United States v. Michalec

U NITED S TATES AIR F ORCE
C OURT OF C RIMINAL APPEALS
________________________
No. ACM 39771
________________________
UNITED STATES
Appellee
v.
Ryan J. MICHALEC
Technical Sergeant (E-6), U.S. Air Force, Appellant
________________________
Appeal from the United States Air Force Trial Judiciary
Decided 26 January 2021
________________________
Military Judge: Shaun S. Speranza.
Approved Sentence: Dishonorable discharge, confinement for 20 years,
forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and reduction to E-3. Sentence ad-
judged 23 May 2019 by GCM convened at Joint Base Charleston, South
Carolina.
For Appellant: Major Mark J. Schwartz, USAF; Nathan Freeburg, Es-
quire.
For Appellee: Lieutenant Colonel Matthew J. Neil, USAF; Major Jessica
L. Delaney, USAF; Mary Ellen Payne, Esquire.
Before POSCH, RICHARDSON, and MEGINLEY, Appellate Military
Judges.
Judge MEGINLEY delivered the opinion of the court, in which Senior
Judge POSCH and Judge RICHARDSON joined.
________________________
This is an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as
precedent under AFCCA Rule of Practice and Procedure 30.4.
________________________
MEGINLEY, Judge:
A general court-martial composed of officer members convicted Appellant,
contrary to his pleas, of one specification of aggravated sexual contact with a
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
child under 12 years of age on divers occasions by touching with his hands her
breasts, inner thighs, buttocks, genitalia, and groin; one specification of rape
of a child under 12 years of age on divers occasions by penetrating her vulva
with his penis; and one specification of rape of a child under 12 years of age by
penetrating her genital opening with his finger, all in violation of Article 120,
Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. § 920; 1,2 and one specifi-
cation of indecent conduct, in violation of Article 134, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 934. 3
Appellant’s convictions involve sexual misconduct he committed against his
stepdaughter, KT. The panel of officer members sentenced Appellant to a dis-
honorable discharge, confinement for 20 years, forfeiture of all pay and allow-
ances, and reduction to the grade of E-3.
The convening authority deferred all adjudged forfeitures from 6 June 2019
until action, disapproved the adjudged forfeitures at action, and waived man-
datory forfeitures for a period of six months after action for the benefit of Ap-
pellant’s wife and dependent children. Otherwise, the convening authority ap-
proved the sentence as adjudged.
On appeal, Appellant raises seven issues: (1) whether the military judge
erred in admitting evidence under Mil. R. Evid. 414 for propensity purposes
that did not meet the standard for admission and was more prejudicial than
probative; (2) whether the military judge erred by failing to suppress evidence
illegally obtained from Appellant’s phone, and whether a subsequent warrant,
issued nearly two years later to search that same device for evidence already
known, was unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment; 4 (3) whether trial
1 The conduct underlying the three specifications in violation of Article 120, Uniform
Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. § 820, occurred between 1 October 2007
and 27 June 2012. Thus, Article 120, UCMJ, as amended by the National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, Pub. L. No. 109-163, § 552, 119 Stat. 3136, 3257
(6 January 2006), applied to Appellant’s conduct. See Manual for Courts-Martial,
United States (2016 ed.) (2016 MCM), App. 28, at A28–1.
2
Regarding the specification alleging Appellant raped KT by penetrating her genital
opening with his finger on “divers occasions,” the military judge, pursuant to Rule for
Courts-Martial 917, sua sponte, found Appellant not guilty of the words “on divers oc-
casions.” Another specification charged under Article 120, UCMJ, and two specifica-
tions under Article 134, UCMJ, were withdrawn and dismissed after arraignment.
3 Unless otherwise noted, all other references in this opinion to the Uniform Code of
Military Justice (UCMJ), Rules for Courts-Martial, and Military Rules of Evidence are
to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States (2016 ed.) (2016 MCM), including Ap-
pendix 28.
4 U.S. CONST. amend. IV.
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United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
defense counsel’s numerous pretrial and trial errors cumulatively deprived Ap-
pellant of his right to effective assistance of counsel 5 guaranteed by the Sixth
Amendment; 6 (4) whether Appellant was subject to unlawful pretrial punish-
ment in violation of Article 13, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 813; (5) whether the evi-
dence underlying his convictions under Charge I of the Article 120, UCMJ, of-
fenses are legally and factually insufficient; and (6) whether trial counsel com-
mitted prosecutorial misconduct by using the word “grooming” in his closing
argument and presentencing. We also identify and resolve an additional point
of contention raised by Appellant, in that (7) he asserts he “was instructed to
not testify on [his] own behalf.” 7,8
As to Appellant’s fourth claim that he was subjected to unlawful pretrial
punishment, we note that in presentencing, Appellant denied being punished
in any way prior to trial in violation of Article 13, UCMJ. Nothing in the record
suggests Appellant was subjected to illegal pretrial punishment. Appellant is
now requesting this court consider matters outside the record. Based on our
review, we find this assertion does not require further discussion or warrant
relief. See United States v. Matias, 25 M.J. 356, 361 (C.M.A. 1987); see also
United States v. Jessie, 79 M.J. 437 (C.A.A.F. 2020). As to Appellant’s sixth
claim that trial counsel committed prosecutorial misconduct by using the word
“grooming” in his findings argument, pursuant to Matias, we do not find this
assertion requires further discussion or warrant relief. 9 Finally, as to his sev-
enth claim, that Appellant was instructed not to testify on his own behalf, the
court notes that the military judge specifically asked Appellant, “Was that your
personal decision?” Appellant responded, “Yes, your honor.” We do not find this
assertion requires further discussion or warrant relief.
5In light of Appellant’s claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, we ordered trial
defense counsel to provide responsive declarations. See United States v. Jessie, 79 M.J.
437, 444 (C.A.A.F. 2020); United States v. Ginn, 47 M.J. 236 (C.A.A.F. 1997).
6 U.S. CONST. amend. VI.
7Appellant personally asserts issues (4), (5), (6), and (7) pursuant to United States v.
Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431 (C.M.A. 1982).
8
Appellant did not expressly identify (7) as an issue, but raised it in the context of
whether the evidence underlying his convictions under Charge I of the Article 120,
UCMJ, offenses were legally and factually insufficient.
9
See United States v. Bressler, No. ACM 38660, 2016 CCA LEXIS 746, at *78 (A.F. Ct.
Crim. App. 16 Dec. 2016) (unpub. op.) (concluding use of the word “grooming,” as ar-
gued by trial counsel, “was used as a non-scientific term and in a manner easily un-
derstood by a lay member”).
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United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
Finding no error materially prejudicial to Appellant’s substantial rights,
we affirm the findings and sentence.
I. BACKGROUND
KT, Appellant’s stepdaughter, was born in early 2001 and lived in Alaska
until Appellant married her mother, KB, in August 2005. Shortly after they
married, Appellant and KB, along with KT and KT’s younger half-brother, RM,
moved to Little Rock Air Force Base (AFB), Arkansas, where they lived to-
gether as a family. 10
The Government’s case against Appellant about his conduct with KT relied
primarily on her testimony. When she was about seven years old, Appellant
caressed her breasts, inner thighs, and buttocks, over her clothing. KT remem-
bered Appellant touching her after she asked Appellant “what sex was.” This
happened about once a month when they lived in Arkansas, and usually when
they were alone in the home, including when KT was in her bedroom.
In December 2009, the family moved to Pensacola, Florida, and lived on a
military installation. KT testified that Appellant continued to touch her inap-
propriately, which progressed to touching underneath her clothing. KT stated:
It depended on the time of day and who was in the house, if an-
ybody was in the house. It would usually start off with him say-
ing nothing, coming to me in my bedroom, and either getting
onto the bed with me or moving my stuff around to get to me,
and he would pull my pants down and start touching my back-
side and pull my shirt up so that he could see everything and try
to remove my clothing as much as possible and it would be rub-
bing and caressing and trying to like hold me.
KT was nine years old when Appellant began to directly touch her buttocks,
breasts, inner thigh, and vagina.
Appellant’s sexual activity with KT progressed when he inserted his finger
into KT’s vagina. Appellant put the tip of one of his fingers into her vagina for
a few seconds while they were in her bedroom. KT tried to push his hand away
and told him to stop. Appellant stopped when he heard RM return home and
enter the home. Appellant then quickly left the room. Until Appellant’s conduct
became the subject of investigation, KT never told anyone about Appellant
touching her, including her mother, with whom she did not have a close rela-
tionship.
