United States v. Brown

U NITED S TATES AIR F ORCE
C OURT OF C RIMINAL APPEALS
________________________
No. ACM 39728
________________________
UNITED STATES
Appellee
v.
Jamie L. BROWN
Master Sergeant (E-7), U.S. Air Force, Appellant
________________________
Appeal from the United States Air Force Trial Judiciary
Decided 16 August 2021
________________________
Military Judge: Christina M. Jimenez.
Approved sentence: Dishonorable discharge, confinement for 34 months,
and reduction to E-4. Sentence adjudged 22 March 2019 by GCM con-
vened at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.
For Appellant: Major David A. Schiavone, USAF; Robert A. Feldmeier,
Esquire.
For Appellee: Lieutenant Colonel Brian C. Mason, USAF; Major Jessica
L. Delaney, USAF; Major Dayle P. Percle, USAF; Mary Ellen Payne,
Esquire.
Before JOHNSON, LEWIS, and CADOTTE, Appellate Military Judges.
Chief Judge JOHNSON delivered the opinion of the court, in which Sen-
ior Judge LEWIS and Judge CADOTTE joined.
________________________
This is an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as
precedent under AFCCA Rule of Practice and Procedure 30.4.
________________________
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
JOHNSON, Chief Judge:
A general court-martial composed of officer and enlisted members convicted
Appellant, contrary to his pleas, of one specification of attempted sexual as-
sault and one specification of sexual assault in violation of Articles 80 and 120,
Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. §§ 880, 920. 1,2 The court
members sentenced Appellant to a dishonorable discharge, confinement for 34
months, and reduction to the grade of E-4. The convening authority approved
the adjudged sentence but waived mandatory forfeitures for a period of six
months for the benefit of Appellant’s spouse and dependent children.
Appellant raises nine issues on appeal: (1) whether Appellant’s convictions
are legally and factually sufficient; (2) whether the military judge erred in
denying the Defense’s motion to sever charges; (3) whether the military judge
provided erroneous instructions on findings; (4) whether trial counsel’s closing
argument was improper; (5) whether trial defense counsel were ineffective; (6)
whether the military judge erred when she refused to permit the Defense to
confront the victim with evidence contained in the Sexual Assault Forensic Ex-
amination (SAFE) report; (7) whether the non-unanimous verdict violated Ap-
pellant’s Fifth Amendment 3 and Sixth Amendment 4 rights in light of Ramos v.
Louisiana, 140 S. Ct. 1390 (2020); (8) whether Appellant is entitled to relief for
unlawful post-trial punishment that is not raised in the record of trial and does
1 Unless otherwise noted, all references in this opinion to the UCMJ, Rules for Courts-
Martial, and Military Rules of Evidence are to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United
States (2016 ed.).
2 The attempted sexual assault of which the court-martial convicted Appellant was a
lesser-included offense of a second charged sexual assault in violation of Article 120,
UCMJ, of which the court-martial found Appellant not guilty. The court-martial also
found Appellant not guilty of two specifications of abusive sexual contact on a child
and one specification of indecent liberties with a child, in violation of Article 120,
UCMJ (Manual for Courts-Martial, United States (2008 ed.) (2008 MCM)), and four
specifications of battery upon a child under the age of 16 years, in violation of Article
128, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 928 (Manual for Courts-Martial, United States (2002 ed.), 2008
MCM, and Manual for Courts-Martial, United States (2012 ed.)).
3 U.S. CONST. amend. V.
4 U.S. CONST. amend. VI.
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United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
not amount to cruel or unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amend-
ment 5 or Article 55, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 855; 6 and (9) whether Appellant is
entitled to relief for unreasonable appellate delay.
We have carefully considered issues (7) and (8), and we find they warrant
neither further discussion nor relief. See United States v. Willman, ___ M.J.
___, No. 21-0030, 2021 CAAF LEXIS 697, at *6 (C.A.A.F. 21 Jul. 2021); United
States v. Jessie, 79 M.J. 437, 444–45 (C.A.A.F. 2020); United States v. Easton,
71 M.J. 168, 175 (C.A.A.F. 2012); United States v. Matias, 25 M.J. 356, 361
(C.M.A. 1987). As to the remaining issues, we find no error that materially
prejudiced Appellant’s substantial rights, and we affirm the findings and sen-
tence. 7
I. BACKGROUND
In June 2017, Appellant completed a one-year assignment at Kunsan Air
Base (AB), Republic of Korea. On 15 June 2017, Appellant was at the all-ranks
club on Kunsan AB when he was introduced to NM 8 by a mutual friend. NM
was a married female stationed at Osan AB, Republic of Korea, who frequently
visited her then-husband, Senior Airman (SrA) TM, 9 at Kunsan AB where he
was stationed. During their conversation, NM learned that Appellant was due
5 U.S. CONST. amend. VIII.
6 We have slightly reordered the issues presented in Appellant’s brief. Appellant per-
sonally asserts issues (7) and (8) pursuant to United States v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431(C.M.A. 1982).
7 Although not raised by Appellant, we note the convening authority erroneously failed
to state the reasons why he denied Appellant’s post-trial request that the reduction in
grade and automatic forfeitures be deferred until convening authority action on the
sentence pursuant to Articles 57(a)(2) and 58b(a)(1), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 857(a)(2),
858b(a)(1). See United States v. Sloan, 35 M.J. 4, 7 (C.M.A. 1992), overruled on other
grounds by United States v. Dinger, 77 M.J. 447, 453 (C.A.A.F. 2018); see also R.C.M.
1101(c)(3), Discussion (“If the request for deferment is denied, the basis for the denial
should be in writing and attached to the record of trial.”). The denial was recorded in
the staff judge advocate’s recommendation to the convening authority which was
served on the Defense, and the Defense did not object to the omission. Reviewing for
plain error, under the circumstances of this case, we find the omission did not materi-
ally prejudice Appellant’s substantial rights. See United States v. Scalo, 60 M.J. 435,
436 (C.A.A.F. 2005) (citations omitted).
8 NM was an active duty enlisted member of the Air Force in June 2017 and at the
time of Appellant’s trial.
9 NM and SrA TM were no longer married at the time of Appellant’s trial.
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United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
to leave Korea soon. Appellant invited NM and SrA TM to Appellant’s farewell
barbeque at Osan AB on Saturday, 17 June 2017. However, NM and SrA TM
remained at Kunsan AB that day and did not attend.
On 19 June 2017, Appellant was still at Osan AB awaiting his flight out of
Korea. NM was also back at Osan AB. That evening NM went to dinner at an
off-base restaurant with several co-workers, after which she and three of her
co-workers went to a bar to play pool. At 1955, NM sent Appellant a text mes-
sage which read, “So tell me you’re out on the sed[ 10] so I can get you a drink
for not making it Saturday.” Appellant and a friend, Technical Sergeant (TSgt)
JN, met NM at the bar where she was playing pool; however, Appellant and
TSgt JN soon left, apparently because Appellant was not on good terms with
the bartender. TSgt JN later invited NM to meet them at another club, which
she did, bringing her pool cue. NM did not previously know TSgt JN, but in the
course of the evening NM learned that TSgt JN had been deployed with her
husband SrA TM and they were acquaintances. Appellant, TSgt JN, and NM
later went to a hookah bar together.
At trial, NM estimated that over the course of the evening she consumed,
at a minimum, four or five soju drinks, 11 three or four shots of whiskey, three
or four shots of an alcoholic drink with unknown ingredients known as “Apple
Pie,” one shot of vodka, and perhaps more. Appellant and TSgt JN also drank
alcohol throughout the evening.
After leaving the hookah bar, Appellant, TSgt JN, and NM decided to go to
TSgt JN’s off-base apartment. At trial, NM did not fully recall how this decision
came about, but she testified:
I remember the conversation of [the 0100 hours] curfew coming
up, the fact that my dorm was on the other side of base. That
there weren’t going to be any taxis whenever I got through the
gate to get home. So it was going to be me walking back by my-
self.
NM explained that it was “[o]ver a mile” to walk from the gate to her dorm and
further testified, “I was in a safer place if I went with them to have somebody
to look after, make sure I would get to work on time, rather than trying to walk
home by myself because I don’t know what could happen.”
10 The abbreviation “SED” refers to the “Songtan Entertainment District,” an area with
numerous bars and clubs located outside the Osan AB main gate.
11 At trial, NM described soju as “Korean rice liquor” of variable strength, “commonly
mixed with other things.” TSgt JN described soju as “Korean rice vodka,” some varie-
ties of which were “unregulated” and “might be stronger than others.”
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United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
On the way to TSgt JN’s apartment, which was an approximately five-mi-
nute walk from the Osan AB main gate, the group stopped at a food truck to
buy food and at a convenience store where NM bought cigarettes and Appellant
and TSgt JN used the restroom. At trial, NM described her condition at this
point as “very, very fuzzy.” NM could not remember walking to TSgt JN’s
apartment. However, video introduced at trial from several security cameras
in TSgt JN’s apartment building depicted Appellant, TSgt JN, and NM walk-
ing through the building’s parking garage and into the rear elevator. In the
video, NM walks without apparent difficulty and appears to be conversing with
the others, and at one point slaps hands with TSgt JN in a “high-five.” NM
remembered going up in the apartment building’s elevator, entering the apart-
ment, taking off her shoes, going onto the balcony to smoke at one point, and
vomiting in TSgt JN’s bathroom twice.
The original plan was that Appellant would sleep in TSgt JN’s guest bed-
room and NM would sleep on the sofa. However, after NM vomited, Appellant
told TSgt JN he did not think NM should sleep on the couch. According to TSgt
JN’s testimony, when NM came out of the bathroom after vomiting, Appellant
took her into the guest bedroom. At that point, TSgt JN went into his bedroom
and went to sleep.
NM did not remember going into the bedroom. Her next memories were of
briefly awakening and falling asleep again a series of times. On the first occa-
sion, NM recalled waking up lying on her back and feeling that her shorts were
unbuttoned. Her next memory was of waking up again and feeling her shirt
had been removed. The next time NM woke up, she felt her arms were raised
over her head and her sports bra had been pulled up to her elbows. The next
time she awoke, she felt her hand had been moved onto a penis, which caused
a “jerk reaction” on her part to move her hand away. On the next occasion, NM
woke up and “jump[ed] because [she] felt a penis near [her] anus.” The next
time she awoke, NM was lying on her back and “felt what seemed to be like a
penis pressing up against [her] vagina.” NM testified “[i]t felt like” the “pres-
sure” was “beginning to be inserted into [her] vagina.” The next time she
awoke, she was still on her back and felt a “face in [her] vagina,” and specifi-
cally felt the warmth, moisture, and “heavy breathing” of a mouth, although
she did not recall penetration of her vagina at that point. NM did not know
how much time elapsed between each of these memories. NM testified that
throughout these occasions, her eyes remained closed and she could not see
anything; she felt she could not move or speak, and did not have “any control
over [her] body.”
