United States v. Kunishige

This opinion is subject to administrative correction before final disposition.
Before
HOLIFIELD, DEERWESTER, and HACKEL
Appellate Military Judges
_________________________
UNITED STATES
Appellee
v.
Dexter K. KUNISHIGE
Sergeant (E-5), U.S. Marine Corps
Appellant
No. 201800110
Decided: 23 August 2022
Appeal from the United States Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary
Military Judge:
John P. Norman
Sentence adjudged 17 October 2020 by a general court-martial con-
vened at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, consisting of
members with enlisted representation. Sentence in the Entry of Judg-
ment: reduction to E-1, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, confine-
ment for 30 years, and a dishonorable discharge. 1
For Appellant:
Lieutenant Megan E. Horst, JAGC, USN
For Appellee:
Lieutenant R. Blake Royall, JAGC, USN
Lieutenant Gregory A. Rustico, JAGC, USN
1 Appellant was credited with serving 1,381 days’ pretrial confinement.
United States v. Kunishige, NMCCA No. 201800110
Opinion of the Court
Senior Judge HOLIFIELD delivered the opinion of the Court, in which
Senior Judge DEERWESTER and Judge HACKEL joined.
_________________________
This opinion does not serve as binding precedent, but
may be cited as persuasive authority under NMCCA
Rule of Appellate Procedure 30.2.
_________________________
HOLIFIELD, Senior Judge:
This case is before us for a second time. In October 2019 we reversed Ap-
pellant’s September 2017 convictions based on errors related to members se-
lection and authorized a rehearing on the charges and specifications to which
Appellant was originally found guilty. 2
At a rehearing, a panel of members sitting as a general court-martial con-
victed Appellant, contrary to his pleas, of violating a lawful general order, sex-
ually abusing a child under the age of twelve, sexually assaulting a child under
the age of twelve, sexually assaulting a child under the age of sixteen (two
specifications), possessing child pornography, soliciting another to produce and
distribute child pornography, obstructing justice, and committing adultery, in
violation of Articles 92, 120b, and 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice
[UCMJ]. 3
Appellant asserts eight assignments of error [AOEs]: (1) that the evidence
presented was legally and factually insufficient to prove Appellant sexually
abused a child under the age of twelve by committing lewd acts; (2) that the
evidence presented was legally and factually insufficient to prove Appellant
sexually assaulted a child under the age of twelve by sexual intercourse; (3)
that the military judge abused his discretion by denying Appellant’s request
for an expert consultant in forensic psychology to address an alleged victim’s
credibility; (4) that the military judge abused his discretion by denying Appel-
lant’s request for an expert consultant in forensic psychology to address Appel-
lant’s probability of reoffending; (5) that the military judge abused his discre-
tion in admitting evidence seized from Appellant’s MacBook laptop computer;
2 United States v. Kunishige, 79 M.J. 693 (N-M. Ct. Crim. App. 2019).
3 10 U.S.C. §§ 892, 920b, 934 (2012).
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Opinion of the Court
(6) that the Government violated Article 46, UCMJ, by failing to disclose that
Appellant’s battalion commander had signed a delivery agreement with the
State of Nevada to extradite Appellant for prosecution; (7) that Appellant’s
sentence to 30 years’ confinement is inappropriately severe; and (8) that the
military judge erred in instructing the members that the maximum term of
confinement they could award was life without the possibility of parole. 4
We find no prejudicial error and affirm.
I. BACKGROUND
In the summer of 2013, Appellant met Allison Sierra, 5 a classmate and
friend of Appellant’s stepsister. Allison was then eleven years old. Soon there-
after Appellant began sexually abusing and assaulting Allison, quickly moving
from kissing to sexual intercourse over the next month or two. Travelling on
weekends from his two-hours-distant duty station, Appellant would arrange to
pick up Allison and engage in sex with her in either his car, a local hotel, or at
his mother’s home. On at least one occasion before Allison’s twelfth birthday,
Appellant took her to the Las Vegas Luxor Hotel, where they kissed and had
intercourse.
Appellant and Allison later repeated the Luxor visit (and sex) to celebrate
Allison’s twelfth birthday. But, prior to this, Appellant drove his step-sister,
her brother, and Allison on a camping trip. That night, Appellant insisted Al-
lison share a tent with him while the others slept in another. Appellant raped
Allison in the tent.
In late 2013, Allison’s parents discovered a picture of Appellant’s penis on
Allison’s phone. They contacted local police, who interviewed Allison. During
this interview Allison denied any romantic or sexual relationship with Appel-
lant. Her denials were in accordance with Appellant’s coaching as to what she
should say if anyone learned of their relationship.