10While KB is the biological mother to KT’s younger half-brother, RM, Appellant is not
his biological father, but Appellant adopted him during the marriage.
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United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
KT further testified that, while still in Florida, Appellant raped her when
she was around ten or eleven years old. KT stated:
We had just finished arguing. It had been like I don’t know how
long since we had argued and then we left it and I went into my
room. Then he came into my room, he didn’t say anything at all,
I believe I was doing my makeup or messing with my makeup or
something and I got up and he started to undress me and I tried
to push him away from me and get his hands off of me. He pulled
my shirt off and pulled my pants off, pulled the rest of my cloth-
ing off, and I end up on the bed. I tried to get off the bed and he
pulled his pants down quickly and flipped me to where I was on
my back and then he started to rape me.
KT stated she did not really know what Appellant was doing to her when
this happened, but she was yelling at him and telling him to stop, which he did
not. KT was looking at the ceiling while Appellant was “thrusting [his penis
inside her] and trying to hold [her] arms down because [she] was trying to push
him off.” Appellant ejaculated in her, which feeling she described as “liquid and
pain and like my entire lower half was on fire.” After he left the room, KT sat
in the shower for “probably about an hour.” She also saw blood in the shower.
Again, KT did not tell anyone what had happened until she disclosed Appel-
lant’s conduct to investigators.
KT testified that shortly after Appellant raped her, and when she was in
the fifth grade, she went to the Naval Exchange (NEX) to buy a pregnancy test,
as she had already started her menstrual cycle and learned about pregnancy
at school. She went to the NEX with her friend, AP. KT took the pregnancy
test in a bathroom at the NEX; the results were negative.
A couple of months later, Appellant again raped KT in her bedroom. Much
like the first time, they had been arguing, and afterwards, he entered her room:
He again starts taking off my clothing. This time I was trying
harder to get him to stop and we were kind of fighting back and
forth. It started with the shirt, he got the shirt off, I tried to run
away, and then he got my pants down and he threw me onto the
bed that time and flipped me over onto my back and the same
thing happened.
When Appellant was on top of her, he was naked. Like the first time, KT
felt Appellant thrusting his penis inside of her, and he eventually ejaculated
inside her; she could feel his ejaculate “running down [her] leg.” KT again did
not tell anyone because “she was terrified.”
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United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
In May 2012, after finishing fifth grade, KT moved back to Alaska to live
with her maternal grandparents. Appellant and KB were officially divorced a
month later in June 2012, and shared custody of RM after the divorce. Appel-
lant eventually remarried. In 2013, KT left Alaska to live with her mother, but
returned to Alaska in May 2017 to again live with her grandparents.
Soon after moving back to Alaska, KT underwent counseling. During a ses-
sion in October or November 2017, KT disclosed that she had been sexually
assaulted by Appellant. An investigation into her allegations and Appellant’s
conduct was initiated in December 2017 during which KT disclosed the scope
of Appellant’s sexual abuse.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Evidence Admitted Under Mil. R. Evid. 414
1. Additional Background
On 26 August 2016, Appellant met a person he thought was a girl through
the internet platform MeetMe. The person informed Appellant that she was a
15-year-old named “Sam.” Appellant disclosed he was 36 years old, and ex-
plained that he could not engage in a “sexting” relationship because she was
only 15 years old. Nonetheless, the conversation quickly escalated, and despite
Appellant’s concern—expressed after the fact—that he was being “set up,” Ap-
pellant and “Sam” texted back and forth, with Appellant sending, requesting
and receiving sexually explicit pictures. Some of the messages Appellant sent
“Sam” included “show me your p*ss[y] first,” “you stick c*ck inside p*ssy,” “wow
your p*ssy is beautiful,” “you have to work for this c*ck,” and “will you make
me a video while you rub and finger it.”
Nearly four hours after “Sam” and Appellant began texting, an individual
claiming to be “Sam’s” “father” contacted Appellant and told him “if you don’t
contact me immediately I’m contacting the Charleston [C]ounty [S]heriff’s
[D]epartment[.] You stand a better chance of straighten[ing] this mess out with
me th[a]n [with] my [w]ife, call me.” Appellant replied and said he would call
“Sam’s” father.
The same day “Sam’s” “father” instructed Appellant to call him, Appellant
told his wife about his communications with “Sam.” 11 Appellant explained he
was “sexually frustrated” and had “downloaded a phone application.” Appel-
11
Information in this paragraph is derived from the military judge’s findings of fact
from his ruling on the defense motion to suppress. The military judge’s findings of fact
are supported by the record and we adopt them for our analysis.
6
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
lant said he asked a female to send him nude photographs and she did. Alt-
hough he initially thought “Sam” was 19 years old based on her profile, the
female told Appellant that she was 15 years old. Appellant admitted to his wife
he had asked the girl to send him nude photographs and the girl had done so.
Appellant told his wife of his behavior because “Sam’s” “father” found out what
Appellant had done and threatened to report Appellant to law enforcement
unless he paid him $2,500.00. Appellant admitted to his wife he was communi-
cating with a 15-year-old girl and deleted all photographs, texts, and phone
numbers related to his communication with “Sam” and her “father.” The “fa-
ther” continued to call Appellant and demand money. Appellant gave his phone
to his wife, who later the same day contacted Appellant’s supervisor, Senior
Master Sergeant (SMSgt) EM, relaying substantially the same information
that Appellant provided to his wife. SMSgt EM contacted the unit’s First Ser-
geant, who in turn contacted the Air Force Office of Special Investigations
(AFOSI). AFOSI agents subsequently interviewed Appellant’s wife, who re-
counted what Appellant told her.
Later in the day on 26 August 2016, after AFOSI agents interviewed Ap-
pellant’s wife, the agents sought and received verbal search authorization from
a military magistrate to seize Appellant’s phone and to search for any media
or communications related to child pornography or sexual abuse of a child. A
written search authorization was issued two days later. An extraction of the
phone revealed no evidence or images that could be considered child pornogra-
phy; Appellant had deleted the MeetMe application.
Early in 2018, after KT came forward with her allegations against Appel-
lant, AFOSI agents sought and received a second search authorization to
search Appellant’s phone. At trial, the Government introduced evidence re-
lated to Appellant’s communications with “Sam” under Mil. R. Evid. 414 to
show Appellant had a propensity to commit the charged sexual crimes against
KT. 12
2. Law
Mil. R. Evid. 414 permits the admission of evidence of a prior act of “child
molestation” to show propensity to commit a charged act of “child molestation.”
A military judge’s ruling on the admissibility of evidence is reviewed for an
abuse of discretion. United States v. McElhaney, 54 M.J. 120, 129 (C.A.A.F.
2000) (citing United States v. Schlamer, 52 M.J. 80, 84 (C.A.A.F. 1999); United
States v. Johnson, 46 M.J. 8, 10 (C.A.A.F. 1997)). While we review a military
judge’s decision to admit evidence for an abuse of discretion, the threshold
12
There is nothing in the record regarding the identity of “Sam” or her “father.” The
record is silent whether Appellant was disciplined for his conduct.
7
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
question with respect to the admissibility of the evidence in this case—whether
the evidence constitutes evidence that Appellant committed another offense of
“child molestation” under Mil. R. Evid. 414—is one of law, reviewed de novo.
See United States v. Yammine, 69 M.J. 70, 73 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (citing United
States v. DeCologero, 530 F.3d 36, 58 (1st Cir. 2008)).
An offense of “child molestation” means “an offense punishable under the
Uniform Code of Military Justice, or a crime under federal law or the law of a
state,” that involves, inter alia, “any conduct or attempted conduct prohibited
by Article 120[, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 920,] and committed with a child . . . .” See
Mil. R. Evid. 414(d)(2)(A), (G) (2016 MCM). The rule establishes a presumption
in favor of admitting evidence of prior similar crimes in child molestation cases
to show an appellant’s predisposition to commit the designated crimes under
the rule. United States v. Tanner, 63 M.J. 445, 448 (C.A.A.F. 2006) (citing
United States v. Wright, 53 M.J. 476, 482–83 (C.A.A.F. 2000)). Before admit-
ting evidence under Mil. R. Evid. 414, a military judge must make three
threshold findings: (1) that the accused is charged with an offense of child mo-
lestation, (2) that the evidence proffered is evidence of the accused’s commis-
sion of another offense of child molestation, and (3) that the evidence is rele-
vant under Mil. R. Evid. 401 and 402. United States v. Ediger, 68 M.J. 243, 248
(C.A.A.F. 2010); Wright, 53 M.J. at 482 (citations omitted).