NM awoke at approximately 0500 on 20 June 2017 wearing only her socks,
which had a spot of vomit on them. She still felt effects from the alcohol. Ap-
pellant was also in the room. NM found her clothes on the floor, hurriedly got
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United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
dressed, and told Appellant that she needed to leave. Appellant suggested they
go smoke together on the balcony. Instead, NM went to the bathroom, and
when she emerged Appellant was waiting for her and again requested she
smoke with him. Appellant seemed “adamant,” so NM went to smoke with him
on the balcony.
On the balcony, Appellant asked if NM wanted to talk about the prior night.
NM said she did not. Appellant responded, “Well, I think we should for my
safety.” Appellant then told NM that she “got hot, [she] took off all [her] clothes,
[she] started cuddling up next to him, and that [she] wanted to have sex.” NM
testified Appellant’s account was not consistent with what she remembered.
Moreover, NM testified that she would not have moved once she fell asleep
drunk, that she would not leave her socks on if she was hot, and that she did
not sleep naked. Appellant’s claims made her angry and upset. NM then left
the apartment, leaving behind her pool cue.
After she left the apartment, NM called her friend and co-worker, Staff
Sergeant (SSgt) GS. NM sounded to SSgt GS like she was crying and asked
SSgt GS to “cover” for her because she would be late to work. SSgt GS could
tell NM was off-base because of the traffic sounds; NM said she did not know
where she was, and SSgt GS helped her find her way back to the main gate.
SSgt GS met NM at the gate. NM was crying and shaking, “appeared sick,”
and was “holding her stomach.” SSgt GS later testified that NM kept repeating
words to the effect of, “I’m not that dumb. I’m not that stupid. I’m a married
woman.” They took a taxi back to their dormitory, where they sat outside and
smoked. NM was still crying and shaking and said little. NM tried to drink a
sports drink, but vomited again. Eventually, SSgt GS asked NM if she needed
to see the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), to which NM re-
sponded, “Yes.”
NM decided to shower before meeting with the SARC representative be-
cause she “smelled like vomit and alcohol.” While NM was in the shower she
made a video call to her husband, SrA TM, at approximately 0600. NM told
SrA TM an abbreviated account of her memory of what occurred at TSgt JN’s
apartment that was largely consistent with her later trial testimony. SrA TM
described NM’s voice as “very shaky” and crying. After the conversation, SrA
TM requested emergency leave and arrived at Osan AB later that day, where
he stayed with NM for several days.
NM met with a SARC representative that day, 20 June 2017. NM under-
went a Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) on 23 June 2017. Subse-
quent analysis by the United States Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory
(USACIL) of evidence collected during the SAFE revealed partial male DNA
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United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
profiles consistent with Appellant from swabs from NM’s vaginal wall and cer-
vix, 12 and a male DNA profile matching Appellant from NM’s underwear. Also
on 23 June 2017, NM met with agents of the Air Force Office of Special Inves-
tigations (AFOSI).
II. DISCUSSION
A. Legal and Factual Sufficiency
1. Law
We review issues of legal and factual sufficiency de novo. United States v.
Washington, 57 M.J. 394, 399 (C.A.A.F. 2002) (citation omitted). Our assess-
ment of legal and factual sufficiency is limited to evidence produced at trial.
United States v. Dykes, 38 M.J. 270, 272 (C.M.A. 1993) (citations 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)). “[T]he term ‘reasonable doubt’
does not mean that the evidence must be free from any conflict . . . .” United
States v. King, 78 M.J. 218 (C.A.A.F. 2018), cert. denied, __ U.S. __, 139 S. Ct.
1641 (2019) (citation omitted). “[I]n resolving questions of legal sufficiency, we
are 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) (citations omitted). Thus, “[t]he standard for legal sufficiency involves a
very low threshold to sustain a conviction.” King, 78 M.J. at 221 (alteration in
original) (citation omitted).
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, [we are] convinced of the [appellant]’s guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt.” 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 consti-
tutes proof of each required element beyond a reasonable doubt.’” United States
12 The USACIL report indicated “[Appellant] and his paternal male relatives cannot be
excluded from the partial Y-STR DNA profile[s]” obtained from NM’s vaginal swabs
and cervical swabs. “The probability of randomly selecting a male individual with this
profile from the same population group as [Appellant]” would be 1 in 1300 for the vag-
inal swabs and 1 in 390 for the cervical swabs, respectively.
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United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
v. Wheeler, 76 M.J. 564, 568 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2017) (citation omitted), aff’d,
78 M.J. 218 (C.A.A.F. 2018) (quoting Washington, 57 M.J. at 399).
Appellant’s conviction for sexual assault in violation of Article 120, UCMJ,
required the Government to prove: (1) on or about 20 June 2017, at or near
Osan AB, Republic of Korea, Appellant committed a sexual act upon NM by
causing penetration of NM’s vulva by Appellant’s penis; (2) Appellant did so
when NM was incapable of consenting to the sexual act due to impairment by
alcohol; and (3) Appellant knew or reasonably should have known NM was in-
capable of consenting to the sexual act due to impairment by alcohol. See Man-
ual for Courts-Martial, United States (2016 ed.) (2016 MCM), pt. IV,
¶ 45.b.(3)(f). Appellant’s conviction for attempted sexual assault in violation of
Article 80, UCMJ, required the Government to prove: (1) on or about 20 June
2017, at or near Osan AB, Republic of Korea, Appellant did a certain act, that
is, attempted to penetrate NM’s vulva with his tongue when NM was incapable
of consenting to the sexual act due to impairment by alcohol, and NM’s impair-
ment was known or reasonably should have been known by Appellant; (2) that
Appellant did the act with the specific intent to commit the offense of sexual
assault in violation of Article 120, UCMJ; (3) that the act amounted to more
than mere preparation; and (4) that the act apparently tended to bring about
the commission of the intended sexual assault. See 2016 MCM, pt. IV, ¶ 4.(b),
¶ 45.b.(3)(f). “The term ‘consent’ means a freely given agreement to the conduct
at issue by a competent person.” 10 U.S.C. § 920(g)(8)(A). A person is incapable
of consenting if she lacks the cognitive ability to appreciate the sexual conduct
in question or lacks the physical or mental ability to make or to communicate
a decision about whether she agrees to the conduct. See United States v. Pease,
75 M.J. 180, 185–86 (C.A.A.F. 2016) (citation omitted).
2. Analysis
a. Sufficiency of the Government’s Evidence
The Government introduced sufficient evidence for a rational trier of fact
to find every element of the offenses proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Alt-
hough at trial NM did not specifically remember Appellant’s penis penetrating
her, 13 the DNA evidence obtained from NM’s cervix, vaginal wall, and under-
wear, coupled with all of the other circumstantial evidence, was powerful proof
Appellant’s penis had in fact penetrated her vulva. See King, 78 M.J. at 221
(citations omitted) (“[T]he [G]overnment is free to meet its burden of proof with
circumstantial evidence . . . .”). Similarly, although NM testified she did not
13 The SAFE report created on 23 June 2017 and admitted into evidence recorded that
NM said at that time she “slightly remember[ed] penetration,” without specifying body
parts.
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United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
specifically remember feeling Appellant’s tongue, her testimony that she felt a
mouth on her vagina, under the circumstances, was convincing evidence that
Appellant at least attempted to penetrate her vulva with his tongue.
Most of the litigation, at trial and on appeal, concerns whether the Govern-
ment proved NM was incapable of consenting to the sexual acts due to her
impairment by alcohol. We find that a rational trier of fact could find this ele-
ment proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Several considerations lead us to this
conclusion.
NM testified that she consumed a large quantity of alcohol that night, in-
cluding several drinks of unknown strength. Although testimony indicated NM
was an experienced drinker, further evidence indicated NM’s physical and
mental state were heavily impaired by alcohol at the time of the offenses. Alt-
hough NM was able to walk and converse before she arrived at TSgt JN’s apart-
ment, her memory was already being affected and she described partial black-
outs in her testimony. After arriving at the apartment, NM vomited twice in
TSgt JN’s bathroom. When SSgt GS saw NM the following morning, she still
appeared ill and vomited again. Most significantly, NM testified that as she
intermittently awoke and lost consciousness as Appellant undressed her and
sexually assaulted her, she felt that she could not speak, move, or open her
eyes. The court members observed NM’s testimony and evidently found her
credible. We do as well.
Furthermore, the evidence indicates NM’s impairment by alcohol would
have been obvious to Appellant. Appellant was with NM for most of the even-
ing, including most of the time during which she was consuming alcohol. He
knew that she was ill to the point of vomiting, and according to TSgt JN used
her illness to justify taking her into the guest bedroom. Appellant was evi-
dently with her throughout the night, undressed her himself, and would have
observed her unresponsiveness and immobility.
NM’s testimony regarding Appellant’s behavior after she awoke suggested
his consciousness of guilt and strengthened the Government’s case. Appellant
insisted on talking to NM about the previous night for his own “safety.” Appel-
lant did not ask NM what she remembered or what she thought about the
events of the prior night. Instead, as described by NM, Appellant appears to
have assumed either that NM would not remember, or could be pressured into
accepting Appellant’s manifestly self-serving version of events. Either expla-
nation tends to suggest consciousness of guilt on his part. NM explained that
what Appellant described was both contrary to the memories she did have, and
did not make sense given how she reasonably would have behaved.
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United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
b. Appellant’s Arguments
Appellant does not contest the sufficiency of the evidence that he commit-
ted the sexual act of penetrating NM’s vulva with his penis and attempted to
penetrate her vulva with his tongue. Instead, he raises several arguments re-
lated to the sufficiency of the evidence of NM’s impairment by alcohol. We ad-
dress the most significant of these in turn.
As at trial, Appellant emphasizes the security video which depicts NM
walking unassisted and conversing with Appellant and TSgt JN before she ar-
rived at TSgt JN’s apartment. In addition, Appellant notes that after trial de-
fense counsel had NM watch the video during her cross-examination, NM
agreed with trial defense counsel’s statement that “you can’t confidently say
that you weren’t -- just like you were in the video, awake, active, engaged and
you just don’t remember it.” We are not persuaded. The security video does not
depict the point in time that is relevant to the charge, which is when Appellant
was committing the offenses. A rational trier of fact could conclude that neither
the video nor NM’s admission on cross-examination, based on her partial lack
of memory, counteract NM’s clear and repeated testimony that, while Appel-
lant was undressing and assaulting her in the guest bedroom, she felt she could
not speak or move.