Over the next roughly two-and-a-half years, Appellant continued to engage
in vaginal, anal, and oral sex with Allison. Appellant also requested that Alli-
son send him graphic sexual pictures and videos of herself, which she did. At
some point she moved into his home, where Appellant took steps to ensure she
4 This last issue is raised pursuant to United States v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431(C.M.A. 1982). We have reviewed assignments of error (3), (6), and (8) and find them
to be without merit. United States v. Matias, 25 M.J. 356, 363 (C.M.A. 1987).
5 All names in this opinion, other than Appellant, counsel and judges, are pseudo-
nyms.
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United States v. Kunishige, NMCCA No. 201800110
Opinion of the Court
was isolated from her family and friends. During this time they held them-
selves out as “boyfriend and girlfriend.” Appellant repeatedly urged Allison to
find women online to engage in group sex, which she did. On one occasion,
when Allison declined to engage in group sex, Appellant punched and choked
her before sexually assaulting her.
In May 2016, Appellant married a childhood friend. His new wife moved
into the home shared by Appellant, his sister, his sister’s boyfriend, and Alli-
son. Appellant referred to Allison as his ex-girlfriend, although the two had sex
several times during Appellant’s marriage. Sometime later, after Allison had
moved out, Appellant engaged in a violent argument with his wife. When she
indicated their marriage was finished, Appellant asked his wife to contact Al-
lison to encourage Allison to restart her romantic relationship with Appellant.
It was during this conversation that the wife learned that Allison was only
fifteen.
Appellant’s wife then contacted his command, who issued Appellant a mil-
itary protective order to have no contact with Allison. Despite this order, Ap-
pellant communicated with Allison, telling her to delete any texts she had
shared with him. During the ensuring interview with local police, Allison de-
scribed in detail her years-long abuse by Appellant.
Additional facts necessary to resolve the AOEs are discussed below.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Legal and Factual Sufficiency
Appellant asserts the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to sup-
port his convictions of sexually abusing a child under the age of twelve by com-
mitting lewd acts (kissing) and sexually assaulting a child under the age of
twelve by sexual intercourse. We review such questions de novo. 6
To determine legal sufficiency, we ask whether, “considering the evidence
in the light most favorable to the prosecution, a reasonable factfinder could
6 Article 66(d)(1), UCMJ; United States v. Washington, 57 M.J. 394, 399 (C.A.A.F.
2002).
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Opinion of the Court
have found all the essential elements beyond a reasonable doubt.” 7 In conduct-
ing this analysis, we must “draw every reasonable inference from the evidence
of record in favor of the prosecution.” 8
In evaluating factual sufficiency, we determine “whether, after weighing
the evidence in the record of trial and making allowances for not having per-
sonally observed the witnesses, [we] are . . . convinced of [Appellant’s] guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt.” 9 In conducting this unique appellate function, 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 de-
termination as to whether the evidence constitutes proof of each required ele-
ment beyond a reasonable doubt.” 10 Proof beyond a “[r]easonable doubt, how-
ever, does not mean the evidence must be free from conflict.” 11
1. Sexual Abuse of a Child Under Twelve Years
In order to prove the offense as charged, the Government was required to
prove that: (1) Appellant, on divers occasions, committed lewd acts upon Alli-
son by kissing her lips with his own; (2) at the time, Allison had not reached
the age of twelve years; and (3) Appellant did so with an intent to arouse and
gratify the sexual desires of himself and Allison. 12
Allison testified that Appellant kissed her on the lips both during a sleepo-
ver in the summer of 2013 and at the Luxor Hotel in August 2013. Her testi-
mony describing the two events was corroborated by a witness and hotel rec-
ords, respectively. Allison did not turn twelve until December 4, 2013.
Appellant points to conflicting statements Allison provided local law en-
forcement in 2013 in which she denied kissing Appellant. She was also im-
peached by a previous statement to trial counsel in which she confessed uncer-
tainty about the dates of the kissing at the Luxor Hotel.
7 United States v. Turner, 25 M.J. 324, 324 (C.M.A. 1987) (citing Jackson v. Vir-
ginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979)).
8 United States v. Gutierrez, 74 M.J. 61, 65 (C.A.A.F. 2015) (citation and internal
quotation marks omitted).
