United States v. Ernest

30 M.J. 506, 1990 CMR LEXIS 172, 1990 WL 18582
CourtU S Air Force Court of Military Review
DecidedFebruary 1, 1990
DocketACM 27421
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 30 M.J. 506 (United States v. Ernest) 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. Ernest, 30 M.J. 506, 1990 CMR LEXIS 172, 1990 WL 18582 (usafctmilrev 1990).

Opinion

DECISION

SPILLMAN, Judge:

The appellant is a retirement-eligible reserve officer who stands convicted by general court-martial, military judge alone, of five drug related offenses. He was sentenced to dismissal, confinement for five years and total forfeitures. On appeal, as he did at trial, the appellant asserts that the court-martial lacked personal jurisdiction over him. He also asserts that the adjudged sentence is inappropriately severe.

Appellant’s criminal misconduct occurred on three separate active duty training tours in early 1988: 20 and 21 January, 11 and 12 February, and 18 and 19 February. His primary jurisdictional assertion is that he was brought onto active duty in violation of Air Force directives on 18 February 1988 and “that any “continuation” of his active duty status was null and void.” We disagree.

[508]*508The military judge made detailed findings of fact in support of his conclusion that appellant was subject to military jurisdiction. R.C.M. 905(c)(1) and (2)(B). As to the first period of active duty, the military judge found that the appellant submitted an APPLICATION FOR ACTIVE DUTY TRAINING, AF Form 1289, dated 13 January 1988, requesting to perform duty on 20 and 21 January 1988. This application was approved in accordance with squadron policy and procedures by authorized appointees, and the accused was ordered to active duty on 20 and 21 January 1988 by verbal order of the unit commander. An AF Form 938, REQUEST AND AUTHORIZATION FOR ACTIVE DUTY TRAINING/ACTIVE DUTY TOUR, (Reserve Order No. 3498), confirming appellant’s active duty status on 20 and 21 January, was properly authenticated and published on 25 January 1988. Appellant applied for and received military pay, reserve points and per diem pay for active duty performed on 20 and 21 January.

As to the second period in question, the appellant submitted an AF Form 1289, dated 3 February 1988, requesting to perform active duty on 11 and 12 February. It was processed in accordance with unit procedures, and the appellant was ordered to active duty on the requested dates by a properly authenticated and published reserve order (AF Form 938) dated 10 February. Again the appellant applied for and received military pay, reserve points and per diem pay for active duty performed on 11 and 12 February 1988.

By AF Form 1289, dated 15 February 1988, the appellant requested to perform active duty on 18 and 19 February. This application was processed in accordance with unit procedures, and the appellant was ordered to active duty on the requested dates by verbal order of the commander. A properly authenticated and published reserve order, AF Form 938, dated 18 February 1988, confirmed appellant’s active duty status for the dates requested. The appellant was entitled to military pay, reserve points and per diem pay for active duty performed on 18 and 19 February 1988; however, he voluntarily elected to forego applying for these entitlements. Between February and the time of trial, September 1988, the appellant remained on active duty, regularly requested and received per diem payment advances but never applied for or received active duty reimbursement.

The military judge further found that the appellant was in an active duty status on 20 and 21 January, 11 and 12 February and 18 and 19 February 1988; that he was present for duty and in uniform on 18 February when he was apprehended in his duty section; and that he had been in a continuous active duty status from the time of his apprehension to the date of trial. These findings by the military judge will not be disturbed since they are adequately supported by the evidence of record. United States v. Burris, 21 M.J. 140, 144 (C.M.A.1985), United States v. Middleton, 10 M.J. 123, 133 (C.M.A.1981). Based on these findings, the military judge concluded that the appellant was subject to military jurisdiction. We agree.

From the evidence presented at trial, there is no question that appellant’s unit failed to follow Air Force directives in bringing him onto active duty on these three occasions.

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Related

United States v. Baker
45 M.J. 538 (Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, 1996)
United States v. Ernest
32 M.J. 135 (United States Court of Military Appeals, 1991)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
30 M.J. 506, 1990 CMR LEXIS 172, 1990 WL 18582, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-ernest-usafctmilrev-1990.