Appellant contends NM’s marriage to SrA TM provided “a strong motive
for an alleged victim to transform an ill-advised consensual encounter into a
non-consensual one.” We agree that desire to protect a marriage relationship
can be a motive to deny or misrepresent a consensual extramarital sexual en-
counter. However, a rational factfinder could reasonably conclude the evidence
in this case suggests such a scenario. There is no evidence of flirtatious behav-
ior between NM and Appellant at any point. By all accounts, NM began vom-
iting at TSgt JN’s apartment and vomited again the following morning. Appel-
lant’s description to NM of a consensual encounter is patently self-serving, im-
plausible, and suggestive of consciousness of guilt. Furthermore, the court
members observed NM’s testimony and evidently found her credible.
Appellant argues NM gave differing accounts of the alleged sexual assault
to the SARC representative, during her video call with SrA TM, and during
her SAFE. For example, according to SSgt GS, 14 NM told the SARC representa-
tive that she initially went to sleep on TSgt JN’s couch; whereas she told SrA
TM she went to sleep on the couch, woke up to vomit in the bathroom, and then
woke up in the bed with Appellant trying to have sexual intercourse with her;
and she told the sexual assault medical forensic examiner that she was not
14 SSgt GS was present when NM spoke with the SARC representative on 20 June
2017.
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United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
sure whether Appellant penetrated her vagina. We find none of these minor
distinctions significant, and we find that on the whole NM’s descriptions of
events in TSgt JN’s apartment were substantially consistent.
Appellant compares his case to two cases in which our sister courts found
sexual assault convictions to be factually insufficient. We find neither compar-
ison persuasive.
The facts of United States v. Pease, 74 M.J. 763 (N.M. Ct. Crim. App. 2015),
aff’d, 75 M.J. 180 (C.A.A.F. 2016), are similar to the instant case in some re-
spects. In Pease, the appellant was convicted of committing sexual assault
against two alleged victims who were incapable of consenting due to intoxica-
tion by alcohol. Id. at 764. There was testimony regarding how much alcohol
the alleged victims consumed on the nights in question and how intoxicated
they appeared to be, and one of the alleged victims testified that she vomited
during the charged sexual assault. Each alleged victim had only fragmentary
memories of the periods when the charged sexual assaults occurred. The
United States Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals (NMCCA) con-
cluded, based on the “totality of the record,” that the Government had failed to
prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the alleged victims were incapable of
consenting, or that the appellant knew or reasonably should have known they
were incapable of consenting. Id. at 770. However, there are substantial differ-
ences between Pease and the instant case. The NMCCA noted that one of the
alleged victims remembered kissing the appellant and telling him he was
“cute,” and of supporting her own weight on her elbows while having sexual
intercourse with him. Id. at 771. The other alleged victim testified that she
remembered she enjoyed some of the sexual activity with the appellant, that
at one point she was on top of him and at another point was supporting herself
on her hands and knees, and that when she did not like an activity she told the
appellant so and he stopped. Id. at 768, 771. In contrast, NM provided no equiv-
alent testimony in the instant case; on the contrary, she testified that while
the offenses were occurring she felt that she could not speak or move, and—
other than Appellant’s self-serving assertion the following morning—there was
no evidence NM actively participated.
Appellant’s comparison to United States v. Dorr, ARMY 20170172, 2019
CCA LEXIS 229 (A. Ct. Crim. App. 22 May 2019) (unpub. op.), is similarly
unconvincing. In Dorr, the appellant testified at trial that the sexual encounter
was consensual, albeit rough, and his account was corroborated to an extent
by physical evidence, such as visible hickeys on the appellant’s neck. Id. at *5.
In contrast, the alleged victim “remember[ed] nothing about the sexual inter-
action with appellant, other than a snippet where appellant was on top of her,
engaged in sexual intercourse, telling [her] that she was beautiful.” Id. Appel-
lant emphasizes that in Dorr, the evidence included a video taken outside a
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United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
bar shortly before the alleged victim and the appellant returned to their bar-
racks together; although the video showed the alleged victim was “without
question” drunk, it also indicated she had the “ability to understand her sur-
roundings and freely interact with those around her, to include [the] appel-
lant.” Id. at *7–8. We agree with our sister court and with Appellant “[t]hat
lack of memory . . . does not equate with an inability to consent.” Id. at *8; see
also United States v. Yates, No. ACM 39444, 2019 CCA LEXIS 391, at *18 (A.F.
Ct. of Crim. App. 30 Sep. 2019), rev. denied, 80 M.J. 80 (C.A.A.F. 2020) (“[T]he
essential question with regard to proof of the offense of sexual assault is not
how alcohol affected [the victim’s] memory of that night, but how it affected
her capacity to consent to sexual activity.”). However, Dorr is clearly distin-
guishable from the instant case by Dorr’s testimony, by the physical evidence
supporting that testimony, and again most importantly, by NM’s testimony
regarding her inability to move or speak in response to Appellant’s actions.
c. Conclusion as to Legal and Factual Sufficiency
Drawing every reasonable inference from the evidence of record in favor of
the Government, we conclude the evidence was legally sufficient to support
Appellant’s convictions for sexual assault and attempted sexual assault beyond
a reasonable doubt. Additionally, having weighed the evidence in the record of
trial and having made allowances for not having personally observed the wit-
nesses, we are convinced of Appellant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
B. Severance
1. Additional Background
In addition to the two specifications of sexual assault committed against
NM, Appellant was charged with several alleged offenses against his step-
daughter AS, including two specifications of abusive sexual contact on a child
and one specification of indecent liberties with a child, and four specifications
of battery upon a child under the age of 16 years. The charged offenses against
AS allegedly occurred between March 2005 and January 2013, and were unre-
lated to the June 2017 offenses against NM.
Before trial, the Defense moved to sever the specifications involving AS
from the specifications involving NM to prevent “manifest injustice.” The De-
fense contended that the allegations involving AS would inevitably impermis-
sibly spill over into the court members’ consideration of the charged sexual
assaults against NM. The Government opposed the motion, contending there
was no danger of spillover because the circumstances of the alleged offenses
involving AS and NM were “radically different,” and the Defense had failed to
demonstrate manifest injustice.
The military judge issued a written ruling in which she applied the three-
part analysis set forth in United States v. Curtis, 44 M.J. 106, 128 (C.A.A.F.
12
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
1996), rev’d as to sentence on recon, 46 M.J. 129 (C.A.A.F. 1997), found no man-
ifest injustice, and denied the motion. The military judge provided the court
members the following instructions regarding spillover:
An accused may be convicted based only on evidence before this
court, not on evidence of a general criminal disposition. Each of-
fense must stand on its own and you must keep the evidence of
each offense separate. Stated differently, if you find or believe
that the accused is guilty of one offense, you may not use the
finding or belief as a basis for inferring, assuming, or proving
that he committed any other offense.
The burden is on the prosecution to prove each and every ele-
ment of each offense beyond reasonable doubt. Proof of one of-
fense carries with it no inference that the accused is guilty of any
other offense.
The Defense did not object to the spillover instruction or request any additional
instructions with respect to spillover.
As described above, the court members found Appellant guilty of one spec-
ification of sexual assault and one specification of attempted sexual assault
against NM. The court members found Appellant not guilty of all of the charged
offenses against AS.
2. Law
We review a military judge’s ruling on a motion to sever for an abuse of
discretion. United States v. Giles, 59 M.J. 374, 378 (C.A.A.F. 2004) (citation
omitted). “A military judge abuses [her] discretion when [her] findings of fact
are clearly erroneous, when [she] is incorrect about the applicable law, or when
[she] improperly applies the law.” United States v. Roberts, 59 M.J. 323, 326
(C.A.A.F. 2004).
“The military justice system encourages the joinder of all known offenses
at one trial . . . .” United States v. Simpson, 56 M.J. 462, 464 (C.A.A.F. 2002)
(citing Rule for Courts-Martial (R.C.M.) 601(e)(2)). “Under R.C.M. 906(b)(10),
a military judge is required to grant a severance motion when necessary to
avoid a ‘manifest injustice.’” Giles, 59 M.J. at 378. On appeal, “the appellant
must demonstrate more than the fact that separate trials would have provided
a better opportunity for an acquittal;” he must demonstrate “the ruling caused
actual prejudice by preventing the appellant from receiving a fair trial.” Id.
(citations omitted). Appellate courts review such rulings by applying the same
factors employed by the military judge: “(1) Do the findings reveal an imper-
missible crossover of evidence? (2) Would the evidence of one offense be admis-
sible proof of the other? (3) Did the military judge provide a proper limiting
instruction?” Id. (citing Curtis, 44 M.J. at 128).
13
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
Court members are presumed to follow the military judge’s instructions in
the absence of evidence to the contrary. See United States v. Taylor, 53 M.J.
195, 198 (C.A.A.F. 2000) (citations omitted).
3. Analysis
The military judge did not abuse her discretion by denying the defense mo-
tion to sever the specifications. As to the first Curtis factor, the military judge
concluded that the evidence of Appellant’s alleged offenses against AS were not
admissible to prove Appellant sexually assaulted NM, and vice versa. For pur-
poses of our analysis, we agree. See generally United States v. Hills, 75 M.J.
350 (C.A.A.F. 2016). We further agree with the military judge that the remain-
ing two Curtis factors support denial of the motion to sever.
The military judge correctly anticipated that she would give appropriate
limiting instructions and indicated she would entertain requests for additional
instructions. She in fact gave the members appropriate instructions, to which
trial defense counsel did not object and requested no supplemental instruc-
tions.
Furthermore, contrary to Appellant’s argument on appeal, the findings do
not demonstrate impermissible spillover. We agree with the military judge
that the separation in time and dissimilarity of the circumstances between the
alleged offenses against AS and NM reduced the risk that the court members
would impute evidence with regard to one alleged victim as proof of offenses
allegedly committed against the other. Moreover, the fact that the court mem-
bers acquitted Appellant of all the alleged offenses against AS indicates they
could distinguish between the two sets of offenses. Cf. United States v. Kerr, 51
M.J. 401, 407 (C.A.A.F. 1999) (stating “the record negates any reasonable pos-
sibility of spillover” where the appellant “was convicted of only one of the three
specifications of indecent assault”). Moreover, we note trial counsel generally
adhered to the military judge’s admonition to keep the evidence of the two sets
of charges separate, and Appellant does not contend otherwise. Appellant’s ar-
gument regarding proof of spillover is essentially that the Government’s proof
of the offenses against NM was weak; we disagree for the reasons stated above
in our review of the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence. Accordingly,
we conclude the military judge properly denied the severance motion and Ap-
pellant was not denied a fair trial. See Giles, 59 M.J. at 378.