9 Turner, 25 M.J. at 325.
10 Washington, 57 M.J. at 399.
11 United States v. Rankin, 63 M.J. 552, 557 (N-M. Ct. Crim. App. 2006).
12 Art. 120b, UCMJ (2012).
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Despite these inconsistencies, we are convinced that the evidence is suffi-
cient to establish that Appellant kissed Allison on the lips on divers occasions
before her twelfth birthday. We also find that Appellant’s intent to arouse and
gratify his and Allison’s sexual desires is apparent from the conduct and cir-
cumstances described. 13
2. Sexual Assault of a Child Under Twelve Years
We are similarly convinced regarding Appellant’s rape of Allison while she
was under twelve. In order to prove the offense as charged, the Government
was required to prove that: (1) Appellant, on divers occasions, penetrated Alli-
son’s vulva with his penis; and (2) at the time, Allison had not reached the age
of twelve years. 14
Allison described having sexual intercourse with Appellant at the Luxor
Hotel in August 2013. While the defense attempted to impeach her with her
previous statements that the hotel stay occurred after August 2013, hotel rec-
ords corroborate her instant testimony. She also testified that Appellant pen-
etrated her with his penis during a camping trip while she was still eleven.
After weighing the evidence in the record of trial, and making every rea-
sonable inference in favor of the prosecution, we are satisfied a reasonable fact-
finder could have found all of the essential elements of each charge and speci-
fication beyond a reasonable doubt. Furthermore, after weighing the evidence
in the record of trial and making allowances for not having personally observed
the witnesses, we are convinced of Appellant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
and find that the evidence is factually sufficient to support Appellant’s convic-
tions.
B. Denial of Expert Consultant
Appellant claims the military judge erred in denying his request for an ex-
pert consultant in forensic psychology to address, inter alia, Appellant’s likeli-
hood of reoffending. Appellant’s trial defense counsel argued that such expert
assistance was required to conduct specialized tests and recidivist evaluations,
and to assist the defense in interpreting the results.
13 See United States v. Rodriquez, 79 M.J. 1 (C.A.A.F. 2019).
14 Art. 120b, UCMJ (2012).
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1. Law and Standard of Review
When requesting an expert consultant, an accused must show that “the as-
sistance of the expert is necessary for an adequate defense.” 15 Thus, an “ac-
cused has the burden of establishing that a reasonable probability exists that
(1) an expert would be of assistance to the defense and (2) that denial of expert
assistance would result in a fundamentally unfair trial.” 16 The defense must
prevail on both prongs by a “reasonable probability.” 17 To meet the first prong,
the request “must show (1) why the expert is needed; (2) what the expert will
accomplish for the accused; and (3) why the defense would be unable to gather
and present the evidence that the expert assistance would be able to develop.” 18
We review a military judge’s denial of an expert consultant for an abuse of
discretion. 19 The abuse of discretion standard is a strict one, calling for more
than a mere difference of opinion—the challenged action must be “arbitrary,
fanciful, clearly unreasonable,” or “clearly erroneous.” 20 “To reverse for ‘an
abuse of discretion involves far more than a difference in opinion.”’ 21
2. Motion for Expert Consultant and Military Judge’s Ruling
At an Article 39(a), UCMJ, session to address this and other motions, the
defense’s desired expert, Dr. Bravo, testified regarding the number and types
of tests she could conduct to assess Appellant’s risk of recidivism. She described
one test she uses, STABLE-2007, as involving “13 empirically validated fac-
tors, which predict those who offend or reoffend” as to child sexual abuse. 22 She
also described her “ethical obligation” to “review all available documents, re-
view the child’s forensic interview, collateral context, if available, . . . [and con-
duct] psychological testing and interviews.” 23 In response, trial counsel stated
15 R.C.M. 703(d)(2)(A)(ii).
16 United States v. Freeman, 65 M.J. 451, 458 (C.A.A.F. 2008) (citation omitted).
17 United States v. Bresnahan, 62 M.J. 137, 143 (C.A.A.F. 2005).
18 Freeman, 65 M.J. at 458 (quoting Bresnahan, 62 M.J. at 143).
19 United States v. Lloyd, 69 M.J. 95, 99 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (citation omitted).
20
United States v. McElhaney, 54 M.J. 120, 130 (C.A.A.F. 2000) (quoting United
States v. Miller, 46 M.J. 63, 65 (C.A.A.F. 1997)).
21 Bresnahan, 62 M.J. at 143 (citation and internal punctuation omitted).
22 R. at 229.
23 R. at 230.
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that the Government would not present expert testimony regarding Appel-
lant’s rehabilitative potential or likelihood of reoffending.
