Melvin Lee Goss v. United States

384 F.2d 133, 1967 U.S. App. LEXIS 5312

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
• Decided: August 17, 1967
• Docket: 9453_1
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Appellant, a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses and classified as a conscientious objector, was found guilty of wilfully and knowingly failing to perform a duty required under the Universal Military Training and Service Act, 50 U.S.C. App. § 462(a). He appeals from the judgment of conviction, asserting that the government failed to prove that S.S.S. Form 153, “Order to Report for Civilian Work and Statement of Employer,” was ever transmitted to him and that consequently the government failed to prove the element of intent necessary for conviction. See Graves v. United States, 9 Cir., 252 F.2d 878.

Trial was to the court and the only evidence presented by the government was appellant’s Selective Service System file properly identified as such. A conviction may be properly premised upon official statements contained in such file. Brandon v. United States, 10 Cir., 381 F.2d 727 decided this day. In the case at bar appellant points to the fact that the summary minutes of the local board, as contained in the file, do not contain an entry showing that Form 153 was mailed to appellant. However, Form 153 itself contains the statement that the form was mailed to appellant on August 4, 1966, and this constitutes an “official statement” to that effect. Absence of an official minute entry might serve to bear upon the probative weight of the entry upon Form 153 but does not constitute a lack of proof. Form 153 carries with it sufficient guaranty of trustworthiness to support conviction when otherwise not challenged. La Porte v. United States, 9 Cir., 300 F.2d 878. Appellant’s other contentions are without merit.

Affirmed.