C. Findings Instructions
1. Additional Background
Trial defense counsel requested that the military judge provide the court
members with the following special instructions regarding intoxication and ca-
pacity to consent.
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United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
a. You have heard evidence that [NM] consumed alcohol on the
night in question. Some, or perhaps all, of you have received
some type of training in the military about the relationship be-
tween alcohol and sexual activity. You may have been told, for
example, that someone who drinks alcohol cannot consent to sex-
ual acts. That is an incorrect statement of the law. You are re-
quired to follow the law as I instruct you, and you must ignore
any training or briefings you have received outside of this court-
room regarding the issue of alcohol and its effect on the ability
of a person to consent to sexual acts. The law does not prohibit
engaging in sexual acts with a person who is drunk or impaired
by alcohol.[ ] A person may be impaired by alcohol, yet still pos-
sess the applicable levels of ability. Charge I, Specifications 1
and 2 allege sexual assault when [NM] was incapable of consent-
ing. As such, the relevant question is whether [NM] lacked the
cognitive ability to appreciate the sexual conduct in question, or
the physical or mental ability to make or to communicate a deci-
sion about whether she agreed to the conduct.
A person may be impaired by alcohol, yet still have the ability to
make decisions and appreciate their circumstances. Put another
way, a person who is impaired by alcohol may still be competent,
as they may still possess the cognitive ability to appreciate the
sexual conduct in question, and the physical and mental ability
to make and to communicate a decision about whether they
agree to the conduct. An incompetent person is a person whose
impairment rises to the level of depriving him or her of the cog-
nitive ability to appreciate the nature of the conduct in question
or the physical or mental ability to communicate a decision
about whether they agreed to that conduct.
b. Additionally, you have heard evidence that [NM] may have
been asleep at various points throughout the evening in ques-
tion. [Appellant] is not charged with the offense [of] sexual as-
sault when [NM] was asleep. Sexual assault while the alleged
victim is asleep is a separate offense under the UCMJ and one
which the prosecution has not charged in this case. The prosecu-
tion in this case has charged that, at the time of the acts, [NM]
was incapable of consenting due to impairment by alcohol. You
are to apply the definition of “incapable of consenting” as I have
previously given it to you.
In addition, the Defense requested the military judge not provide the court
members with the definition of an “incompetent person.” See Military Judges’
15
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
Benchbook, Dept. of the Army Pamphlet 27–9 at 602 (29 Feb. 2020) (Bench-
book). The Government objected to the proposed special instructions.
The military judge declined to give the requested special instructions. Ap-
plying the three-part analysis the United States Court of Appeals for the
Armed Forces (CAAF) set forth in United States v. Carruthers, 64 M.J. 340,
345–46 (C.A.A.F. 2007), the military judge found that part “a.” of the proposed
instruction was not a correct statement of law because it “redefines ‘incompe-
tent person’ and attempts to define ‘competency’ by way of exception,” and was
therefore misleading. Furthermore, she explained that the instructions she in-
tended to give adequately defined the elements and enabled the Defense to
argue NM’s capacity to consent and lack of impairment by alcohol. The military
judge found part “b.” of the proposed instruction “misconstrue[d] the defini-
tions of the elements that the [G]overnment is required to prove,” that the in-
structions she intended to provide adequately distinguished “asleep” from “im-
paired by alcohol,” and her instructions would enable the Defense to argue the
Government had failed to prove NM was incapable of consent and not merely
asleep. In addition, contrary to the Defense’s request, the military judge found
it appropriate to provide the court members with the definition of “incompetent
person.”
The military judge’s instructions to the court members related to consent
included, inter alia, the following:
“Consent” means a freely given agreement to the conduct at is-
sue by a competent person. . . .
A sleeping, unconscious, or incompetent person cannot consent.
Lack of consent may be inferred based on the circumstances. All
the surrounding circumstances are to be considered in determin-
ing whether a person gave consent, or whether a person did not
resist or ceased to resist only because of another person’s actions.
A “competent person” is a person who possesses the physical and
mental ability to consent.
An “incompetent person” is a person who lacks either the mental
or physical ability to consent because he or she is: (1) asleep or
unconscious; (2) impaired by a drug, intoxicant or other similar
substance; or (3) suffering from a mental disease or defect or a
physical disability.
To be able to freely make an agreement, a person must first pos-
sess the cognitive ability to appreciate the nature of the conduct
in question and then possess the mental and physical ability to
16
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
make and to communicate a decision regarding that conduct to
the other person. . . .
A person is “incapable of consenting” when she lacks the cogni-
tive ability to appreciate the sexual conduct in question or the
physical or mental ability to make or to communicate a decision
about whether she agrees to the conduct.
Without objection, the military judge also instructed the court members on
the defense of mistake of fact as to consent as to both offenses involving NM.
2. Law
Whether the military judge correctly instructed the court members is a
question of law we review de novo. United States v. Payne, 73 M.J. 19, 22
(C.A.A.F. 2014) (citation omitted). “[A] military judge has wide discretion in
choosing the instructions to give but has a duty to provide an accurate, com-
plete, and intelligible statement of the law.” United States v. Behenna, 71 M.J.
228, 232 (C.A.A.F. 2012) (citations omitted). “[T]he military judge . . . is re-
quired to tailor the instructions to the particular facts and issues in a case.”
United States v. Baker, 57 M.J. 330, 333 (C.A.A.F. 2002) (citations omitted).
“[A]ny party may request that the military judge instruct the members on
the law as set forth in the request.” R.C.M. 920(c). Denial of a defense-re-
quested instruction is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Carruthers, 64 M.J. at
345–46 (citations omitted). We apply a three-part test to evaluate whether the
failure to give a requested instruction is error: “(1) [the requested instruction]
is correct; (2) it is not substantially covered in the main [instruction]; and (3)
it is on such a vital point in the case that the failure to give it deprived [Appel-
lant] of a defense or seriously impaired its effective presentation.” Id. at 346(first and second alteration in original) (quoting United States v. Gibson, 58
M.J. 1, 7 (C.A.A.F. 2003)). All three prongs of the test must be satisfied in order
to find error. United States v. Barnett, 71 M.J. 248, 253 (C.A.A.F. 2012).
3. Analysis
Appellant contends the military judge erred with respect to findings in-
structions in three respects: by denying the Defense’s request for special in-
structions; by providing an instruction regarding lack of consent; and by
providing an erroneous definition of an “incompetent person.” We address each
contention in turn.
a. Denial of Defense-Requested Special Instructions
Although it is not a focus of his argument on appeal, Appellant asserts
“[t]he military judge erred when she denied the defense request for a specially
tailored instruction.” Assessing his claim in light of the analysis set forth in
Carruthers, we disagree. We are not as convinced as was the military judge
17
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
that the proposed special instructions were incorrect statements of law that
would have been misleading. However, their substance was substantially cov-
ered by the instructions the military judge provided, and the proposed instruc-
tions did little to clarify the applicable terms and definitions. In addition, as
the military judge observed, the instructions she gave enabled the Defense to
argue the Government had failed to prove NM was incapable of consenting due
to intoxication by alcohol and not merely asleep. Because the Defense failed to
satisfy all three prongs of the test, we conclude the military judge did not abuse
her discretion by denying the requested instructions.
b. Instruction Regarding Lack of Consent
Appellant contends that the military judge erred by instructing that “[l]ack
of consent may be inferred based on the circumstances” because bodily harm
due to lack of consent and inability to consent due to intoxication are different
and “mutually exclusive” theories of sexual assault. Although Appellant does
not claim the military judge’s instruction on absence of consent was an incor-
rect statement of the law, he argues that the instruction on the uncharged bod-
ily harm theory of liability was an error of constitutional dimensions. We dis-
agree. The military judge correctly instructed the court members on the ele-
ments of the charged sexual assaults on NM, including the requirement that
the members find beyond a reasonable doubt that NM was incapable of con-
senting due to impairment by alcohol, and that Appellant knew or reasonably
should have known NM was so impaired. Court members are presumed to fol-
low the military judge’s instructions absent evidence to the contrary. See Tay-
lor, 53 M.J. at 198 (citations omitted). We see no such evidence here, and we
find no basis to conclude Appellant was convicted on an uncharged bodily harm
theory.
c. Instruction on the Definition of an “Incompetent Person”
The military judge provided the court members the standard definition of
an “incompetent person” from the Benchbook, defined as someone who lacked
either the mental or physical ability to consent due to being, inter alia, asleep,
unconscious, or impaired by a drug, intoxicant, or similar substance. Dept. of
the Army Pamphlet 27–9 at 602. Appellant contends this definition errone-
ously suggests that incompetence “ipso facto results from being asleep or un-
conscious,” when in fact sleep or unconsciousness are different theories of crim-
inal liability from incompetence. We note that Article 120, UCMJ, does contain
language that suggests sleep, unconsciousness, and incompetence are distinct
conditions, rather than sleep and unconsciousness being lesser-included types
of incompetence. 10 U.S.C. § 920(g)(8)(B) (“A sleeping, unconscious, or incom-
petent person cannot consent.”); cf. United States v. Sager, 76 M.J. 158, 162
(C.A.A.F. 2017) (holding the words “asleep, unconscious, or otherwise una-
18
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
ware” in 10 U.S.C. § 920(b)(2) create separate theories of criminality). How-
ever, assuming for purposes of our analysis that the instruction given failed to
correctly portray the relationship between incompetence and sleep, we find any
such error did not materially prejudice Appellant’s substantial rights. See
United States v. Payne, 73 M.J. 19, 25 (C.A.A.F. 2014). Again, the military
judge clearly and correctly instructed the court members that in order to find
Appellant guilty of the charged sexual assaults against NM, they must find
beyond a reasonable doubt that NM was incapable of consenting due to impair-
ment by alcohol, and that Appellant knew or reasonably should have known
NM was so impaired. Moreover, the military judge provided an accurate defi-
nition of “incapable of consenting” based on the CAAF’s holding in Pease, 75
M.J. at 185–86 (citation omitted), which Appellant does not challenge on ap-
peal. Accordingly, we presume the court members followed the military judge’s
instructions and applied the correct standard in their deliberations.