In his written ruling denying the expert consultant request, the military
judge concluded that the defense had failed to establish that the requested as-
sistance was necessary. Specifically, “no evidence exists to suggest that [Ap-
pellant] suffers from a medical or mental condition or diagnosis that requires
expert assistance to interpret” or “possesses personality traits or factors that
would make a risk assessment necessary.” 24 The military judge considered Dr.
Bravo’s testimony as “speculative and demonstrat[ing] merely a possibility of
assistance.” 25 He also noted that the defense had not demonstrated it was un-
able to develop and present the evidence it expected to receive from the expert.
Finally, the military judge concluded that denying the expert would not result
in a fundamentally unfair trial. He based this last conclusion in part on the
Government’s assurance that it would neither employ a recidivism expert nor
focus its sentencing case on Appellant’s likelihood to reoffend.
Later, after resting its case on the merits, the defense renewed its request
for Dr. Bravo. Again the military judge denied the request.
During Appellant’s unsworn statement, his civilian defense counsel told
the members:
[T]he Government denied an expert forensic psychologist to do a
complete evaluation of [Appellant]. So [Appellant’s] parents
were able to afford to hire a forensic psychologist to consult with
the legal team on a limited basis. And in doing so, he met with
the forensic psychologist for a little bit, over four hours, face-to-
face, but virtually, because of the pandemic. And he was admin-
istered tests; specifically the STABLE-2007. And the STABLE-
2007 is an empirically validated instrument, which assesses
risks to reoffend. There are thirteen STABLE risk factors, which
have been empirically validated to reliably predict recidivism.
In addition . . . [Appellant’s parents] were both used as col-
lateral sources to corroborate certain factors. And based on the
results of that STABLE-2007, the forensic psychologist scored
24 App. Ex. XLVII at 7.
25 Id.
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[Appellant] at a three—at a three which is at low risk to
reoffend. 26
Despite hiring the expert on their own and receiving the results and report
of the testing conducted on Appellant, the defense never requested that their
expert testify at the sentencing hearing. Nor did the defense seek to admit the
report into evidence.
The defense raised the expert issue a fourth time, during the Government’s
sentencing argument, claiming the trial counsel had violated his earlier assur-
ance to the court that the Government would not argue future dangerousness.
Defense counsel pointed to trial counsel’s comments regarding specific deter-
rence and that Appellant’s sexual conduct with Allison only ceased when Ap-
pellant’s wife reported it to his chain of command.
The military judge found that the trial counsel had not made “any type of
future dangerousness argument,” and “in fact, the way the whole thing stopped
was that [Appellant’s wife] reported it . . . . [T]hat’s a fair comment on just the
facts of the case . . . and goes to reflect the attitude of [Appellant] towards his
crimes . . . . It [also] shows the aggravated nature of the crimes.” 27 The military
judge, noting the years-long nature of Appellant’s criminal activity, further
stated that “specific deterrence is a fair sentencing principal,” and that he
viewed trial counsel’s argument as “just arguing that [Appellant] needs to, es-
sentially, learn a lesson, needs to be told through a sentence how serious his
offenses were.” 28 In effect, to be specifically deterred.
3. Discussion
We find the military judge did not abuse his discretion. “An abuse of dis-
cretion occurs when the trial court’s findings of fact are clearly erroneous or if
the court’s decision is influenced by an erroneous view of the law.” 29 We find
neither here. But we also note that this was a close call. Given the seriousness
of the charges and the fact Appellant was facing a potential life sentence, we
likely would have reached the same conclusion (i.e., that there was no abuse of
discretion) had the military judge granted the expert request. Either way, the
26 R. at 2378-79.
27 R. at 2416-17.
28 R. at 2417.
29 Lloyd, 69 M.J. at 99 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
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fact we may have ruled differently had we been in the military judge’s shoes
does not change the standard of review or the level of deference owed.
Even assuming the military judge did abuse his discretion in denying the
expert, we find no prejudice. The only words the members heard regarding
Appellant’s risk of recidivism were what his counsel provided them during the
unsworn statement: that Appellant was a “low risk.” Although not funded by
the Government, the defense team did obtain Dr. Bravo’s STABLE-2007 test-
ing of Appellant and did convey the results to the court. 30 Thus, Appellant had
the benefit of Dr. Bravo’s assistance—the very thing he sought. Further, that
benefit went to the members uncontroverted; the defense’s choice to submit the
results in an unsworn statement and not call Dr. Bravo as a witness meant
that trial counsel was neither provided a copy of the report containing the find-
ings, nor able to cross examine the expert on it or any number of tests Dr. Bravo
originally was requested to perform.
