United States v. Arthen

32 M.J. 541, 1990 WL 252256
CourtU S Air Force Court of Military Review
DecidedDecember 21, 1990
DocketACM 28590
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 32 M.J. 541 (United States v. Arthen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering U S Air Force Court of Military Review primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Arthen, 32 M.J. 541, 1990 WL 252256 (usafctmilrev 1990).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

LEONARD, Senior Judge:

Major Terry Arthen pleaded guilty to and was convicted of conduct unbecoming an officer by maintaining a romantic relationship with an airman and treating him on terms of military equality. She was also convicted of adultery with the same airman. Her approved sentence is dismissal from the service. We find appellant’s guilty plea to the offense of conduct unbecoming an officer to be improvident.

Until her conviction, Major Arthen had over 12 years of outstanding service as a nurse. Her problems began when she became romantically involved with Airman First Class Daniel J. Hailand. At the time of this involvement, appellant was serving as the chief or charge nurse for a multi-service surgical and medical section of the hospital at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. Hailand was assigned to the same hospital as a medical specialist in the surgi[543]*543cal clinic. Although appellant was married to a civilian, she began dating Hailand in December 1988. Eventually, their relationship evolved into a love affair that included sexual intercourse.

Appellant worked with Hailand on the Hospital Health Promotions Board. The purpose of the Board was to promote healthful activities and food in the McConnell Air Force Base community. On 19 September 1989, appellant was sent to Carswell Air Force Base, Texas on a temporary duty (TDY) assignment concerned with health promotions. Hailand took leave and joined her in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where they engaged in sexual intercourse at an off-base location.

Some of appellant’s activities with Hailand occurred in the presence of other military personnel assigned to the hospital; each of these individuals was also involved in officer-enlisted romantic relationships. Appellant and Hailand spent several nights together and engaged in sexual intercourse at the home of Captain and Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Jackimczuk, an officer-enlisted married couple. Major William Cottrell and Staff Sergeant Tammy Duncan were other witnesses to some of appellant’s activities with Hailand. Cottrell and Duncan were also lovers and Cottrell was subsequently tried by court-martial for his fraternization with Duncan. Duncan was Hailand’s immediate supervisor.

Appellant told all four of these individuals that she loved Hailand and that they planned to marry. The sexual activities appellant and Hailand engaged in at the home of the Jackimczuks were private, consensual, and non-deviate. During one of the occasions, Cottrell and Duncan also spent the night together at the Jackimczuk’s. Appellant hugged and kissed Hailand at the Jackimczuk home in the presence of the Jackimczuks, Cottrell, and Duncan. On one occasion, at an unspecified location, Duncan overheard appellant tell Hailand that she loved him and that he was the best lover she ever had.

The hospital commander heard rumors of appellant’s relationship with Hailand and twice counseled appellant about this conduct. At the second counselling session, he advised her to “disengage from any further dealings” with Hailand.

Thereafter, appellant was observed hugging, kissing, and holding hands with Hailand in the Tinker Air Force Base Exchange in October 1989. They were not in uniform; however, the conduct was observed by another nurse assigned to the McConnell Hospital who happened to be shopping at the Tinker Exchange. This nurse reported what she saw to the hospital commander, and he ultimately preferred court-martial charges.

At her trial, appellant entered guilty pleas and the military judge conducted a providency inquiry. During that inquiry, appellant admitted that she knew that her conduct with Hailand was wrong and improper and that it wrongfully, dishonorably, and disgracefully compromised her character and standing as an officer and gentlewoman. However, she also stated that she was aware of a rumor that a prior commander of the hospital had been involved in an adulterous relationship and had not been tried or administratively separated. She further stated that she was aware of other similar activity by other hospital personnel that had gone unpunished.

The specification alleging appellant’s Article 133, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 933, conduct unbecoming offense did not allege that she was the commander or supervisor of Hailand.1 It only alleged that Hailand was [544]*544“her military subordinate in the 384th Strategic Hospital.” Further, other than her admission that they “worked with” each other on the Health Promotions Board, there was no evidence of any kind of a supervisory relationship between appellant and Hailand.

The issues presented by appellant’s case are whether the charge alleging she engaged in conduct unbecoming an officer constituted an offense and, if it did, whether her plea admitted sufficient facts to establish guilt of that offense. The resolution of these issues lies in whether appellant was properly charged with and convicted of fraternization under the holdings of United States v. Johanns, 17 M.J. 862 (A.F.C.M.R.1983), aff'd, 20 M.J. 155 (C.M.A.1985), United States v. Wales, 31 M.J. 301 (C.M.A.1990), United States v. Appel, 31 M.J. 314 (C.M.A.1990), and United States v. Parrillo, 31 M.J. 886 (A.F.C.M.R.1990).

If the Article 133 specification does not state an offense in the Air Force, appellant’s plea of guilty would not waive this defect. United States v. Lumagui, 31 M.J. 789 (A.F.C.M.R.1990); R.C.M. 905(e); R.C.M. 907(b)(1)(B); accord, Mil.R.Evid. 103(a). Further, if appellant’s plea did not admit sufficient facts to make her plea provident, this court is required to set aside her conviction. United States v. Davenport, 9 M.J. 364 (C.M.A.1980); United States v. Care, 18 U.S.C.M.A. 535, 40 C.M.R. 247 (1969); Article 45(a), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 845(a); R.C.M. 910(c)(5) and (e).

The government contends that appellant was not convicted of fraternizing with Hailand and, therefore, the rationale of Johanns, Wales, Appel, and Parrillo does not apply to her case. They argue appellant was convicted of a violation of Article 133, UCMJ, and convictions under this article only have to prove:

(1) That the accused did or omitted to do certain acts; and (2) That, under the circumstances, these acts or omissions constituted conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman.

MCM, Part IV, paragraph 59b (1984).

Unfortunately, the government’s position ignores the explanation of this provision, which provides:

Whenever the offense charged is the same as a specific offense set forth in this Manual, the elements of proof are the same as those set forth in the paragraph which treats that specific offense, with the additional requirement that the act or omission constitutes conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.

MCM, Part IV, paragraph 59e(2) (1984). Therefore, when the government elects to charge what traditionally has constituted fraternization under Article 133 rather than under Article 134, 10 U.S.C. § 934, they have gained an element rather than eliminating any. Parrillo, 31 M.J. at 890; see also United States v. Court, 24 M.J.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
32 M.J. 541, 1990 WL 252256, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-arthen-usafctmilrev-1990.