If the three threshold factors are met, the military judge applies a Mil. R.
Evid. 403 balancing test. Ediger, 68 M.J. at 248. In Wright, our superior court
set forth several factors to consider when conducting this test. They include:
(1) strength of proof of the prior act (“conviction versus gossip”), (2) probative
weight of the evidence, (3) potential for less prejudicial evidence, (4) distraction
of the fact finder, (5) time needed for proof of prior conduct, (6) temporal prox-
imity, (7) frequency of the acts, (8) presence or lack of intervening circum-
stances, and (9) relationship between the parties. Wright, 53 M.J. at 482. This
list of factors is “neither exclusive nor exhaustive.” United States v. Dewrell,
55 M.J. 131, 138 (C.A.A.F. 2001). Although the court is not required to make
detailed findings of fact under Mil. R. Evid. 403, it is important that the court
fully evaluate the evidence and make a clear record of the reason behind its
findings. Id. (citing United States v. Guardia, 135 F.3d 1326, 1331 (10th Cir.
1998)); see also Wright, 53 M.J. at 482 (citations omitted). We will give the
evidentiary ruling less deference when the military judge does not articulate
the balancing analysis on the record. United States v. Berry, 61 M.J. 91, 96
(C.A.A.F. 2005). A decision to admit or exclude evidence under Mil. R. Evid.
403 is also reviewed for an abuse of discretion. McElhaney, 54 M.J. at 129–30
(citing United States v. Lake, 36 M.J. 317, 322 (C.M.A. 1993)).
“The abuse of discretion standard is a strict one, calling for more than a
mere difference of opinion.” United States v. Solomon, 72 M.J. 176, 179
8
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
(C.A.A.F. 2013). The challenged action must be “arbitrary, fanciful, clearly un-
reasonable,” or “clearly erroneous.” United States v. Miller, 46 M.J. 63, 65
(C.A.A.F. 1997) (citation omitted); United States v. Travers, 25 M.J. 61, 62
(C.M.A. 1987).
3. Analysis
Appellant argues that the propensity evidence of Appellant’s communica-
tions with “Sam” fails the threshold Ediger requirements. We disagree and find
the military judge did not abuse his discretion when he admitted Appellant’s
communications under Mil. R. Evid. 414. In a written ruling, the military judge
explained his rationale, applying the three criteria set forth in Mil. R. Evid
414(c). The military judge found: (1) that Appellant was charged with several
acts of child molestation; (2) that the proffered evidence was evidence of Appel-
lant’s commission of at least an attempt to commit sexual abuse of a child un-
der Mil. R. Evid. 414(d)(2)(A) and (G), in that the evidence showed Appellant
“intend[ed] to gratify his sexual desire by communicating with [a person]
who[m] he believe[d] to be a female child [named ‘Sam’], [and] [Appellant’s]
propensity to commit offenses of child molestation tend[ed] to make the fact
that [Appellant] committed sexual acts and contacts and indecent acts upon
KT more probable than without the evidence;” and, (3) in conducting the test
for relevance under Mil. R. Evid. 401 and 402, the issue of “[w]hether [Appel-
lant] intended to gratify his sexual desire when [he] allegedly touch[ed] KT and
commit[ed] sexual acts and contacts and indecent acts upon KT are facts of
consequence in determining the findings in this case.”
As to the second part of the Ediger “two-step analysis,” Appellant argues
the propensity evidence fails the balancing test of Mil. R. Evid. 403. See Ediger,
68 M.J. at 248. Again, we disagree. Having found this communication met the
three threshold criteria, the military judge considered the Wright factors and
conducted a meaningful Mil. R. Evid. 403 balancing analysis, which considered
factors weighing both in favor and against admission of the proffered evidence.
The military judged concluded that the frequency of Appellant’s communica-
tions with “Sam” (the fact that Appellant’s act occurred over the course of one
day) and his lack of a formal relationship with “Sam” weighed against admis-
sibility. However, the military judge found: (1) the uncharged offense would be
proven, in part, by forensic evidence (extracted from Appellant’s phone); (2) the
strength of the proof was not mere gossip; (3) there was no potential for less
prejudicial evidence; (4) the factfinder would not be distracted by the focused
testimony and forensic evidence; and (5) the probative weight of Appellant’s
propensity to commit offenses of child molestation, and the evidence of his in-
tent to gratify his sexual desires with a child, all weighed in favor of admissi-
bility. The military judge noted that although Appellant’s communication with
“Sam” happened over nine years after the earliest charged offense against KT,
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United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
“the temporal proximity between the charges and the other offense of child
molestation [was] not unreasonable or prohibitively long.”
Ultimately, the military judge ruled “the probative value of this presump-
tively admissible evidence is not substantially outweighed by the dangers of
unfair prejudice.” Where a military judge conducts a proper Mil. R. Evid. 403
balancing test and articulates his analysis on the record, “the ruling will not
be overturned unless there is a ‘clear abuse of discretion.’” United States v.
Manns, 54 M.J. 164, 166 (C.A.A.F. 2000). Based on the facts presented, we find
the military judge did not abuse his discretion in allowing the Mil. R. Evid. 414
evidence to be admitted.
B. Motion to Suppress Evidence Obtained from Appellant’s Cell
Phone Related to His Workplace Masturbation
1. Additional Background
In addition to the crimes committed against his stepdaughter KT, Appel-
lant was also charged with indecent conduct. In the summer of 2016, Appellant
video-recorded himself masturbating at his workplace while in uniform; that
video was discovered when AFOSI agents conducted their search of his phone
while searching for evidence related to child pornography or sexual abuse of
“Sam.” This misconduct is the crux of Charge II and its Specification. Trial
defense counsel sought to suppress the video of Appellant masturbating at
work from being introduced, arguing that AFOSI agents went beyond the pa-
rameters of the authorization to search Appellant’s phone. The military judge
denied this motion. On appeal, Appellant renews his objection that the military
judge should have suppressed this video because it was illegally obtained and
the military judge abused his discretion by admitting this evidence.
On 26 August 2016, the day Appellant communicated with “Sam” and later
disclosed those communications to his wife, AFOSI agents sought a verbal
search authorization from a military magistrate to seize Appellant’s phone and
to search the entire phone for any media or communications related to child
pornography or sexual abuse of a child. The military magistrate found probable
cause to search Appellant’s phone for evidence relating to “Sam” or her “fa-
ther,” and granted agents authorization to search the entire phone for videos,
text messages, or photographs related to the case. Pursuant to this verbal au-
thorization, AFOSI agents used the Cellebrite Universal Forensic Extraction
Device (UFED) to extract the data on Appellant’s phone. 13
13According to Special Agent KC, a UFED is an “extraction electronic device that ex-
tracts cell phone data. It doesn’t make a mirror image of [a phone], it just extracts all
10
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
Before searching the extracted data for evidence of child pornography or
sexual abuse of a child, Special Agent KC, on 29 August 2016, drafted an Air
Force Form 1176, Authority to Search and Seize, to document and memorialize
the verbal search authorization, allowing AFOSI to seize, copy, and analyze
“All phone calls, text messages, and messaging platform records related to third
party applications concerning indecent photos of a minor.” (Emphasis added).
In the agent’s supporting affidavit, he stated that Appellant’s phone contained
“explicit information and nude images within its files;” Appellant used the ap-
plication MeetMe, and while using the application, he accepted nude images
and requested photos from the underage female; and, after disclosing the in-
formation to his wife, Appellant deleted the text messages and photographs on
the device shared between Appellant and the female identified as “Sam.” This
authorization was signed by the same military magistrate who authorized the
verbal search authorization.
Special Agent KC testified that the Cellebrite program created an extrac-
tion report, which generates subfolders for the investigator, and in order to go
into any other folder the report generates, the agent would have to proactively
click the hyperlinks in the folder. When stated by trial defense counsel that the
agents had no authority to click on the video folder, Special Agent KC did not
agree with that premise. Special Agent KC later told the military judge that
the verbal authorization allowed agents to “search the phone . . . for images of
child pornography, communications with a minor, anything explicit, content
with a minor.” Moreover, his understanding from the magistrate was that the
agents were not just limited to looking at photographs, despite the fact that
when both the 26 August 2016 verbal and 29 August 2016 written search au-
thorizations were granted, there was no indication Appellant had sent videos
or exchanged videos with “Sam.”