C. Appellant’s MacBook
In his next AOE, Appellant claims the military judge erred in admitting
the contents of Appellant’s MacBook laptop computer. These contents included
extensive inculpatory communications between Appellant and Allison, as well
as the child pornography Appellant asked Allison to produce and send to him
and videos of the two engaging in sexual activity.
1. Standard of Review and Law
“We review a military Judge’s denial of a motion to suppress evidence for
an abuse of discretion.” 31 In doing so, we “do not review [the military magis-
trate’s] probable cause determination de novo,” but look to whether the “mag-
istrate had a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause existed.” 32
And we “give great deference to the magistrate’s probable cause determination
because of the Fourth Amendment’s strong preference for searches conducted
30We find it significant that Appellant’s defense team did not seek to put the actual
report into evidence. They could have done so, given the defense’s ability to relax the
evidentiary rules during sentencing. R.C.M. 1001(d)(3). Instead, civilian defense coun-
sel chose to provide only his own interpretation of the results—in a manner immune
from cross-examination or rebuttal.
31 United States v. Nieto, 76 M.J. 101, 105 (C.A.A.F. 2017) (citation omitted).
32 Id. (citations omitted) (alteration in original).
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pursuant to a warrant.” 33 If the magistrate “has a substantial basis to find
probable cause, a military judge does not abuse his discretion in denying a mo-
tion to suppress.” 34
If a magistrate authorizes a search or seizure without a substantial basis
to find probable cause, we will ordinarily apply the exclusionary rule. 35 How-
ever, the good faith exception may apply when a search is based on an author-
ization issued from a competent military or civilian authority, that issuing au-
thority “had a substantial basis for determining the existence of probable
cause,” and the officials requesting and executing the authorization reasonably
and in good faith relied on the authorization. 36
While our application of the exclusionary rule extends to evidence derived
or resulting from an illegal search, any evidence “later obtained independently
from activities untainted by the initial illegality” may be admissible under the
independent source doctrine. 37 When “analyzing whether a search pursuant to
a warrant conducted after an illegal search was genuinely derived from ‘an
independent source’ [we] must conduct a two-pronged inquiry.” 38 We first ask
“whether the police officer’s decision to seek the warrant was prompted by in-
formation he gathered during the prior illegal search.” 39 And second, whether
“information obtained during the illegal search was presented to the magis-
trate that affected his decision to issue the warrant. If the Government fails
either of these tests, the evidence is inadmissible.” 40
2. The Searches
During a 2016 interview, Allison told agents of the Naval Criminal Inves-
tigative Service [NCIS] that Appellant sent her pictures of his penis via Face-
book Messenger or a cellular phone when she was eleven or twelve. She also
33Id. (citing Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 236 (1983)) (internal quotation marks
omitted).
34 Id. (quoting United States v. Leedy, 65 M.J. 208, 213 (C.A.A.F. 2007)).
35 Id. at 106.
36 M.R.E. 311(c)(3).
37 Murray v. United States, 487 U.S. 533, 537 (1988).
United States v. Stevenson, No. 200301272, 2009 CCA LEXIS 445, *27 (N-M. Ct.
38
Crim. App. December 10, 2009) (unpublished) (citing Murray, 487 U.S. at 542).
39 Id.40 Id.11
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described how she and Appellant regularly communicated through text mes-
sages and various social media applications, including Facebook, Pinger, and
Facebook Messenger. And she explained how, in response to Appellant’s re-
quests, she took sexually explicit pictures of herself and sent them to Appellant
using various social media applications.
Based on this and other information, NCIS agents sought and received a
command authorization for search and seizure [CASS] to search Appellant’s
car. In the car the agents found a cell phone, which they later searched based
on a separate CASS.
Appellant entered pretrial confinement on 11 January 2017. Members of
his command then collected and inventoried all of Appellant’s belongings lo-
cated in his barracks room. A new CASS authorized NCIS to search the per-
sonal effects covered by that inventory, including an HP laptop computer. The
same day that NCIS received the inventoried items, Appellant’s friend, Sgt
Baker, came to the NCIS office carrying a MacBook laptop computer and an
external hard drive. He explained how Appellant, before entering confinement,
had given him the items to keep, apparently to prevent them from being seized
by NCIS. Sgt Baker expressed to NCIS that he no longer wished to hold the
laptop and hard drive for Appellant.
The NCIS special agent [SA] on the case, SA Welcome, contacted a trial
counsel on base to ascertain whether the earlier CASS for the inventoried per-
sonal effects covered the items Sgt Baker had just delivered. Being told (erro-
neously) that it did, SA Welcome did not seek a separate CASS for the MacBook
or hard drive. He then proceeded to search the MacBook, finding nothing of
evidentiary value.
