate. See
United States v. Hull, 70 M.J. 145, 151 (C.A.A.F. 2011).
In this case, Appellant requested both a post-trial Article 39a session under R.C.M.
1102 and a rehearing under R.C.M. 1107, but these separate requests were processed
simultaneously as attachments to the addendum to the staff judge advocate’s
recommendation dated 20 November 2014. Both of Appellant’s requests were primarily
based on two types of evidence not introduced at trial—“Lt Col Brigg’s Character” and
“SSgt [DK]’s Character” as discussed earlier in the allegation of ineffective assistance of
counsel. In the request for a post-trial Article 39a session, appellate defense counsel
requested that the convening authority return the record to the military judge to consider
the additional evidence (various statements regarding the character of both Appellant and
SSgt DK) obtained since the court-martial adjourned that could affect the sufficiency of
any findings of guilty or the sentence. In the request for rehearing, appellate defense
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counsel admitted the evidence “could and should have been found” by trial defense counsel
and therefore was not “newly discovered evidence” and asked the convening authority to
order a full or partial rehearing if he elected not to disapprove the findings. On Appeal,
Appellant only challenges the failure to order a rehearing.
In this case, a rehearing on the single specification of rape would have involved all
of the trial stage procedures as a new trial under R.C.M 1210 and Article 73, UCMJ. While
the convening authority is not obligated to apply the criteria for a new trial under R.C.M.
1210 and Article 73 when deciding on a request for rehearing, our superior court has
indicated that a convening authority may find it useful to do so as a means of addressing
such information early in the post-trial process, emphasizing “that ‘requests for a new trial,
and thus rehearings and reopenings of trial proceedings, are generally disfavored,’ and are
granted only if a manifest injustice would result absent a new trial, rehearing, or reopening
based on proffered newly discovered evidence. Hull, 70 M.J. at 151–52 (quoting United
States v. Williams, 37 M.J. 352, 356 (C.M.A. 1993)).
The concession by appellate defense counsel that the character evidence they now
rely on is not “newly discovered” is significant to the resolution of error because evidence
which could have been discovered through due diligence cannot form the basis for a request
for new trial. See R.C.M. 1210(f), United States v. Hecker, 42, M.J. 640, 646 (A.F.C.C.A.
1995) and United States v. Williams, 37 M.J. 352, 356 (C.M.A. 1993). Furthermore, new
evidence which is merely cumulative or impeaching is not an adequate basis for the basis
of a new trial. See United States v. Thomas, 11 M.J. 135, 138 (C.M.A. 1981). Furthermore,
because trial defense counsel made a tactical decision not to use character evidence, this
petition for a new trial is nothing more than a “new tactic, not new evidence. This alone is
sufficient to deny the petition.” See United States v. Day, 14 C.M.A. 186, 33 C.M.R. 398,
401 (C.M.A. 1963).
While appellate defense counsel believes that the evidence of SSgt DK’s character
for untruthfulness would have been sufficient to alter the findings in this case, the evidence
of Appellant’s multiple adulterous relationships is equally relevant as to his credibility, not
only for the relationships themselves, but also as to his efforts to conceal those relationships
from his wife, friends, and co-workers. We are confident that in a judge alone trial, calling
character witnesses whose testimony would have included their total ignorance as to
Appellant’s “other life” would not have altered the finding of guilty or the sentence. As
such, the convening authority did not abuse his discretion when he denied a rehearing, and
the denial of a rehearing was not manifestly unjust.
Factual Sufficiency
Appellant contends the evidence is factually insufficient to support his conviction
in this case. We disagree.
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Under Article 66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866(c), we review issues of factual
sufficiency de novo. United States v. Lane, 64 M.J. 1, 2 (C.A.A.F. 2006). Article 66(c),
UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866(c), requires that we approve only those findings of guilty that we
determine to be correct in both law and fact. The test for legal sufficiency is whether, when
the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the government, a reasonable fact
finder could have found Appellant guilty of all elements of the offense, beyond a
reasonable doubt. United States v. Turner, 25 M.J. 324, 324 (C.M.A.1987) (citing Jackson
v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979)). “[I]n resolving questions of legal sufficiency, [this
court is] bound to draw every reasonable inference from the evidence of record in favor of
the prosecution.” United States v. Barner, 56 M.J. 131, 134 (C.A.A.F. 2001).
The test for factual sufficiency is “whether, after weighing the evidence in the record
of trial and making allowances for not having personally observed the witnesses,” this court
is convinced of Appellant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v. Turner, 25
M.J. 324, 325 (C.M.A.1987). Review of the evidence is limited to the entire record, which
includes only the evidence admitted at trial and exposed to the crucible of cross-
examination. Article 66(c), UCMJ; United States v. Bethea, 46 C.M.R. 223, 224–25
(C.M.A. 1973).
The issue here is solely whether the sexual intercourse between Appellant and SSgt
DK was by force and without consent. The testimony of Appellant and SSgt DK conflict
as to the details of the sexual encounter and both had significant memory gaps. Their
recollections are in accord regarding their mutual consumption of alcohol, the location of
the event, and the fact that it occurred the night before they were scheduled to return home
from the TDY.
Factual sufficiency does not require that the evidence be free of conflict. While
there are inconsistencies in the description of what took place between Appellant and SSgt
DK that night in 2005, Appellant’s own words to SSgt DK are highly persuasive in
convincing us that he committed the offense: “I am so, so sorry for being selfish, for
disrespecting you, for not listening to you . . . . I’m so sorry for pushing myself on you
. . . and subjecting you to that; for not respecting you as a person and listening to you and
stopping.” Similarly persuasive, during his interview with the Air Force Office of Special
Investigations he said, “[W]as I so selfish and immature and young and just ready to go
that I—did I ever disregard what she said, did I ever do something that she did not want[?]
. . . [I’ve] asked [myself] if rape happened and [my] answer . . . was ‘I’m not sure, no’ . . .
that night altered [my] self-image.”
This court is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the totality of the evidence
is sufficient to support the findings of the military judge that Appellant raped SSgt DK.
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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 approved findings and
sentence are AFFIRMED.
FOR THE COURT
LEAH M. CALAHAN
Clerk of the Court
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