D. Trial Counsel Closing Argument
1. Additional Background
The military judge’s instructions on findings included, inter alia, that the
court members:
have the duty to determine the believability of the witnesses. In
performing this duty you must consider each witness’[s] intelli-
gence, ability to observe and accurately remember, sincerity and
conduct in court, friendships and prejudices, and character for
truthfulness. Consider the extent to which each witness is either
supported or contradicted by other evidence; the relationship
each witness may have with either side; and how much each wit-
ness might be affected by the verdict. In weighing a discrepancy
by or between witnesses, you should consider whether it resulted
from an innocent mistake or a deliberate lie.
...
[Y]ou must base the determination of the issues in the case on
the evidence as you remember it and apply the law as I instruct
you. Counsel may refer to the instructions I have given you. If
there is any inconsistency between what counsel have said about
the instructions and the instructions which I gave you, you must
accept my statement as being correct.
The circuit trial counsel’s (CTC) closing argument on findings included the
following comments regarding the military judge’s instructions and the court
members’ determination of the credibility of witnesses:
19
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
I am going to reference some specific [instructions]. But one of
the main ones I want to highlight to you, I think it’s the most
important instruction in this case is where the judge tells you
what your duty is. It means something.
Duty. What is your duty? And it’s to determine the credibility of
the witnesses. That’s your duty. When you go back in that delib-
eration room, you have to decide what does your gut tell you?
What did you see on the stand? What did you see in the evidence?
And you cannot throw up your hands and say, “You know what,
I just don’t know.” You will be derelict in your duty if you do that.
...
But, ultimately, it’s really about this: were [AS] and [NM] -- were
they testifying truthfully or were they lying? Were they deliber-
ately lying or were they telling the truth? What did you see?
So here’s the instruction . . . you have the duty to determine the
believability of the witnesses. It’s a binary decision. They either
are credible or they are not. It’s one or the other. There is no in-
between. There is no, “I just don’t know.” You have to make a
decision. There is a lot of experience on this panel. All of you
have the absolute capability to make that decision and come to
a determination. But you cannot throw up your hands.
The CTC then rephrased the military judge’s instructions regarding the
factors the court members should consider in determining the believability of
witnesses, and he proposed that the determination of whether an inconsistency
was due to “an innocent mistake” or “a deliberate lie” presented a “binary
choice.” He then continued:
So, really, it comes down to this: because if they’re not telling the
truth, both [AS] and [NM] really must be pure evil. Both of them
must have some type of grudge or some type of inherent terror
[sic] or flaw in their character that wants to see an innocent man
be dishonorably discharged after a full career in the service, be
labeled as a sex offender, go to jail.
The circuit defense counsel (CDC) did not object during the CTC’s argu-
ment, but directly responded to it and flatly rejected the contention that the
credibility assessment of AS and NM presented a “binary choice” as “simply
not the law and . . . not the facts of this case.” The CDC continued, “[b]elieva-
bility is a sliding scale. It is not a binary choice. That is a false dichotomy that’s
put in front of you.” The CDC proposed that a witness could “come to believe
something had occurred that may not have ever occurred.” He continued,
20
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
Neither [AS] nor [NM] have to be pure evil. The defense is not
saying that. They are not. Let me make that clear. They are not
evil. They are not. That’s not to say that, first of all, what they’re
telling you has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt or, two,
that it even happened at all.
During rebuttal argument, the CTC returned to the subject of the court
members’ duty to determine credibility:
[Y]ou have to consider the evidence. And you must use the
judge’s instructions to do that. You must. Because it does come
down to your duty and what those instructions say. Those in-
structions give you a binary choice. It is exactly not what De-
fense Counsel said. Is it an innocent mistake or a deliberate lie?
You have to decide. Absolutely, they want you to throw up your
hands and fail to make a decision. And if that’s the kind of indi-
vidual you are, if that’s what you are inside this uniform and
you’re incapable of making a decision, then by all means do it.
But you won’t be doing your duty. You won’t. You won’t. You
must determine their credibility. You must. It has to be one or
the other. Don’t abdicate.
Trial defense counsel did not object to any of the above portions of the CTC’s
closing argument. The military judge did not interject during the closing argu-
ments, nor did she provide supplemental instructions in light of the CTC’s ar-
guments, nor did the Defense request such instructions.
2. Law
“We review prosecutorial misconduct and improper argument de novo and
where . . . no objection is made, we review for plain error.” United States v.
Voorhees, 79 M.J. 5, 9 (C.A.A.F. 2019) (citing United States v. Andrews, 77 M.J.
393, 398 (C.A.A.F. 2018)). “Plain error occurs when (1) there is error, (2) the
error is plain or obvious, and (3) the error results in material prejudice to a
substantial right of the accused.” United States v. Fletcher, 62 M.J. 175, 179
(C.A.A.F. 2005) (citation omitted). The burden of proof under a plain error re-
view is on the appellant. See United States v. Sewell, 76 M.J. 14, 18 (C.A.A.F.
2017) (citation omitted).
“Improper argument is one facet of prosecutorial misconduct.” Id. (citation
omitted). “Prosecutorial misconduct occurs when trial counsel ‘overstep[s] the
bounds of that propriety and fairness which should characterize the conduct of
such an officer in the prosecution of a criminal offense.’” United States v. Horn-
back, 73 M.J. 155, 159 (C.A.A.F. 2014) (quoting Fletcher, 62 M.J. at 179). Such
conduct “can be generally defined as action or inaction by a prosecutor in vio-
lation of some legal norm or standard, [for example], a constitutional provision,
21
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
a statute, a Manual rule, or an applicable professional ethics canon.” Id. at 160
(quoting United States v. Meek, 44 M.J. 1, 5 (C.A.A.F. 1996)).
“A prosecutorial comment must be examined in light of its context within
the entire court-martial.” United States v. Carter, 61 M.J. 30, 33 (C.A.A.F.
2005) (citation omitted). “[P]rosecutorial misconduct by a trial counsel will re-
quire reversal when the trial counsel’s comments, taken as a whole, were so
damaging that we cannot be confident that the members convicted the appel-
lant on the basis of the evidence alone.” Fletcher, 62 M.J. at 184.
3. Analysis
On appeal, Appellant contends the CTC’s arguments regarding the court
members’ duty to make a decision regarding the credibility of NM and AS, and
to not “throw up their hands,” was a misstatement of the law that undermined
the Government’s burden to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Appel-
lant reasons that a panel that cannot decide the alleged victim’s credibility “is
a panel which must acquit because it is uncertain of [the accused’s] guilt.” In
contrast, Appellant contends, the CTC argued for a “polar” standard “in which
[the accused’s] innocence is either proven or his guilt is proven.” Accordingly,
he claims, the CTC committed constitutional error that was not harmless be-
yond a reasonable doubt. See United States v. Mason, 59 M.J. 416, 424
(C.A.A.F. 2004) (citations omitted).
Because trial defense counsel did not object to the CTC’s argument, we re-
view the argument for plain error. We are not persuaded Appellant has carried
his burden to demonstrate “plain or obvious” prosecutorial misconduct.
As an initial matter, at no point did the CTC state or imply any require-
ment that the accused’s “innocence” must be “proven.” We are confident that
such a patently incorrect characterization of the burden of proof would have
drawn an objection from the Defense and corrective measures from the mili-
tary judge.
The CTC’s characterization of a “binary” decision did not relate to whether
Appellant was guilty or innocent, but to whether the alleged victims were cred-
ible or not. This argument was rooted in the military judge’s uncontested in-
struction that the court members had a “duty to determine the believability of
the witnesses,” in light of all of the considerations identified in the instructions.
Certainly, the CTC and the CDC disagreed as to how this instruction should
be applied in the context of Appellant’s trial. However, in our view, the CTC’s
argument in this respect did not plainly exceed the bounds of permissible ad-
vocacy. Essentially, he argued that the court members should decide whether
or not AS and NM were credible. The CDC’s argument—essentially, that if the
court members could not decide that AS and NM were credible, then the Gov-
22
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
ernment had failed to convince them beyond a reasonable doubt—was not fun-
damentally dissimilar. Neither characterization relieved the Government of its
burden to prove Appellant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, in accordance
with the military judge’s instructions.
This is not to say we find no fault with the CTC’s argument. His argument
oversimplified and conflated related but distinct questions such as: Were AS
and NM credible or not? Were any discrepancies in their testimony the result
of an innocent mistake or a deliberate lie? Did AS or NM honestly believe some-
thing that was, in fact, either not true or unable to be determined beyond a
reasonable doubt? We find the CTC’s argument that AS and NM must either
be telling the truth or be “pure evil” was grossly simplistic and exaggerated.
The CDC addressed some of these oversimplifications in his own argument,
and thereby perhaps diminished the CTC’s credibility as an advocate and en-
hanced his own.
Similarly, we find the CTC’s invocation of the court members’ “duty” to de-
cide the witnesses’ credibility, although based on the military judge’s instruc-
tion, to be overblown and unpersuasive. However, not every oversimplified or
poorly conceived trial counsel argument amounts to prosecutorial misconduct.
Although we do not indorse the CTC’s argument, we do not find that it tended
to shift the burden of proof or to otherwise “plainly or obviously” contravene
another prosecutorial legal norm or standard, such that the military judge’s
failure to intervene sua sponte amounted to plain error.
E. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
1. Law
The Sixth Amendment 15 guarantees an accused the right to effective assis-
tance of counsel. United States v. Gilley, 56 M.J. 113, 124 (C.A.A.F. 2001). In
assessing the effectiveness of counsel, we apply the standard in Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984), and begin with the presumption of com-
petence announced in United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. 648, 658 (1984). See
Gilley, 56 M.J. at 124 (citation omitted). We will not second-guess reasonable
strategic or tactical decisions by trial defense counsel. United States v. Mazza,
67 M.J. 470, 475 (C.A.A.F. 2009) (citation omitted). We review allegations of
ineffective assistance de novo. United States v. Gooch, 69 M.J. 353, 362
(C.A.A.F. 2011) (citing Mazza, 67 M.J. at 474).
We utilize the following three-part test to determine whether the presump-
tion of competence has been overcome: (1) are appellant’s allegations true, and
15 U.S. CONST. amend. VI.
23
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
if so, “is there a reasonable explanation for counsel’s actions;” (2) if the allega-
tions are true, did defense counsel’s level of advocacy “fall measurably below
the performance . . . [ordinarily expected] of fallible lawyers;” and (3) if defense
counsel was ineffective, is there “a reasonable probability that, absent the er-
rors,” there would have been a different result? Id. (alteration in original)
(quoting United States v. Polk, 32 M.J. 150, 153 (C.M.A. 1991)). The burden is
on the appellant to demonstrate both deficient performance and prejudice.
United States v. Datavs, 71 M.J. 420, 424 (C.A.A.F. 2012) (citation omitted).