In September 2016, with the written authorization in hand, Special Agent
JR conducted a search of the UFED extraction report that was obtained from
Appellant’s phone. Special Agent JR testified that the aforementioned MeetMe
application transmits pictures, videos, and text messaging, and therefore, he
believed he had the authorization to search in all three media. Special Agent
JR stated that he searched the extraction report video section because “any-
thing involving that messaging platform . . . could be anything from a text to a
picture to an emoji to a video,” and he wanted to check the folder to make sure
data that it can.” The agent noted that because every phone is different, the data that
can be extracted depends on the phone. He testified, “There’s times you’ll hook up a
certain phone and it won’t pull at all. . . . As far as what data it will pull[,] it will pull
deleted files, not always[,] but for the most part.”
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United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
they were not missing anything concerning the MeetMe application. Special
Agent JR stated,
I was looking in the video file because as I read the [Air Force
Form] 1176 of what I’m authorized and have probable cause to
search for, knowing that messaging platform records to mean for
any application, it could be an image, video, picture . . . or simple
text message. I wanted to look and make sure there was nothing
sent via video, you know, through a message essentially that
wasn’t popping up.
Special Agent JR opened the video folders and discovered that on two occa-
sions, while at his regular duty location at Joint Base Charleston, South Car-
olina, and during duty hours while in uniform, Appellant video-recorded him-
self masturbating in his immediate work space and in the unit’s restroom. 14
Investigation revealed the incidents occurred in the summer of 2016, but did
not reveal any witnesses to the acts. Once Special Agent JR saw the videos, he
advised his leadership what he found. 15
The UFED extraction revealed no evidence or images that could be consid-
ered child pornography. AFOSI agents sent Appellant’s phone to the Depart-
ment of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3) laboratory for further analysis, as
the agents sought to recover the deleted information.
In June 2018, after KT came forward with allegations that Appellant had
raped her—and nearly two years after the initial search of Appellant’s phone—
AFOSI agents went back and reviewed Appellant’s case with respect to his acts
of masturbation and determined it was evidence of indecent conduct. Agents
sought, and received, a second written authorization to search Appellant’s
phone, which included a search for “[a]ll images and videos related to third
party applications concerning indecent photos of a minor, and all images and
videos relating to [Appellant] engaging in indecent conduct in the workplace.”
(Emphasis added). Appellant argues this search authorization was unreason-
able. 16
14 Appellant was not charged with an offense relating to the restroom video.
15Appellant was given a verbal counseling by his commander for masturbating at work
after the videos were discovered. The record suggests the counseling occurred before
KT came forward with her allegations.
16
The court notes the genesis of the second written authorization. When trial counsel
asked Special Agent KC who suggested the second written authorization, Special
Agent KC responded, “You did.” In this court’s view, Appellant basically argues that
12
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
In their motion to suppress, trial defense counsel acknowledged that, based
on the information agents provided to the military magistrate regarding Ap-
pellant’s communication with “Sam,” it was lawful and reasonable to search
Appellant’s phone, specifically the “call log folder,” the applications folder, and
the “SMS messages folder” (generated from the UFED report) because the first
written authorization (29 August 2016) was “very specific.” However, trial de-
fense counsel argued that AFOSI agents exceeded the 29 August 2016 written
search authorization when they looked into other areas of Appellant’s phone,
specifically the videos folder from the UFED report, which led to the discovery
of Appellant’s workplace masturbation videos.
In his ruling, the military judge found that
[a]gents were authorized to search the entire phone for evidence
related to the offenses of child pornography and sexual abuse of a
child. Specifically, the agents were authorized by the terms of the
search authorization to search for “all phone calls, text messages,
and messaging platform records related to third party applica-
tions concerning indecent photos of a minor.” (Emphasis added)
[Appellant’s] communications through third party applications,
including text messaging, that concerned the indecent photos of
a minor could reasonably have been recorded on any media ca-
pable of being transmitted by such applications. Accordingly,
“media” and their “records related to third party communication
applications” reasonably could be found in the “videos” of the
UFED report because those videos reasonably could be attached
to text messages.[ 17] [Special Agent R] was reasonably searching
videos on the UFED extraction pursuant to a properly scoped
the second written search authorization was the Government’s attempt to cure any
deficiency in the first written search authorization. We do not necessarily disagree;
however, given our ruling, we do not believe the second written search authorization
was necessary. Further, Appellee argues that trial defense counsel did not challenge
that the second written search was unconstitutional, and as such, this court should
consider the issue waived, citing United States v. Blackburn, 80 M.J. 205, 209 (C.A.A.F.
2020) (citation omitted) (“Suppression arguments not raised at trial are waived under
[Mil. R. Evid.] 311(d)(2)(A).”). The Defense did not challenge the validity of the second
written search authorization in its motion to suppress, and the military judge did not
address the lawfulness of the second written search authorization in his ruling. Appel-
lee argues this court should consider this issue regarding the second written authori-
zation waived. We agree that Appellant waived this issue.
17 The military judge, in a note in his ruling, found, “In fact, the masturbation video’s
file path, identified in the UFED report as a ‘video,’ indicated it was transmitted via
MMS text message.”
13
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
search authorization when he saw the masturbation video. The
masturbation video was therefore in plain view.
2. Law
a. Standard of Review
We review a military judge’s ruling on a motion to suppress for an abuse of
discretion, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing
party. United States v. Hoffmann, 75 M.J. 120, 124 (C.A.A.F. 2016) (citation
omitted). A military judge abuses his discretion when: (1) his findings of fact
are clearly erroneous; (2) he applies incorrect legal principles; or (3) his “appli-
cation of the correct legal principles to the facts is clearly unreasonable.”
United States v. Ellis, 68 M.J. 341, 344 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (citing United States v.
Mackie, 66 M.J. 198, 199 (C.A.A.F. 2008)). “The abuse of discretion standard is
a strict one, calling for more than a mere difference of opinion. The challenged
action must be arbitrary, fanciful, clearly unreasonable, or clearly erroneous.”
Solomon, 72 M.J. at 179 (citation omitted).
b. Probable Cause and Search Authorizations
The Fourth Amendment guarantees “[t]he right of the people to be secure
in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches
and seizures, shall not be violated.” U.S. CONST. amend IV. It requires war-
rants and search authorizations to particularly describe the place to be
searched and things to be seized so that the search will be “carefully tailored
to its justifications.” Maryland v. Garrison, 480 U.S. 79, 84 (1987).
“The Fourth Amendment requires that a search warrant describe the
things to be seized with sufficient particularity to prevent a general explora-
tory rummaging in a person’s belongings.” United States v. Richards, 76 M.J.
365, 369 (C.A.A.F. 2017) (citing United States v. Carey, 172 F.3d 1268, 1272
(10th Cir. 1999)). However, “the proper metric of sufficient specificity is
whether it was reasonable to provide a more specific description of the items
at that juncture of the investigation.” Id. (citing United States v. Richards, 659
F.3d 527, 541 (6th Cir. 2011)). “[I]t is folly for a search warrant to attempt to
structure the mechanics of the search and a warrant imposing such limits
would unduly restrict legitimate search objectives.” Id. (citing United States v.
Burgess, 576 F.3d 1078, 1094–95 (10th Cir. 2009)). The CAAF went on state in
Richards,
In charting how to apply the Fourth Amendment to searches of
electronic devices, we glean from our reading of the case law a
zone in which such searches are expansive enough to allow in-
vestigators access to places where incriminating materials may
be hidden, yet not so broad that they become the sort of free-for-
14
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
all general searches the Fourth Amendment was designed to
prevent.
On one hand, it is clear that because criminals can—and often
do—hide, mislabel, or manipulate files to conceal criminal activ-
ity, a broad, expansive search of the hard drive may be re-
quired . . . . On the other hand, . . . granting the Government a
carte blanche to search every file on the hard drive impermissibly
transforms a “limited search into a general one.” United States
v. Stabile, 633 F.3d 219, 237 (3d Cir. 2011) (citations omitted).
Id. at 370.
Data stored within a cell phone falls within the Fourth Amendment’s pro-
tection. United States v. Wicks, 73 M.J. 93, 99 (C.A.A.F. 2014).