Following Appellant’s first court-martial and subsequent reversal and re-
mand by this Court, NCIS Investigator [INV] Hammer sought a CASS cover-
ing, among other things, the MacBook computer and external hard drive. Ap-
pellant’s commander signed the CASS on 14 February 2020, authorizing
agents to search for “evidence of indecent electronic communications with a
minor; electronic communications concerning Rape and Sexual Assault; receipt
and possession of nude images of minor victim [Allison Sierra].” 41 A subsequent
search of the MacBook laptop revealed more than 1,000 pages of relevant com-
munications between Appellant and Allison, plus 26 sexually explicit images
and five sexually explicit videos of Allison. Nothing of evidentiary value was
found on the external hard drive.
41 App. Ex. LVII at 48.
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On 6 July 2020, the military judge granted Appellant’s motion to suppress
all matters found on the MacBook laptop. 42 In his extensive written ruling, 43
the military judge noted that, regarding the MacBook laptop, the Government
was relying solely on the 14 February 2020 CASS. The military judge found
that the probable cause in the affidavit accompanying the 14 February 2020
CASS request was insufficient to justify a search of the MacBook laptop. He
cited the lack of any mention that Appellant had used a computer as an instru-
ment of his alleged crimes, as well as the absence of any explanation of why
there would be any evidence of alleged crimes on his computer. The affidavit
merely stated that Appellant used his cellphone to facilitate his alleged crimes
with Allison, making no connection between his cellphone and his MacBook
laptop. The military judge wrote he was “at a loss to how this affidavit could
be so woefully inadequate.” 44 The military judge then declined to apply the
good faith exception, finding that the NCIS agents did not have “ an objectively
reasonable belief that the commander[] [who issued the CASS] had a substan-
tial basis for finding probable cause.” 45 Finally, again citing the inexplicable
inadequacy of the probable cause affidavit, the military judge found that the
benefit of the deterrent effect of excluding the evidence found on the MacBook
laptop was not outweighed by the high cost to the justice system.
Shortly after receiving notice of the military judge’s ruling, NCIS applied
for and received a search warrant in the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of California authorizing a search of the MacBook laptop. The support-
ing 17-page affidavit summarized pertinent facts and the case’s procedural his-
tory to date. The affiant included only information gathered prior to 19 Janu-
ary 2017, ensuring that no evidence found during the 2020 search of the laptop
was mentioned. The affidavit specifically stated that two prior searches had
been attempted: one in 2017 with no results, and one in early 2020, the results
of which were suppressed by the military judge based on insufficient probable
cause. The affiant also explained that he was applying to a federal magistrate
because he did not believe any of the military judges in the area would be un-
tainted by the information suppressed by the military judge.
42 App. Ex. LXXIII. As the Government conceded that nothing was found on the
external hard drive, the military judge did not address that search in his ruling.
43 App. Ex. LXXIV. We commend the military judge for the comprehensive, detailed
findings of fact and thorough legal analysis contained in his written rulings on this
matter.
44 App. Ex. LXXIV at 35.
45 Id. at 36.
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Upon receiving the warrant, the same government expert that had per-
formed the February 2020 search conducted a new search of Appellant’s Mac-
Book laptop. The NCIS agent instructed the examiner to perform the search
as if it was his initial search of the computer; regardless, the examiner later
testified that he had no memory of the specifics of the earlier search and had
consulted none of his previous notes. The evidence he found in that August
2020 search was substantially the same as that discovered in the February
2020 search.
In his ruling on a subsequent motion to suppress the results of the August
2020 search, the military judge found the facts as described above and judged
the digital forensics expert to be a completely credible technical professional
who had “no desire to rely on the examination he conducted in February
2020.” 46 Citing the independent source doctrine and finding (1) that the affiant
did not omit any material information from the probable cause affidavit sub-
mitted to the federal magistrate, (2) that the magistrate was presented with
sufficient probable cause to issue the search warrant, 47 and (3) that the August
2020 search was untainted by the prior unlawful searches, the military judge
denied the defense motion to suppress the results of the August 2020 search of
Appellant’s MacBook laptop. It is this ruling that Appellant now claims as er-
ror.