2. Analysis
Appellant contends his trial defense counsel were ineffective in three areas:
the failure to object to prior consistent statements of NM included in the SAFE
report admitted as a prosecution exhibit; the failure to admit evidence of NM’s
marital infidelity; and the failure to call the Defense’s expert consultant in tox-
icology as a witness. This court received sworn declarations from Appellant’s
two trial defense counsel, Major (Maj) PF and Captain (Capt) CE, responsive
to Appellant’s claims of ineffective assistance, which we have considered in re-
lation to these issues. See Jessie, 79 M.J. at 442–44 (noting the CAAF has al-
lowed the Courts of Criminal Appeals to accept affidavits to supplement the
record “when necessary for resolving claims of ineffective assistance of trial
defense counsel”). We address each area in turn.
a. NM’s Prior Statements in the SAFE Report
At trial, the Government called Captain (Capt) HP, a physician’s assistant
and the sexual assault medical forensic examiner who administered NM’s
SAFE on 23 June 2017. Through Capt HP, the Government introduced as Pros-
ecution Exhibit 3 the SAFE report Capt HP prepared that day. The report in-
cluded a section entitled “Patient’s Description of the Assault,” where Capt HP
recorded NM’s oral description of the sexual assault. As recorded by Capt HP,
NM’s brief description was largely consistent, albeit more definite in certain
respects, compared to her subsequent trial testimony:
I remember waking up to different pieces of my clothing being
gone. I remember him moving my hand to touch his genitalia. I
slightly remember penetration. I do remember being suddenly
woken up by things coming close to my anal cavity. I remember
him performing oral and I remember squirming. And then I
woke up and got dressed and trying [sic] to get out. . . . I vomited
prior to the assault, and then I vomited after the assault.
The Defense did not object to Prosecution Exhibit 3.
Appellant contends trial defense counsel were ineffective by failing to object
to the narrative portions of Prosecution Exhibit 3 as inadmissible hearsay. Ap-
pellant argues the narrative was not admissible as a prior consistent statement
24
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
under Mil. R. Evid. 801(d)(1)(B)(i) because the statements were made after
NM’s motive to fabricate arose—that is, her marriage to SrA TM. See United
States v. Frost, 79 M.J. 104, 110 (C.A.A.F. 2019). Appellant further argues the
narrative was similarly not admissible under Mil. R. Evid. 801(d)(1)(B)(ii) to
rehabilitate NM’s credibility “when attacked on another ground,” because the
fact that NM made statements consistent with “parts of her in-court testimony
at a time after the sexual encounter does not rebut the [Defense’s] assertion
that she mis-recorded memory.” See United States v. Finch, 79 M.J. 389, 395
(C.A.A.F. 2020). Appellant further contends the narrative was not admissible
pursuant to the hearsay exception for statements made for medical treatment
or diagnosis under Mil. R. Evid. 803(4), because NM perceived the purpose of
the SAFE was evidence-gathering rather than medical treatment. Appellant
argues there was no plausible reason not to object to the narrative portions of
Prosecution Exhibit 3, and, had the Defense done so, there was a reasonable
probability of a more favorable result because NM’s credibility “was the para-
mount issue” and the court members could have used her prior consistent
statement to bolster NM’s credibility.
In their declarations, trial defense counsel acknowledge there were poten-
tial objections to the narrative portions of Prosecution Exhibit 3, but they ex-
plain the Defense chose not to object to the SAFE report for strategic and tac-
tical reasons. The primary reason they assert is that the report was more help-
ful than harmful to the Defense’s theory of the case. Trial defense counsel’s
theory was that NM was capable of consenting, but simply could not remember
portions of the night due to alcohol-induced blackouts. Therefore, they assert,
evidence that NM was awake and aware of what was occurring at various
points during the night tended to support their theory. Moreover, they contend
events during the trial prior to the introduction of Prosecution Exhibit 3 fur-
ther convinced them this was the correct strategy. In particular, they noted
NM’s reaction to watching the video of herself walking apparently unimpaired
through the parking garage on her way to TSgt JN’s apartment, and they per-
ceived NM genuinely had no memory of doing so. To trial defense counsel, this
reinforced their belief that focusing on NM’s memory was the correct approach.
In addition, because the Defense’s theory was not that NM was being actively
deceptive about the alleged sexual assault, seeking to exclude prior consistent
statements was not a priority. Moreover, Capt CE explained the Defense felt
it had gained credibility with the court members by being the party that intro-
duced important evidence, including the security video and a map depicting
various locations NM visited on the night of the incident, and therefore not
objecting to Prosecution Exhibit 3 would continue to foster the perception that
the Defense had nothing to hide.
We find there were reasonable strategic and tactical reasons why trial de-
fense counsel did not object to the narrative portions of Prosecution Exhibit 3.
25
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
We evaluate trial defense counsel’s performance not by the success of their
strategy, “but rather whether counsel made . . . objectively reasonable choice[s]
in strategy from the alternatives available at the [trial].” United States v.
Dewrell, 55 M.J. 131, 136 (C.A.A.F. 2001) (citation omitted). Trial defense
counsel could reasonably conclude that given their trial strategy, excluding
NM’s prior consistent statements during the SAFE was not a priority, and that
additional evidence that NM was in fact awake and aware of what was hap-
pening at various points during the alleged sexual assault, in combination with
other evidence, tended to support the Defense’s theory that NM had problems
with her memory rather than with her capacity to consent. Accordingly, Appel-
lant has not met his burden to demonstrate deficient performance in this re-
spect.
b. Evidence of Infidelity
Before trial, the Defense moved to introduce evidence of other alleged sex-
ual behavior by NM pursuant to Mil. R. Evid. 412, including inter alia an al-
leged sexual encounter between NM and SSgt AP which occurred approxi-
mately four months after the charged offenses involving Appellant. NM re-
ported the incident with SSgt AP as a sexual assault in October 2017. 16 The
military judge conducted a closed hearing on the motion pursuant to Mil. R.
Evid. 412(c)(2) at which several witnesses testified. The testimony of multiple
witnesses indicated NM did report that she was sexually assaulted by SSgt AP
sometime after the incident with Appellant, but she elected not to participate
in a criminal prosecution. SSgt AP testified at the hearing under a grant of
immunity and indicated he had a consensual sexual encounter with NM in her
dormitory room. NM also testified at the hearing; in the course of her testi-
mony, the military judge sustained objections to defense questions regarding
whether NM had engaged in sexual relationships outside her marriage to SrA
TM. After the hearing, the Defense withdrew its request to introduce evidence
of the incident between NM and SSgt AP. Accordingly, the military judge did
not rule on that portion of the Defense’s motion.
Appellant contends trial defense counsel were ineffective by failing to seek
to rebut NM’s statements to SSgt GS on the morning after the charged sexual
assault by Appellant to the effect that NM was “not that stupid” because she
was “a married woman.” Appellant characterizes these statements as “a claim
that [NM] would never engage in consensual sexual relations with [A]ppellant
because she was a married woman,” which opened the door to evidence of her
16 The trial transcript, appellate exhibits, and briefs addressing the Defense’s Mil. R.
Evid. 412 motion were sealed pursuant to R.C.M. 1103A. These portions of the record
and briefs remain sealed, and any discussion of sealed material in this opinion is lim-
ited to that which is necessary for our analysis. See R.C.M. 1103A(b)(4).
26
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
“sexual relationship” with SSgt AP. Appellant further contends trial defense
counsel were ineffective for failing to ask for reconsideration to be able to cross-
examine NM regarding other sexual relationships. Appellant attributes trial
defense counsel’s failure to seek such rebuttal evidence after initially attempt-
ing to raise it in the Mil R. Evid. 412 hearing to a lack of “situational aware-
ness.” He asserts that, but for these errors, there was a reasonable probability
of a different result because this evidence would have discredited NM, whose
credibility was essential to the Government’s case.
However, assuming arguendo the Government did open the door to such
evidence, we note multiple reasonable explanations why trial defense counsel
elected not to attempt to rebut NM’s statements to SSgt GS with evidence of
her encounter with SSgt AP. First, although NM apparently elected not to co-
operate in a criminal prosecution of SSgt AP, there is no evidence she recanted
her allegation of sexual assault against him. The witnesses other than SSgt
AP who testified at the Mil. R. Evid. 412 hearing about her report all indicated
NM referred to the incident as a sexual assault. SSgt AP himself testified that,
at the time of the hearing, he was pending an administrative discharge board
based on NM’s allegation of sexual assault. In their declarations, trial defense
counsel note that if it was true that SSgt AP sexually assaulted NM, that fact
would be of no use to Appellant’s defense, and the only available evidence that
it was not true was the immunized testimony of SSgt AP himself.
Trial defense counsel further explain that after the Mil. R. Evid. 412 hear-
ing, they concluded SSgt AP “would have been a terrible [d]efense witness.” To
begin with, the fact that NM persisted in cooperating with the prosecution of
Appellant—even after her marriage with SrA TM had ended—while declining
to do so in SSgt AP’s case posed an obvious problem with comparing the two
situations. It underscored that NM knew she had the option of not testifying
against Appellant if she did not sincerely believe he sexually assaulted her. In
addition, trial defense counsel explained SSgt AP had “destroyed” his own cred-
ibility at the Mil. R. Evid. 412 hearing by providing non-credible testimony as
to why he went to NM’s dormitory room on the night in question, and as to
NM’s apparent level of intoxication earlier that evening which was contra-
dicted by “numerous unbiased witnesses.”
Appellant’s contention that trial defense counsel should have sought to
question NM regarding extramarital sexual relationships is also unpersuasive.
Appellant has failed to demonstrate any likelihood such questioning would dis-
close evidence materially helpful to the Defense. As discussed above, there is
no indication NM recanted her allegation of sexual assault against SSgt AP,
and no indication she would have done so on the witness stand. As for any
other sexual relationships, trial defense counsel explain that despite their in-
vestigative efforts, they had no such evidence beyond “rumors and hearsay.”
27
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
Finally, trial defense counsel further explain that they did not feel the De-
fense needed to rebut NM’s comments to SSgt GS regarding being married be-
cause they considered her comments to be consistent with the Defense’s theory
of the case. They perceived her comments not as a flat denial that she would
have ever consented, as Appellant contends, but rather as an expression of
“confusion and regret.” Recognizing that trial defense counsel were present in
the courtroom to hear the testimony and observe the witnesses, and recogniz-
ing the “strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range
of reasonable professional assistance,” we are inclined to credit trial defense
counsel’s assessment. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689.