Appellant argues there was no probable cause to search for videos on Ap-
pellant’s phone. Under Mil. R. Evid. 315(f)(1), a military search authorization
“must be based upon probable cause.” Probable cause exists when there is a
reasonable belief that the person, property, or evidence sought is located in the
place to be searched. Mil. R. Evid. 315(f)(2). “Reasonable minds frequently may
differ on the question whether a particular affidavit establishes probable
cause, and we have thus concluded that the preference for warrants is most
appropriately effectuated by according great deference to a magistrate’s deter-
mination.” United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897, 914 (1984) (internal quotation
marks and citations omitted). “Close calls will be resolved in favor of sustaining
the magistrate’s decision.” United States v. Monroe, 52 M.J. 326, 331 (C.A.A.F.
2000) (quoting United States v. Maxwell, 45 M.J. 406, 423 (C.A.A.F. 1996)).
A search authorization should not be found invalid by analyzing the under-
lying affidavit “in a hypertechnical, rather than a commonsense, manner.”
United States v. Clayton, 68 M.J. 419, 423 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (quoting Illinois v.
Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 236 (1983)). “[T]he ultimate touchstone of the Fourth
Amendment is ‘reasonableness.’” Brigham City v. Stuart, 547 U.S. 398, 403
(2006) (citations omitted). In assessing the reasonableness of a search, we
weigh the degree of the intrusion of the person’s privacy against the degree to
which the search promotes a legitimate governmental interest. United States
v. Gurczynski, 76 M.J. 381, 386 (C.A.A.F. 2017) (citing Riley v. California, 573
U.S. 373, 385 (2014)).
When reviewing a search authorization, we “do not review a probable cause
determination de novo;” rather we assess whether “the authorizing official had
a ‘substantial basis’ for finding probable cause.” Hoffmann, 75 M.J. at 125 (ci-
tation omitted). “A substantial basis exists ‘when, based on the totality of the
circumstances, a common-sense judgment would lead to the conclusion that
there is a fair probability that evidence of a crime will be found at the identified
15
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
location.’” United States v. Nieto, 76 M.J. 101, 105 (C.A.A.F. 2017) (quoting
United States v. Rogers, 67 M.J. 162, 165 (C.A.A.F. 2009)). We give “great def-
erence” to the magistrate’s probable cause determination because of “the
Fourth Amendment’s strong preference for searches conducted pursuant to a
warrant.” Id. However, this deference is “not boundless,” and a reviewing court
may conclude that “the magistrate’s probable-cause determination reflected an
improper analysis of the totality of the circumstances.” Id. (citing Leon, 468
U.S. at 915). Probable cause requires the demonstration of “a sufficient nexus
between the alleged crime and the specific item to be seized.” Id. at 106. (cita-
tions omitted). In conducting this review, we look to the information that the
authorizing official had at the time he made his decision. United States v. Cow-
gill, 68 M.J. 388, 391 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (citations omitted).
We ordinarily afford the magistrate’s determination of probable cause great
deference, but we recognize three exceptions to this general rule: (1) when the
affidavit upon which the determination was based was prepared with knowing
or reckless falsity; (2) when the magistrate is not neutral and detached or is
serving as “a rubber stamp” for the police; or (3) when the affidavit fails to
provide a substantial basis for a finding of probable cause or the determination
is “a mere ratification of the bare conclusions of others.” United States v.
Carter, 54 M.J. 414, 419 (C.A.A.F. 2001) (quoting Leon, 468 U.S. at 914–15).
Searches conducted after obtaining a warrant or authorization based on
probable cause are presumptively reasonable whereas warrantless searches
are presumptively unreasonable unless they fall within “a few specifically es-
tablished and well-delineated exceptions.” Hoffmann, 75 M.J. at 123–24 (inter-
nal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Wicks, 73 M.J. at 99).
Riley v. California is a seminal case addressing cell phones. “[M]odern cell
phones . . . are now such a pervasive and insistent part of daily life that the
proverbial visitor from Mars might conclude they were an important feature of
human anatomy. . . . [as] a significant majority of American adults now own
such phones.” 573 U.S. at 385. The Supreme Court went on to explain,
Modern cell phones are not just another technological conven-
ience. With all they contain and all they may reveal, they hold
for many Americans “the privacies of life.” The fact that technol-
ogy now allows an individual to carry such information in his
hand does not make the information any less worthy of the pro-
tection for which the Founders fought.
Id. at 403 (citation omitted).
In United States v. Osorio, this court addressed requirements regarding
search warrants for computers—and by extension for stored electronic or digi-
tal media—when evidence of another crime is discovered, stating,
16
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
[T]here must be specificity in the scope of the warrant which, in
turn, mandates specificity in the process of conducting the
search. Practitioners must generate specific warrants and
search processes necessary to comply with that specificity and
then, if they come across evidence of a different crime, stop their
search and seek a new authorization.
66 M.J. 632, 637 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2008).
c. Unlawful Searches and Good Faith
Evidence obtained as a result of an unlawful search is inadmissible against
the accused if the accused: (1) makes a timely objection; (2) has an adequate
interest, such as a reasonable expectation of privacy, in the person, place, or
property searched; and (3) exclusion of such evidence “results in appreciable
deterrence of future unlawful searches . . . and the benefits of such deterrence
outweigh the costs to the justice system.” Mil. R. Evid. 311(a)(3).
For the good faith exception to apply, the Government must establish that
law enforcement’s reliance on a defective authorization is “objectively reason-
able.” Hoffmann, 75 M.J. at 127. The Government has the burden of establish-
ing by a preponderance of the evidence the following: (1) the seizure resulted
from a search and seizure authorization issued, in relevant part, by a magis-
trate; (2) the magistrate had a substantial basis for determining probable
cause existed; and (3) law enforcement reasonably and in good faith relied on
the authorization. Mil. R. Evid. 311(c)(3), (d)(5)(A); Nieto, 76 M.J. at 107; see
also Carter, 54 M.J. at 420 (citation omitted).
The second requirement of “substantial basis” is met if the person execut-
ing the search “had an objectively reasonable belief that the magistrate had a
‘substantial basis’ for determining the existence of probable cause.” Perkins, 78
M.J. 381, 387 (quoting Carter, 54 M.J. at 422). The question is “‘whether a
reasonably well trained officer would have known that the search was illegal’
in light of ‘all of the circumstances.’” Herring v. United States, 555 U.S. 135,
145 (2009) (quoting Leon, 468 U.S. at 922 n.23). We further “consider the ob-
jective reasonableness, not only of the officers who eventually executed a war-
rant, but also of the officers who originally obtained it or who provided infor-
mation material to the probable-cause determination.” Leon, 468 U.S. at 923
n.24.
The United States Supreme Court has identified four circumstances in
which the “good faith exception” will not apply: (1) where the magistrate “was
misled by information in an affidavit that the affiant knew was false or would
have known was false except for his reckless disregard of the truth;” (2) where
the magistrate “wholly abandoned his judicial role;” (3) where the warrant was
17
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
based on an affidavit “so lacking in indicia of probable cause as to render offi-
cial belief in its existence entirely unreasonable;” and (4) where the warrant is
so “facially deficient . . . in failing to particularize the place to be searched or
the things to be seized . . . that the executing officers cannot reasonably pre-
sume it to be valid.” Id. at 923 (citations omitted). The United States Court of
Appeals for the Armed Forces has harmonized these four exceptions with the
three requirements under Mil. R. Evid. 311(c)(3) by finding Leon’s first and
third exceptions to be incorporated in Mil. R. Evid. 311(c)(3)’s second prong
(magistrate having a substantial basis) and Leon’s second and fourth excep-
tions to be incorporated in Mil. R. Evid. 311(c)(3)’s third prong (good faith reli-
ance on the search authorization). Carter, 54 M.J. at 421.
The Supreme Court spoke in detail on application of the exclusionary rule
in Herring. The Court stated,
The fact that a Fourth Amendment violation occurred—i.e., that
a search or arrest was unreasonable—does not necessarily mean
that the exclusionary rule applies. Indeed, exclusion “has always
been our last resort, not our first impulse,” and our precedents
establish important principles that constrain application of the
exclusionary rule. . . . [T]he exclusionary rule is not an individ-
ual right and applies only where it “result[s] in appreciable de-
terrence.” We have repeatedly rejected the argument that exclu-
sion is a necessary consequence of a Fourth Amendment viola-
tion. Instead we have focused on the efficacy of the rule in deter-
ring Fourth Amendment violations in the future.