3. Discussion
“An abuse of discretion occurs when the trial court’s findings of fact are
clearly erroneous or if the court’s decision is influenced by an erroneous view
of the law.” 48 We find the military judge’s extensive findings of fact to be well
supported by the evidence presented and not clearly erroneous. We also find
his well-reasoned, comprehensive analysis did not suffer from an erroneous
view of the law. Accordingly, we find this AOE is without merit.
a. Federal Magistrate Involvement
While the chain of events may initially give one pause over concerns of fo-
rum shopping, we are confident this was not the case here. First, the record
establishes that the District Court had jurisdiction over both the offense and
the place where the object of the search warrant was located. Second, the sup-
porting affidavit clearly explained why NCIS was seeking authority from the
46 App. Ex. XCII at 14.
47The military judge further found that, “[e]ven if probable cause was lacking, . . .
the good faith exception applies.” App. Ex. XCII at 32.
48 Lloyd, 69 M.J. at 99 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
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Opinion of the Court
District Court and not a military magistrate. As found by the military judge,
NCIS went to great lengths to ensure nothing related to the earlier searches
or any evidence collected after 19 January 2017 tainted the new warrant. The
decision to seek a warrant from the District Court reflected the agents’ belief
in the fact it was unlikely that any military judge at Camp Pendleton would be
free of knowledge of the case—particularly regarding the results of the Febru-
ary 2020 search.
Rather than view this as an attempted evasion of the exclusionary rule’s
effects, we see this as validation of the rule. The NCIS agents learned and ap-
plied the “harsh lesson” the military judge intended to deliver by excluding the
evidence derived from the February 2020 search. 49 Being told their previous
probable cause affidavit was “insufficient to establish PC,” 50 the agents set
about correcting their failure. In doing so, they provided a much more robust,
17-page affidavit including all relevant evidence known as of the date of the
original application for authorization to search Appellant’s MacBook laptop.
The military judge concluded that the last affidavit was both sufficient to es-
tablish probable cause and untainted by any activity after 19 January 2017.
We agree.
b. The Affidavit Contained Sufficient Probable Cause
Appellant claims the affidavit submitted by NCIS on 23 July 2020 did not
provide sufficient probable cause to issue the warrant. Specifically, Appellant
claims the affidavit did not establish a specific nexus between the alleged crime
and the MacBook laptop. In support, Appellant cites United States v. Nieto, in
which our superior Court held that a generalized claim that a person might
upload images from a cellphone to a computer was insufficient to link the two. 51
We find Appellant’s reliance on Nieto inapt. Unlike in that case, here the
affidavit relied on more than simply a possibility of uploading images between
electronic devices. Rather, the affidavit focused on the communications be-
tween Appellant and Allison directly, demonstrating the probability that evi-
dence of their communications (including images and videos) were sent directly
to and from the MacBook. Allison told NCIS the two had communicated over
social media applications, not simply via cellphones. These applications were
accessible by both cellphone and computer. Also, the affidavit noted the fact
that Appellant, knowing he was under investigation, gave his MacBook laptop
49 App. Ex. LXXIV at 36.
50 App. Ex. LXXIII at 1.
51 Nieto, 76 M.J. at 107-08.
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Opinion of the Court
and hard drive to a fellow Marine to keep safe. Balanced against this infor-
mation was Appellant’s statement to NCIS that he used only his cellphone. But
the government—as the military judge correctly stated—was not required to
believe him.
c. The Affiant did not Omit Material Information
Appellant next claims that NCIS agents acted with reckless disregard by
omitting material information from the affidavit, specifically, that the military
judge found the 19 January 2017 search unlawful and did not apply the good
faith exception to that or the subsequent search. We fail to see how this mate-
rially differs from the actual language in the affidavit itself—that the search
was done “pursuant to a [CASS],” but that the military ruled that the MacBook
was not covered by that CASS. 52 And we believe it was obvious to the federal
magistrate that the military judge did not apply the good faith exception—
otherwise, the evidence would have been admissible, and the issue would not
be before him. Accordingly, we agree with the military judge’s ruling that no
material information was omitted.
d. The Federal Warrant Provided an Independent, Untainted Source of
Evidence
The August 2020 warrant application sought only to search Appellant’s
MacBook, not the external hard drive also delivered by Sgt Baker. Appellant
points to this as evidence that this application was tainted by the fact that
NCIS, via its earlier search, knew there was incriminating evidence only on
the MacBook laptop. But this turns the issue on its head. That NCIS did not
seek a warrant to search a device it knew contained no evidence is of no import.
What matters is that NCIS, as the military judge correctly found, had twice
searched the MacBook laptop in the belief that it contained evidence of a
crime—the second time after having not found anything in the earlier, 2017
search. This shows that NCIS still held a sincere belief in January 2020 that
the MacBook contained relevant evidence, evidence that improved search ca-
pabilities would reveal. The fact that NCIS sought the third search after dis-
covering such evidence on the MacBook in no way erases the fact NCIS be-
lieved probable cause existed prior to both previous searches.