Accordingly, we find Appellant has failed to demonstrate deficient perfor-
mance with regard to evidence of NM’s alleged infidelity.
c. Toxicology Evidence
Appellant’s third allegation of ineffective assistance relates to trial defense
counsel’s failure to call the Defense’s expert consultant in forensic toxicology,
Dr. SH, to testify regarding his estimate of NM’s blood alcohol concentration
(BAC) at the time of the alleged sexual assault. Appellant has provided a dec-
laration from Dr. SH dated 3 June 2020 which states, inter alia, that he is a
board certified clinical pathologist with over 30 years of experience in pathol-
ogy, pharmacology, and toxicology. Dr. SH was present during the trial testi-
mony and also reviewed “exhibits and [AF]OSI documents.” However, Dr. SH
did not review the trial transcript or “most of his notes” before preparing his
declaration. To “the best of [his] recollection, refreshed only by an email that
[he] sent to the Defense Counsels on the evening . . . before the last trial day
and a case summary note that [he] prepared” on 12 May 2019, Dr. SH esti-
mated NM had consumed the equivalent of six or seven “standard drinks,” ap-
proximately three fluid ounces of pure alcohol. Dr. SH further estimated NM’s
BAC was approximately 0.06 g/dL at the time she entered TSgt JN’s apart-
ment. Dr. SH further explained:
[T]he effects of a BAC of 0.03-0.12 are mild euphoria, sociability,
talkativeness, increased self-confidence, decreased inhibitions,
diminished attention, judgment, and control, some sensory-mo-
tor impairment, and slowed information processing. A person’s
BAC must rise to the 0.09-0.25 range before deficits such as loss
of critical judgment, emotional instability, impaired memory
and comprehension, sensory-motor in-coordination; impaired
balance; or slurred speech begin to appear. In an experienced
drinker like N.M. (according to her husband’s testimony), the
apparent defects from any BAC would likely be less.
28
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
Dr. SH further explained that NM’s BAC and impairment would have de-
creased from the time she entered the apartment until the time of the alleged
sexual assault. Appellant contends that Dr. SH’s testimony would have indi-
cated it was “extremely unlikely” NM was incapacitated at the time of the al-
leged offenses.
In their declarations, trial defense counsel respond with several reasons
why the Defense decided not to call Dr. SH to testify. Dr. SH’s testimony did
not support the Defense’s theory of the case, which was that NM was signifi-
cantly impaired by alcohol, to the degree that it interfered with her memory of
the night’s events. Trial defense counsel intended to rely on the security video,
and they perceived that NM’s apparently genuine reaction of surprise and lack
of memory supported this theory. In addition, trial defense counsel explained
that Dr. SH’s assessment that NM had consumed the equivalent of only six or
seven “standard drinks” was, by his own admission at the time, only a “guess-
timate.” NM’s testimony indicated she had a minimum of 12 or 13 alcoholic
drinks. Moreover, they explained that with alcohol in Korea being largely un-
regulated, “there is no such thing as a ‘standard drink.’” On cross-examination,
Dr. SH would have been forced to concede there was no way to know how much
alcohol was in any soju drink and that NM’s BAC could have been significantly
higher than his estimate. In addition, trial defense counsel believed the Gov-
ernment’s decision not to call its own expert in forensic toxicology to introduce
some scientific evidence regarding incapacity was a “fatal flaw,” and they did
not want to give the Government the opportunity to draw out any potentially
favorable concessions or other evidence from Dr. SH.
Applying the presumption of competence, we conclude trial defense counsel
made a reasonable decision not to call Dr. SH to testify. Whether or not another
attorney might have made an equally reasonable decision under the circum-
stances to call Dr. SH despite of the risks and drawbacks, we conclude Appel-
lant has failed to demonstrate trial defense counsel’s performance fell measur-
ably below that expected of competent but fallible defense lawyers.
F. Military Judge’s Ruling Precluding Confrontation of the Victim
with Evidence from the SAFE Report
1. Additional Background
As described above, before trial the Defense moved to introduce certain ev-
idence of other sexual behavior by NM pursuant to Mil. R. Evid. 412. Such
evidence included, inter alia, that “[b]etween on or about 20 June 2017 and on
or about 23 June 2017, NM had sexual contact with another male that was not
[Appellant],” which the Defense contended was admissible under Mil. R. Evid.
412(b)(1)(A) and (C). In addition, the Defense sought to introduce evidence that
29
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
“[d]uring the DNA analysis conducted in this case, a male DNA profile not be-
longing to [Appellant] or NM was discovered on NM’s anal swabs, perineal
swabs, right inner thigh swabs, and pubic mound swabs,” which the Defense
contended was constitutionally required to be admitted pursuant to Mil. R.
Evid. 412(b)(1)(C).
In support of its motion, the Defense offered a copy of the SAFE report
completed on 23 June 2017, which was later admitted into evidence as Prose-
cution Exhibit 3 as described above. One section of the report recorded that
NM stated she had not engaged in “[o]ther non-assault sexual activity within
past 5 days.” The Defense also offered the USACIL report on testing of samples
taken during NM’s SAFE, which was also subsequently admitted as a prose-
cution exhibit. In addition to describing DNA evidence consistent with Appel-
lant found on NM’s cervical and vaginal swabs and underwear, as described
above, the report indicated Appellant was excluded as the source of partial
DNA profiles from an unknown male individual found on NM’s right inner
thigh, anal, and pubic mound swabs. A partial male DNA profile was also ob-
tained from NM’s perineal swab, but it “could not be conclusively interpreted
due to a lack of sufficient genetic data.”
The military judge conducted a closed hearing on the motion pursuant to
Mil. R. Evid. 412(c)(2) at which several witnesses testified, including NM. NM
testified SrA TM traveled from Kunsan AB to Osan AB on 20 June 2017, he
stayed with her throughout the following week, and that they shared a single
twin bed in her dormitory room. NM further testified they did not have sexual
intercourse between 20 June 2017 and her SAFE exam on 23 June 2017. SrA
TM similarly testified that he traveled to Osan AB on 20 June 2017 to stay
with NM, and he stayed with her the remainder of the week.
The military judge issued a written ruling in which she denied the motion
with respect to evidence that “[b]etween on or about 20 June 2017 and on or
about 23 June NM had sexual contact with another male.” The military judge
found, inter alia, the evidence “provide[d] an inference that NM could have had
physical contact with another male,” but the Defense had produced “no evi-
dence . . . that NM had sexual contact with another, within the narrow window
defined by [D]efense.” (Emphasis added). Because the Defense “failed to pre-
sent evidence, beyond speculation,” the requested evidence was “therefore nei-
ther relevant, material nor favorable to the [D]efense.” Additionally, the mili-
tary judge ruled the proffered evidence was “a distraction as to the charged
offense,” and its “probative value, if any, [was] substantially outweighed by the
danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, and misleading the mem-
bers,” and therefore should also be excluded under Mil. R. Evid. 403.
30
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
However, the military judge granted the Defense’s motion with respect to
the USACIL analysis of the unidentified male DNA found on NM’s anal, peri-
neal, right inner thigh, and pubic mound swabs, as “relevant, material and
favorable to the [D]efense” for the “narrow purpose” of NM’s credibility under
Mil. R. Evid. 412(b)(1)(C).
2. Law
“We review the military judge’s ruling on whether to exclude evidence pur-
suant to M.R.E. 412 for an abuse of discretion.” United States v. Ellerbrock, 70
M.J. 314, 317 (C.A.A.F. 2011) (citing United States v. Roberts, 69 M.J. 23, 26
(C.A.A.F. 2010)). The military judge’s findings of fact are reviewed for clear
error and her conclusions of law are reviewed de novo. Id. (citing Roberts, 69
M.J. at 26). “A military judge abuses [her] discretion when: (1) the findings of
fact upon which [s]he predicates [her] ruling are not supported by the evidence
of record; (2) if incorrect legal principles were used; or (3) if [her] application 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)). “For [a] ruling to be an abuse of discretion, it
must be ‘more than a mere difference of opinion’; rather, it must be ‘arbitrary,
fanciful, clearly unreasonable’ or ‘clearly erroneous.’” United States v. Collier,
67 M.J. 347, 353 (C.A.A.F. 2009) (quoting United States v. McElhaney, 54 M.J.
120, 130 (C.A.A.F. 2000) (additional citations omitted)).
Mil. R. Evid. 412 provides that in any proceeding involving an alleged sex-
ual offense, evidence offered to prove the alleged victim engaged in other sexual
behavior or has a sexual predisposition is generally inadmissible, with three
limited exceptions. The burden is on the defense to overcome the general rule
of exclusion by demonstrating an exception applies. United States v. Carter, 47
M.J. 395, 396 (C.A.A.F. 1998) (citation omitted).
The first exception under Mil. R. Evid. 412 includes “evidence of specific
instances of sexual behavior by the alleged victim offered to prove that a person
other than the accused was the source of semen, injury, or other physical evi-
dence.” Mil. R. Evid. 412(b)(1)(A). Evidence that fits this exception may never-
theless be excluded if the probative value of the evidence is outweighed by the
danger of unfair prejudice to the alleged victim’s privacy. Mil. R. Evid.
412(c)(3). In addition, like other evidence, evidence otherwise admissible under
Mil. R. Evid. 412(b)(1)(A) may be excluded “if its probative value is substan-
tially outweighed by a danger of . . . unfair prejudice, confusing the issues,
misleading the members, undue delay, wasting time, or needlessly presenting
cumulative evidence.” Mil. R. Evid. 403. Where a military judge conducts a
proper balancing test under Mil. R. Evid. 403, an appellate court will not over-
turn the ruling absent a clear abuse of discretion. United States v. Ediger, 68
31
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
M.J. 243, 248 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (quoting United States v. Ruppel, 49 M.J. 247,
251 (C.A.A.F. 1998)).
The third exception under Mil. R. Evid. 412 provides that the evidence is
admissible if its exclusion “would violate the constitutional rights of the ac-
cused.” Mil. R. Evid. 412(b)(1)(C). Generally, evidence of other sexual behavior
by an alleged victim is constitutionally required and “must be admitted within
the ambit of [Mil. R. Evid.] 412(b)(1)(C) when [it] is relevant, material, and the
probative value of the evidence outweighs the dangers of unfair prejudice.”