555 U.S. at 140−41 (second alteration in original) (internal quotation marks
and citations omitted).
Regarding the deterrence of future unlawful searches, the benefits “must
outweigh the costs.” The Supreme Court has
never suggested that the exclusionary rule must apply in every
circumstance in which it might provide marginal deterrence.
[T]o the extent that application of the exclusionary rule could
provide some incremental deterrent, that possible benefit must
be weighed against [its] substantial social costs. The principal
cost of applying the rule is, of course, letting guilty and possibly
dangerous defendants go free—something that offends basic
concepts of the criminal justice system. [T]he rule’s costly toll
upon truth-seeking and law enforcement objectives presents a
high obstacle for those urging [its] application.
Id. at 141−42 (alterations in original) (internal quotation marks and citations
omitted).
18
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
d. Plain View
The plain view doctrine may “not be used to extend a general exploratory
search from one object to another until something incriminating at last
emerges.” Arizona v. Hicks, 480 U.S. 321, 328 (1987) (citing Coolidge v. New
Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443, 466 (1971)). Under Horton v. California, 496 U.S.
128, 136–37 (1990), in order for the plain view exception to apply: (1) the officer
must not violate the Fourth Amendment in arriving at the spot from which the
incriminating materials can be plainly viewed; (2) the incriminating character
of the materials must be immediately apparent; and (3) the officer must have
lawful access to the object itself.
3. Analysis
We find that the facts articulated in the military judge’s ruling on the mo-
tion to suppress were not clearly erroneous, and we find that his conclusions of
law are correct.
Acting on information obtained from Appellant’s wife on 26 August 2016,
AFOSI agents sought a verbal authorization from a military magistrate to
seize Appellant’s phone. Additionally, the agents were granted authorization
to search the entire phone for any media or communications on the phone re-
lated to child pornography or sexual abuse of a child. We agree with the mili-
tary judge that the military magistrate had a substantial basis for finding
probable cause to grant the seizure and search of the phone. Even though the
agents provided the magistrate with limited, yet specific, known facts, all of
which came from Appellant’s wife, there was no evidence challenging the cred-
ibility of the information.
Where this issue turns is the actual search of the phone in September 2016,
and whether it was reasonable for agents to search in the videos folder. We
believe it was. When searching the folder, agents relied on the verbal authori-
zation, which allowed them to look at all “media.” The military judge found the
first written search authorization did not limit or otherwise curtail the author-
ity verbally granted on 26 August 2016.
Appellant tries to make the distinction between images and videos. We rec-
ognize some would view videos as being different from images; even the Gov-
ernment made this distinction in its second written search authorization.
Whether there is a distinction or not, does not affect this court’s analysis of this
issue; videos are a series of still images.
We also do not find any issues with specificity. Had the military magistrate
authorized a blanket search of the entire phone, given the limited number of
facts presented, specificity would be a concern. Here, the search was limited to
19
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
media relating to the MeetMe application, and again, we agree with the mili-
tary judge in that it was reasonable to search the videos folder, given the types
of files that can be transmitted through that third-party application. Special
Agent JR was searching in the videos folder pursuant to a properly scoped
search authorization when he saw the masturbation video, and as such, we do
not find the military judge’s conclusion that Special Agent JR found the video
in “plain view while reasonably conducting a lawful search” was erroneous. 18
The military judge found that even if the video of Appellant masturbating
was obtained as the result of an unlawful search, the search of Appellant’s
phone was conducted pursuant to a properly issued search authorization by a
military magistrate, the military magistrate had a substantial basis upon
which to find probable cause, and the agents relied on good faith based on the
verbal and written search authorizations in conducting their search of Appel-
lant’s phone. The testimony by the agents shows that based on their training
and experience, they believed they could search the entire phone for all media
types, which would have included videos. Having found a proper application of
Mil. R. Evid. 311(c)(3), we find that the military judge did not abuse his discre-
tion in admitting the video at issue. 19
C. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claim
1. Additional Background
Appellant asserts that trial defense counsel committed numerous pre-trial
errors, which cumulatively deprived him of the effective assistance of counsel.
18
While we find the search authorization in this case lawful, it was not the model of
clarity. The confusion over the exact terms and parameters of the military magistrate’s
oral authorization highlights the danger of using an oral, rather than a written, au-
thorization to search. The oral and written authorizations were somewhat incon-
sistent: the oral search authorization mentions images, the first written search author-
ization does not mention images, and the second written search authorization men-
tions images and videos.
19
Even if this court found the military judge erred and the video was subject to being
excluded, applying the Mil. R. Evid. 311(a)(3) balancing test, we agree with the mili-
tary judge’s conclusion that “no appreciable deterrence of future unlawful searches and
seizures would result from the exclusion” of the video. The agents could have been
more specific and consistent in the verbal and first written search authorization about
what media they could search. However, in this case exclusion of a sexually themed
video found while searching for sexually themed “photographs” in a videos folder that
could contain videos sent via MeetMe is a remedy unlikely to generate more specificity
and consistency in future verbal and follow-up written authorizations. We agree with
the military judge’s conclusion that “there is no valid policy reason for imposing” such
a “drastic sanction.” We find agents did not act recklessly and exclusion of this evidence
would not deter agents from conducting unlawful searches.
20
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
Specifically, Appellant argues his trial defense counsel failed to: (1) impeach
false testimony provided by KT regarding her motive for moving to Alaska to
live with her grandparents in 2017; (2) impeach KT with her prior falsehoods
to law enforcement regarding that motive; (3) object to “irrelevant,” “specula-
tive,” and “highly prejudicial” testimony regarding the supposed pregnancy
test KT took in Pensacola, Florida; (4) move to sever Charge I for a violation of
Article 120, UCMJ (specifically related to KT), from Charge II for a violation
of Article 134, UCMJ (Appellant’s masturbation at work), which resulted in
manifest injustice; (5) disagree with the military judge that Appellant at-
tempted to engage in lewd communication with a minor; and (6) take ad-
vantage of the military judge’s offer to provide the Defense with extra time to
make a new argument under Mil. R. Evid. 414, which presented a “radical
change in the evidentiary landscape” of the trial. With respect to assertions (5)
and (6), these matters occurred during motion hearings.
Trial defense counsel cross-examined KT at length at trial. His questioning
challenged KT’s ability to accurately perceive things that happened to her; ad-
dressed her “vivid dreams;” brought forth an inconsistency about whether she
had been raped once or twice; and challenged her various disclosures, or lack
thereof, of information to AFOSI that related to Appellant digitally penetrating
her, undergoing a pregnancy test, and why she did not tell her mother about
what she alleged happened to her. However, KT told the court there was no
doubt that Appellant touched her breasts, genitals, buttocks, groin and inner
thigh; that he digitally penetrated her vagina; and that he raped her more than
once when she was ten years old. KT also stated that at the time of trial, it had
been three or four years since she had seen Appellant, and the last time she
saw Appellant was when he picked up RM while they were in Jacksonville,
Florida. She did not talk to Appellant at this time.
During deliberations, the panel president had two questions for KT. Those
questions were aimed at (1) whether she was aware of an investigation or al-
legations against Appellant, and (2) a description of the events that led her to
disclose her allegations to investigators. In a closed court session, KT was re-
called to testify, and based on her responses, the military judge allowed her to
answer those questions. KT told the members that she was not aware of the
investigation, and that she experienced a “traumatic incident,” which is why
she ended up moving to Alaska to live with her grandparents in 2017. 20 Soon
after, she found a therapist that she felt comfortable talking to about Appel-
lant’s conduct. The panel president told the military judge they were “strug-
gling” with the “traumatic experience.” The military judge advised the panel
president that the Military Rules of Evidence precluded that evidence from
20 Details of the “traumatic event” were raised before the military judge in motions.
21
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
being presented, and that the “traumatic event was not related to the events
in this case.”
In response to Appellant’s claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, we
ordered and received declarations from Appellant’s trial defense counsel, Major
(Maj) NA and Maj RM, which refute each of Appellant’s claims. 21
2. Law
We review allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel de novo. United
States v. Gooch, 69 M.J. 353, 362 (C.A.A.F. 2011) (citing United States v.
Mazza, 67 M.J. 470, 474 (C.A.A.F. 2009)). In order for an appellant to prevail
on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, he must demonstrate that coun-
sel’s performance was deficient and that the deficiency resulted in prejudice.
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984).