Appellant next claims the August 2020 search was tainted by the results of
the illegal January 2020 search as both were conducted by the same govern-
ment expert. Having reviewed the record, we agree with the military judge’s
findings that (1) the examiner was instructed to perform the search as if he
52 App. Ex. LXXIV at 33.
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Opinion of the Court
had never examined the MacBook laptop, and (2) the examiner had no memory
of having conducted the previous search. We are therefore convinced this issue
did not taint the results of the August 2020 search.
Accordingly, we conclude the military judge did not abuse his discretion in
denying Appellant’s motion to exclude the results of the August 2020 search of
his MacBook laptop.
D. Sentence Appropriateness
Appellant claims that his sentence of 30 years, total forfeitures, reduction
to pay grade E-1, and a dishonorable discharge is inappropriately severe, given
that he was denied an expert consultant regarding recidivism and that his
pending prosecution in Nevada state court prevented him from being as con-
trite as he wanted to be in his unsworn statement. We disagree.
We review sentence appropriateness de novo. 53 This Court may only affirm
“the sentence, or such part or amount of the sentence, as the Court finds correct
in law and fact and determines, on the basis of the entire record, should be
approved.” 54 In exercising this function, we seek to ensure that “justice is done
and that the accused gets the punishment he deserves.” 55 The review requires
an “individualized consideration of the particular accused on the basis of the
nature and seriousness of the offense and the character of the offender.” 56 We
have significant discretion in determining sentence appropriateness, but may
not engage in acts of clemency. 57
A court-martial shall impose punishment that is sufficient, but not greater
than necessary, to promote discipline and to maintain good order and disci-
pline. 58 Among other factors, the sentence needs to reflect the seriousness of
the offense, promote respect for the law, provide just punishment for the of-
fense, promote adequate deterrence of misconduct, protect others from further
crimes by the accused, and rehabilitate the accused. 59
53 United States v. Lane, 64 M.J. 1, 2 (C.A.A.F. 2006).
54 Article 66(d)(1), UCMJ.
55 United States v. Healy, 26 M.J. 394, 395 (C.M.A. 1988).
56 United States v. Snelling, 14 M.J. 267, 268 (C.M.A. 1982) (citation and internal
quotation marks omitted).
57 United States v. Nerad, 69 M.J. 138, 146 (C.A.A.F. 2010).
58 R.C.M. 1002(f).
59 R.C.M. 1002(f)(3)(A)-(F).
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Opinion of the Court
Here, Appellant was found guilty of, inter alia, sexually abusing a child
under age twelve; sexually assaulting a child under age twelve; sexually as-
saulting a child under age sixteen; possessing child pornography; and soliciting
a child under age 16 to create child pornography. He faced a maximum pun-
ishment of life without the possibility of parole.
Appellant raped and assaulted Allison over a period of nearly four years,
beginning when she was an eleven-year-old fifth-grader. Isolating her at his
home, he forced her to drop out of in-person school. He repeatedly pushed her
to find other persons with whom they could engage in three-way sex. When
Allison objected, Appellant responded with violence. Years later, she has diffi-
culty overcoming the effects of his years-long abuse.
Against this evidence of depraved conduct and its aftermath, Appellant of-
fered the fact that he presents a low risk of recidivism based on the results of
the STABLE-2007 test. He also presented extensive documentation of his mil-
itary service, as well as the testimony of numerous character witnesses. He
described to the members his efforts to understand and improve himself. And
he expressed his remorse, although explaining how the potential of prosecution
in state court limited his ability to fully express how sorry he was. He was not
precluded, as he claims, from making a case for leniency.
Weighing the evidence, we find that Appellant’s sentence was adjudged
with individualized consideration based on both the nature and seriousness of
his offenses, and Appellant's character. After reviewing the record as a whole,
we find the sentence to be correct in law, that it appropriately reflects the mat-
ters in extenuation, mitigation, and aggravation presented, and that it should
be approved.
III. CONCLUSION
After careful consideration of the record and briefs of appellate counsel, we
have determined that the findings and sentence are correct in law and fact and
that no error materially prejudicial to Appellant’s substantial rights oc-
curred. 60
The findings and sentence are AFFIRMED.
60 UCMJ arts. 59, 66.
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United States v. Kunishige, NMCCA No. 201800110
Opinion of the Court
FOR THE COURT:
S. TAYLOR JOHNSTON
Interim Clerk of Court
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