Ellerbrock, 70 M.J. at 318 (citation omitted). Relevant evidence is evidence that
has any tendency to make the existence of any fact of consequence to determin-
ing the case more probable or less probable than it would be without the evi-
dence. Mil. R. Evid. 401. Materiality “is a multi-factored test looking at the
importance of the issue for which the evidence was offered in relation to the
other issues in this case; the extent to which the issue is in dispute; and the
nature of the other evidence in the case pertaining to th[at] issue.” Id. (altera-
tion in original) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). The dangers
of unfair prejudice to be considered “include concerns about ‘harassment, prej-
udice, confusion of the issues, the witness’ safety, or interrogation that is re-
petitive or only marginally relevant.’” Id. (quoting Delaware v. Van Arsdall,
475 U.S. 673, 679 (1986)).
3. Analysis
The effect of the military judge’s ruling was to allow the admission of the
USACIL evidence that the partial DNA profile of an unidentified male, exclud-
ing Appellant, was found on certain intimate areas of NM’s body; however, the
Defense was not allowed to cross-examine NM regarding sexual activity with
a male other than Appellant between 20 June 2017 and 23 June 2017. On ap-
peal, Appellant asserts the military judge erred by preventing the Defense
from confronting NM with the USACIL evidence which, he asserts, contra-
dicted NM’s statement recorded in the SAFE report that she had not engaged
in “sexual activity” between the time of the charged offenses and undergoing
the SAFE. Appellant asserts this evidence was significant because it demon-
strated that either NM had a faulty memory or she made false statements dur-
ing the SAFE. We conclude the military judge did not abuse her discretion. 17
17 Appellant’s argument appears to be based on the “constitutionally required” excep-
tion, Mil. R. Evid. 412(b)(1)(C). Although the Defense’s motion initially invoked both
Mil. R. Evid. 412(b)(1)(A) and (C), the contested evidence appears to have essentially
32
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
Appellant focuses on the military judge’s ruling with respect to Mil. R. Evid.
403 that any probative value was substantially outweighed by the dangers of
unfair prejudice, confusion of issues, and misleading the court members. He
addresses several of the factors for conducting a Mil. R. Evid. 403 analysis set
forth in United States v. Wright, 53 M.J. 476, 483 (C.A.A.F. 2000), specifically
strength of proof of the conduct in question, availability of less prejudicial evi-
dence, risk of distraction, amount of time required for the proof, and proximity
in time to the charged offenses. 18 He further contends this court should afford
the military judge’s ruling “minimal” deference because she did not provide a
detailed analysis of Mil. R. Evid. 403. See United States v. Manns, 54 M.J. 164,
166 (C.A.A.F. 2000).
However, Appellant fails to substantially address the primary basis for the
military judge’s ruling, which was not Mil. R. Evid. 403; it was that the Defense
failed to meet its burden to provide evidence of the sexual activity it sought to
introduce under Mil. R. Evid. 412. The military judge acknowledged the pres-
ence of male DNA permitted an inference that NM had recent physical contact
with a male, but it did not demonstrate “sexual activity.” The totality of the
evidence suggests the unidentified DNA likely belonged to NM’s husband SrA
TM, with whom NM was living and sharing a bed between 20 June 2017 and
23 June 2017, although SrA TM’s DNA was evidently not compared to the DNA
from the swabs. We do not find the military judge’s application of Mil. R. Evid.
412 to be arbitrary, fanciful, or clearly unreasonable. Without evidence of sex-
ual activity—other than the sexual assault by Appellant—between 20 June
2017 and 23 June 2017, the proffered evidence did not contradict NM’s state-
ment recorded in the SAFE report and therefore it had essentially no relevance
with respect to NM’s credibility on the asserted basis.
no value in “prov[ing] that a person other than [Appellant] was the source” of the par-
tial male DNA profiles found on NM’s cervix, vagina, and underwear. Mil. R. Evid.
412(b)(1)(A).
18 We note Wright did not involve Mil. R. Evid. 412; it specifically addressed the appli-
cation of Mil. R. Evid. 403 in the context of the introduction of evidence the accused
had committed “other [uncharged] sexual offenses” under a very different rule of evi-
dence, Mil. R. Evid. 413. 53 M.J. at 482 (“The Rule 403 balancing test should be applied
‘in light of the strong legislative judgment that evidence of prior sexual offenses should
ordinarily be admissible[.]’” (alteration in original) (quoting United States v. LeCompte,
131 F.3d 767, 769 (8th Cir. 1997)).
33
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
G. Appellate Delay
1. Additional Background
Appellant’s court-martial concluded on 22 March 2019. The convening au-
thority took action on 26 June 2019, and the record of trial was docketed with
this court on 10 July 2019.
The record consists of eight volumes and includes 1,036 pages of transcript
and approximately 130 Prosecution, Defense, Appellate, and Court Exhibits.
Appellant is represented by military and civilian appellate defense counsel.
Civilian appellate defense counsel entered his notice of appearance on 20 Feb-
ruary 2020. The Defense filed is brief on behalf of Appellant on 4 June 2020,
after securing eight enlargements of time in which to file the assignments of
error. The Government filed its answer on 24 July 2020 after obtaining an en-
largement of time in order to obtain declarations from trial defense counsel
responsive to Appellant’s assertions of ineffective assistance of counsel. The
Defense submitted Appellant’s reply brief on 19 August 2020. On 26 March
2021, Appellant filed with this court a demand for speedy appellate processing.
2. Law
“We review de novo claims that an appellant has been denied the due pro-
cess right to a speedy post-trial review and appeal.” United States v. Moreno,
63 M.J. 129, 135 (C.A.A.F. 2006) (citations omitted). In Moreno, the CAAF es-
tablished a presumption of facially unreasonable delay where the Court of
Criminal Appeals does not issue its decision within 18 months of docketing.
Where there is such a facially unreasonable delay, we consider the four factors
identified in Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 530 (1972), to assess whether Ap-
pellant’s due process right to timely post-trial and appellate review has been
violated: “(1) the length of the delay; (2) the reasons for the delay; (3) the ap-
pellant’s assertion of the right to timely review and appeal; and (4) prejudice.”
Moreno, 63 M.J. at 135 (citing United States v. Jones, 61 M.J. 80, 83 (C.A.A.F.
2005); Toohey v. United States, 60 M.J. 100, 102 (C.A.A.F. 2004) (per curiam)).
However, where there is no qualifying prejudice from the delay, there is no
due process violation unless the delay is so egregious as to “adversely affect the
public’s perception of the fairness and integrity of the military justice system.”
United States v. Toohey, 63 M.J. 353, 362 (C.A.A.F. 2006). In Moreno, the CAAF
identified three interests protected by an appellant’s due process right to
timely post-trial and appellate review: (1) preventing oppressive incarceration;
(2) minimizing anxiety and concern; and (3) avoiding impairment of the appel-
lant’s grounds for appeal and ability to present a defense at a rehearing. 63
M.J. at 138–39 (citations omitted).
34
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
3. Analysis
More than 18 months have elapsed since Appellant’s case was docketed
with this court; accordingly, there is a facially unreasonable delay that re-
quires analysis of the Barker factors.
However, we find that Appellant has not demonstrated prejudice from the
delay. In this case, we find no oppressive incarceration because Appellant’s
appeal has not resulted in relief. Similarly, where the appeal does not result in
a rehearing on findings or sentence, Appellant’s ability to present a defense at
a rehearing is not impaired, and Appellant has not attempted to demonstrate
how any grounds for appeal have been impaired. Id. at 140.
With regard to anxiety and concern, the CAAF has explained “the appro-
priate test for the military justice system is to require an appellant to show
particularized anxiety or concern that is distinguishable from the normal anx-
iety experienced by prisoners awaiting an appellate decision.” Id. In this re-
gard, Appellant has submitted a declaration asserting that he has not been
able to apply for Veterans’ Administration disability benefits for service-con-
nected medical conditions because he has not received his Department of De-
fense (DD) Form 214 documenting his discharge from the Air Force. Appellant
has attached to his declaration a “screen shot” of what he asserts is the “mes-
sage which the Veterans’ Administration website displayed when [he] at-
tempted to apply for . . . disability benefits.” This attachment indicates Appel-
lant entered an anticipated date of release from active duty of 1 July 2022.
Based on that date, he received a message that he was not eligible to file for
disability benefits yet, but he would be able to file a claim under the Benefits
Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program on 2 January 2022, six months before
his anticipated release.
We find Appellant’s declaration and its attachment are insufficient to
demonstrate prejudice. First, we note that on 22 March 2019 Appellant was
sentenced to confinement for 34 months, and he has not provided the court
information on his expected release date. Appellant has made no showing that
he would be able to obtain a DD Form 214 before the expiration of his term of
confinement. Moreover, it is unclear why Appellant entered an anticipated ac-
tive duty release date of 1 July 2022, or what relationship that date has with
the appellate review of his convictions. Furthermore, the attached screen shot
suggests an applicant can, in fact, begin the disability benefit application pro-
cess before leaving active duty—or, presumably, receiving a DD Form 214—
through the BDD program, although the information presented is entirely in-
adequate to draw any definite conclusions as to how the program would apply
in Appellant’s case.
35
United States v. Brown, No. ACM 39728
Because we find Appellant has demonstrated no cognizable prejudice under
Moreno, there is no due process violation unless the delay is so egregious as to
impact the perception of the fairness and integrity of the military justice sys-
tem. Under the circumstances of this case, we find it is not. Appellant sought
and received eight enlargements of time in order to file his brief with this court.
The record of trial is substantial. Appellant’s lengthy brief raises substantial
and complex issues requiring careful review of the record and analysis, and
which have resulted in a lengthy opinion of the court. On the whole, we find no
violation of Appellant’s due process rights.
Recognizing our authority under Article 66, UCMJ, we have also consid-
ered whether relief for excessive post-trial delay is appropriate even in the ab-
sence of a due process violation. See United States v. Tardif, 57 M.J. 219, 225
(C.A.A.F. 2002). After considering the factors enumerated in United States v.
Gay, 74 M.J. 736, 744 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2015), aff’d, 75 M.J. 264 (C.A.A.F.
2016), we conclude it is not.
III. CONCLUSION
The approved findings and sentence are correct in law and fact, and no er-
ror materially prejudicial to the substantial rights of Appellant occurred. Arti-
cles 59 and 66, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 859, 866. Accordingly, the findings and
sentence are AFFIRMED. 19
FOR THE COURT
CAROL K. JOYCE
Clerk of the Court
19 We note multiple errors in the court-martial order which warrant correction. As re-
produced in the order, Specification 2 of Charge I erroneously alleges Appellant pene-
trated NM’s vulva with his “mouth” rather than his “tongue” as alleged on the charge
sheet; Specification 4 of Charge I erroneously includes the words “by placing AS in fear
that she would be subjected to grievous bodily harm,” which were not on the charge
sheet; the order fails to indicate a plea or finding with respect to Charge II; and the
date the sentence was adjudged is erroneously given as 3 April 2019 rather than 22
March 2019. We direct the publication of a corrected court-martial order to remedy
these errors.
36