We employ a presumption of competence, and apply a three-part test in
assessing whether that presumption has been overcome: (1) “Is there a reason-
able explanation for counsel’s actions?;” (2) “Did defense counsel’s level of ad-
vocacy ‘fall measurably below the performance . . . [ordinarily expected] of fal-
lible lawyers’?;” and (3) “[I]f defense counsel was ineffective, is there ‘a reason-
able probability that, absent the errors,’ there would have been a different re-
sult?” Gooch, 69 M.J. at 362 (omission and alteration in original) (quoting
United States v. Polk, 32 M.J. 150, 153 (C.M.A. 1991)).
“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.” United States v. Datavs, 71 M.J. 420, 424 (C.A.A.F. 2012)
(citing Gooch, 69 M.J. at 362–63) (additional citation omitted). In reviewing
the decisions and actions of trial defense counsel, this court does not second-
guess strategic or tactical decisions. See United States v. Morgan, 37 M.J. 407,
410 (C.M.A. 1993) (citations omitted). It is only in those limited circumstances
where a purported “strategic” or “deliberate” decision is unreasonable or based
on inadequate investigation that it can provide the foundation for a finding of
ineffective assistance. See United States v. Davis, 60 M.J. 469, 474 (C.A.A.F.
2005).
Under Rule for Courts-Martial (R.C.M.) 906(b)(10), a severance of offenses
may be requested by appropriate motion, but “only to prevent a manifest in-
justice.” To determine whether severance is required to prevent manifest in-
21 Since the issue was raised in the record but was not fully resolvable by those mate-
rials, the affidavits submitted by the Government and Appellant were considered con-
sistent with United States v. Jessie, 79 M.J. 437, 444 (C.A.A.F. 2020).
22
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
justice, the court considers whether the findings reflect an impermissible spill-
over of prejudice from one charge to the other; whether the evidence of one
offense would be admissible proof of the other; and whether the military judge
provided a proper limiting instruction. United States v. Curtis, 44 M.J. 106,
128 (C.A.A.F. 1996). The military justice system encourages the joinder of all
known offenses at one trial, and permits a motion for “severance of offenses by
the military judge, ‘but only to prevent manifest injustice.’” United States v.
Southworth, 50 M.J. 74, 76 (C.A.A.F. 1999) (quoting R.C.M. 906(b)(10)). “In
general, ‘an abuse of discretion will be found only where the defendant is able
to show that the denial of a severance caused him actual prejudice in that it
prevented him from receiving a fair trial; it is not enough that separate trials
may have provided him with a better opportunity for an acquittal.’” United
States v. Duncan, 53 M.J. 494, 497–98 (2000) (quoting United States v. Alexan-
der, 135 F.3d 470, 477 (7th Cir. 1998)).
3. Analysis
We disagree with Appellant’s claim that trial defense counsel were ineffec-
tive. Appellant’s counsel articulated a sound strategy regarding their impeach-
ment of KT about her “traumatic incident,” as they were concerned about open-
ing doors that could damage Appellant’s case. Maj NA asserted that while KT’s
statements about the incident contained some inconsistencies, the evidence
surrounding that event suggested “something significant, did, in fact, happen
to her.” Furthermore, Maj NA stated that, based on pretrial interviews, there
was evidence to corroborate that the “traumatic” event led KT to move to
Alaska. Trial defense counsel strategically chose to not cross examine KT about
this issue because they did not want to open the door to the Prosecution intro-
ducing further evidence of the incident, which would garner sympathy with the
members. Furthermore, trial defense counsel was concerned that if the door
was opened for the Prosecution to introduce evidence about the incident, cou-
pled with evidence of KT’s inconsistencies when recounting that event, the
members would be more willing to overlook KT’s inconsistencies when recount-
ing the events of the instant case, thus weakening a key aspect of the defense
strategy.
As for the allegation that trial defense counsel failed to impeach KT with
her prior falsehoods to law enforcement about the “traumatic incident,” Maj
NA again asserted that this was a strategic decision. Maj NA noted that there
was, in fact, physical evidence of the incident, and that introducing this evi-
dence would “cut against the defense’s theory more than it helped.” Maj NA
further stated after he discussed this issue with their appointed forensic psy-
chologist, trial defense counsel made a tactical decision to avoid this line of
questioning to prevent opening the door to “testimony that discussed how ther-
apy for a recent trauma could, in some circumstances, lead to discussions about
23
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
past trauma.” We do not find that trial defense counsel were ineffective in their
efforts to impeach KT.
Appellant argues KT’s testimony regarding her pregnancy test was entirely
speculative and highly prejudicial, and that trial defense counsel’s cross-exam-
ination on this issue was ineffective. We disagree. KT testified she felt she
needed to take a pregnancy test after Appellant raped her. Either the testi-
mony is true or false, but it is not speculative. Further, trial defense counsel
confronted KT on this issue, highlighted her inconsistencies, and asked ques-
tions about her failure to disclose anything about the test to AFOSI agents.
Further, because AP’s testimony contradicted KT’s testimony regarding the
circumstances surrounding the pregnancy test, Maj NA declared that during
closing argument he “emphasized [an] alternate theory about the pregnancy
test and the other inconsistencies related to the testimony.” Whether the tes-
timony of KT and AP was credible was an issue for the members to decide.
Based on review of the record we do not find trial defense counsel was ineffec-
tive on this issue.
Appellant argues that trial defense counsel should have moved to sever
Charge II from Charge I, and having to defend against both Charge I and
Charge II at the same trial led to a manifest injustice. Appellant argues that
the only reason Charge II was joined with Charge I “was for its prejudicial
effect,” and that Charge II contained “patently bad character evidence.” How-
ever, Appellant only speculates how this resulted in an unfair trial. Given that
Appellant’s phone was a key piece of evidence for both charges, and that the
nature of both charges was sex-related, for simple purposes of judicial economy
it is unlikely a motion for severance would have been granted. Trial defense
counsel declared that instead of moving to sever the charges, and given the law
on this issue, they chose to focus on their evidentiary motions. The military
judge also properly provided members with a spillover instruction. We find
trial defense counsel’s explanation for why they did not seek to sever Charge
II from Charge I was reasonable, and we find Appellant suffered no manifest
injustice.
Appellant also argues that the evidence Appellant actually attempted to
engage in lewd communications was ambiguous, but trial defense counsel con-
ceded that Appellant believed he was communicating with a 15-year-old child.
He further argued this allowed the military judge to make an “uncontested
finding” regarding whether Appellant committed a prior act of child molesta-
tion. To the contrary, the record shows the Defense repeatedly argued to ex-
clude this evidence under Mil. R. Evid. 414. Maj NA also stated the Defense
did not concede that Appellant had attempted to engage in lewd communica-
tions with a minor, but “continued to assert that, due to the speculative nature
of the prosecution’s evidence, the court could not properly find that an ‘other
24
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
offense’ of child molestation under Mil. R. Evid. 414 had been committed.” Maj
RM stated “the defense continuously raised the argument with the military
judge about the highly speculative nature of this evidence” given that it was
never known with whom Appellant had been conversing. Nonetheless, the rec-
ord shows trial defense counsel did acknowledge there was probable cause to
search Appellant’s phone as a result of Appellant’s confession to his wife. How-
ever, the record also shows trial defense counsel provided strong arguments as
to the speculative nature of the resulting evidence, particularly regarding the
identities of “Sam” and her “father,” even in light of the fact that Appellant
admitted to his wife that he had been communicating with a 15-year-old girl,
and the evidence associated with his communication. While we do not find that
trial defense counsel were ineffective on this issue, even if they had been inef-
fective, we do not believe there is a reasonable probability there would have
been a different result on this issue.
Finally, Appellant contends his trial counsel did not take advantage of the
military judge’s offer to provide the Defense with extra time to make a new
argument under Mil. R. Evid. 414, which presented a “radical change in the
evidentiary landscape” of the trial, and this extra time “may have brought a
different result” to the trial. We find no merit to this assertion. Initially, the
Government intended to offer the evidence related to “Sam” under Mil. R. Evid.
404(b). However, after arraignment, trial counsel informed the military judge
that they were seeking admission of the evidence under Mil. R. Evid. 414, as
an offense of child molestation under Article 120, UCMJ. Trial defense counsel,
being familiar with the offenses at issue and the evidence in the case, deemed
an extended recess was not necessary, and that they were fully able to address
the Government’s new argument without additional delay. Appellant has
failed to demonstrate a delay would have or could have resulted in a different
result.
Trial defense counsel could have chosen a different strategy on each of
these issues; however, the record shows their trial strategy on each point in
this case was not unreasonable, especially given their valid concerns about
opening doors that could have negatively impacted Appellant’s case, the cur-
rent state of the law, and the military judge’s ruling on their motions. Their
preparation, motions filings, cross-examination, and strategy brought relevant
information to the attention of the panel, and actually led to some allegations
being withdrawn. 22 We evaluate trial defense counsel’s performance not by the
22
A specification charged under Article 120, UCMJ, and two specifications under Ar-
ticle 134, UCMJ, were also withdrawn and dismissed after arraignment.
25
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
success of their strategy, “but rather whether counsel made . . . objectively rea-
sonable choice[s] in strategy from the alternatives available at the
[trial].” Dewrell, 55 M.J. at 136 (quoting United States v. Hughes, 48 M.J. 700,
718 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 1998), aff’d, 52 M.J. 278 (C.A.A.F. 2000)). Under these
circumstances, Appellant fails to overcome the strong presumption that coun-
sel’s performance was within the wide range of reasonable professional assis-
tance.
D. Legal and Factual Sufficiency as to Charge I and its Specifications
1. Law
A Court of Criminal Appeals may affirm only such findings of guilty “as it
finds correct in law and fact and determines, on the basis of the entire record,
should be approved.” Article 66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866(c). “Article 66(c) re-
quires the Courts of Criminal Appeals to conduct a de novo review of legal and
factual sufficiency of the case.” United States v. Washington, 57 M.J. 394, 399
(C.A.A.F. 2002) (emphasis and citation omitted).
“The test for legal sufficiency is whether, after viewing the evidence in the
light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have
found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” United
States v. Robinson, 77 M.J. 294, 297–98 (C.A.A.F. 2018) (quoting United States
v. Rosario, 76 M.J. 114, 117 (C.A.A.F. 2017)). “The term reasonable doubt, how-
ever, does not mean that the evidence must be free from conflict.” United States
v. Wheeler, 76 M.J. 564, 568 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2017) (citing United States v.
Lips, 22 M.J. 679, 684 (A.F.C.M.R. 1986)), aff’d, 77 M.J. 289 (C.A.A.F. 2018).
“[I]n resolving questions of legal sufficiency, we are bound to draw every rea-
sonable 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) (citations omitted).
As a result, “[t]he standard for legal sufficiency involves a very low threshold
to sustain a conviction.” United States v. King, 78 M.J. 218, 221 (C.A.A.F. 2019)
(alteration in original) (citation omitted), cert. denied, __ U.S. __, 139 S. Ct.
1641 (2019).
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 the [appellant]’s guilt beyond a rea-
sonable doubt.” United States v. Reed, 54 M.J. 37, 41 (C.A.A.F. 2000) (quoting
United States v. Turner, 25 M.J. 324, 325 (C.M.A. 1987)). “In conducting this
unique appellate role, we take ‘a fresh, impartial look at the evidence,’ applying
‘neither a presumption of innocence nor a presumption of guilt’ to ‘make [our]
own independent determination as to whether the evidence constitutes proof
of each required element beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Wheeler, 76 M.J. at 568
26
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
(alteration in original) (quoting Washington, 57 M.J. at 399). This court’s re-
view of the factual sufficiency of evidence for findings is limited to the evidence
admitted at trial. Article 66(c), UCMJ; United States v. Beatty, 64 M.J. 456,
458 (C.A.A.F. 2007) (citations omitted).
For his offenses against KT, Appellant was convicted of one specification of
aggravated sexual contact with a child, in violation of Article 120, UCMJ, 10
U.S.C. § 920 (Manual for Courts-Martial, United States (2016 ed.) (2016
MCM), App. 28, ¶ 45.a.(g) at A28-2, and two specifications of the rape of a child
under 12 years of age, in violation of Article 120, UCMJ (2016 MCM), App. 28,
¶ 45.a.(b) at A28-1. For the aggravated sexual contact specification, 23 this re-
quired the Prosecution to prove two elements beyond a reasonable doubt: (1)
that Appellant engaged in sexual contact with KT; and (2) that at the time of
the sexual contact, KT had not attained the age of twelve years. See 2016 MCM,
App. 28, ¶ 45.b.(7)(a) at A28-7. Sexual contact is defined as
the intentional touching, either directly or through the clothing, of
the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks of another
person, or intentionally causing another person to touch, either di-
rectly or through the clothing, the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, in-
ner thigh, or buttocks of any person, with an intent to abuse, humil-
iate, or degrade any person or to arouse or gratify the sexual desire
of any person.
2016 MCM, App. 28, ¶ 45.a.(t)(2) at A28-3.
For the rape of a child under 12 years of age, this required the Prosecution
to prove two elements beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) that Appellant engaged
in a sexual act with a child; and (2) that at the time of the sexual act, KT had
not attained the age of twelve years. 24 See 2016 MCM, App. 28, ¶ 45.b.(2)(a) at
A28-5. The term “sexual act” means
(A) contact between the penis and the vulva, and for purposes of this
subparagraph contact involving the penis occurs upon penetration,
however slight; or
23 Specification 1 of Charge I alleged Appellant committed aggravated sexual contact
of KT by touching her breasts, inner thighs, buttocks, genitalia, and groin with his
hands.
24Specification 3 of Charge I alleged Appellant raped KT by penetrating her genital
opening with his finger; Specification 4 of the same charge alleged Appellant raped KT
by penetrating her vulva with his penis on divers occasions.
27
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
(B) the penetration, however slight, of the genital opening of another
by a hand or finger or by any object, with an intent to abuse, humil-
iate, harass, or degrade any person or to arouse or gratify the sexual
desire of any person.
2016 MCM, App. 28, ¶ 45.a.(t)(1)(A), (B) at A28-3. 25
2. Analysis
Appellant’s primary argument against factual sufficiency is that there was
no physical evidence to support the findings. In fact, there was no physical
evidence, no other witnesses to Appellant’s crimes, and little to corroborate
KT’s testimony about the details of the offenses. As such, the strength of the
Government’s proof rested on KT’s credibility and demeanor at trial. As the
Supreme Court noted in Weiler v. United States:
In gauging the truth of conflicting evidence, a jury has no simple
formulation of weights and measures upon which to rely. The
touchstone is always credibility; the ultimate measure of testi-
monial worth is quality and not quantity. Triers of fact in our
fact-finding tribunals are, with rare exceptions, free in the exer-
cise of their honest judgment, to prefer the testimony of a single
witness to that of many.
323 U.S. 606, 608 (1945). This court will not speculate as to what facts in KT’s
testimony led to the panel’s determination of Appellant’s guilt; however, in as-
sessing legal sufficiency, we are limited to the evidence produced at trial and
are required to consider it in the light most favorable to the Government. KT
testified that Appellant penetrated her vagina with his penis on two occasions
and with his finger, and also touched her breasts, inner thighs, buttocks, gen-
italia, and groin with his hand. We conclude a rational factfinder could have
found beyond a reasonable doubt all the elements to support Appellant’s con-
victions of sexual assault against KT. Furthermore, in assessing factual suffi-
ciency, after weighing all the evidence in the record of trial and having made
allowances for not having personally observed the witnesses, we are convinced
25Although there was no evidence contradicting that KT was under the age of 12 when
the offenses occurred, in a prosecution for violation of 10 U.S.C. § 920(b) or 10 U.S.C.
§ 920(g), it need not be proven that an appellant knew that the other person engaging
in the sexual act, contact, or liberty had not attained the age of 12 years, nor is it an
affirmative defense that an appellant reasonably believe the other person had attained
the age of 12 years. See 2016 MCM, App. 28, at A28–2.
28
United States v. Michalec, No. ACM 39771
of Appellant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, we find Appellant’s
convictions of sexual assault against KT both legally and factually sufficient.
III. CONCLUSION
The findings and the sentence are correct in law and fact, and no error ma-
terially prejudicial to the substantial rights of Appellant occurred. Articles
59(a) and 66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 859(a), 866(c). 26 Accordingly, the findings
and sentence are AFFIRMED.
FOR THE COURT
CAROL K. JOYCE
Clerk of the Court
26
When the president announced sentence, he stated Appellant was “to forfeit all pay
and allowances.” However, “total forfeitures” appears on the court-martial order. We
order promulgation of a new CMO.
29