United States v. Frye

33 M.J. 1075, 1992 CMR LEXIS 14, 1992 WL 7724
CourtU.S. Army Court of Military Review
DecidedJanuary 14, 1992
DocketACMR 8901030
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 33 M.J. 1075 (United States v. Frye) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering U.S. Army 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. Frye, 33 M.J. 1075, 1992 CMR LEXIS 14, 1992 WL 7724 (usarmymilrev 1992).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT ON FURTHER REVIEW

De GIULIO, Senior Judge:

In March 1989, a general court-martial found appellant guilty of rape, assault with a dangerous weapon, and two specifications of impersonating a CID agent, in violation of Articles 120, 128, and 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §§ 920, 928, and 934 (1982) [hereinafter UCMJ]. He was sentenced to a dishonorable discharge, confinement for 18 months, total forfeitures, and reduction to Private El. This Court set aside the findings and sentence because the military judge improperly denied appellant’s timely motion to withdraw his request to be tried by enlisted members so he could be tried by officers. Government counsel conceded error. A rehearing was authorized. United, States v. Frye, ACMR 8901030 (A.C.M.R. 23 Aug. 1990) (unpub).

At the rehearing by a court with enlisted members, contrary to his pleas, appellant was found not guilty of rape, but guilty of the lesser included offense of indecent assault, and was found guilty of two specifications of impersonating a CID agent. He was sentenced to a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for three years, forfeiture of $300.00 pay per month for three years, and reduction to Private El.1 The convening authority reduced the confinement to eighteen months, but otherwise approved the sentence. The case is again before us for review.

We affirm the findings but hold that the military judge erroneously advised the court of the maximum sentence. We will reassess the sentence.

The victim, Private First Class (PFC) P, had completed a sentence at the Army Correction Brigade arising from a conviction for possession and distribution of drugs, conspiracy, and adultery. PFC P had been restored to duty. She met appellant one week after her reassignment to the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. During their conversations, she told him of her conviction. Although appellant was married, he “asked her out” five or six times. She initially told him that she was not interested but eventually agreed to have dinner with him when he told her he must talk to her about his severe marital problems. When setting up the meeting where they would talk, appellant mentioned that his friend had left a film case containing cocaine in his car. While driving to dinner appellant told PFC P that he was high on cocaine. He offered to exchange cocaine for sex. She refused. He then [1077]*1077offered to sell her the cocaine for ten dollars. When she indicated that she would buy it, appellant produced a badge, stated that he was CID, exhibited a pistol in his waistband and told her he would have to process her “because she had accepted to buy cocaine.” He also turned his head and acted as if he was talking into a tape recorder. Eventually, appellant offered not to arrest her if she would have sex with him. She agreed and they went to her barracks. When appellant tried to “massage” her, PFC P exhibited her reluctance by pushing him away from her. Again, appellant threatened sex or arrest. She chose sex, and they had intercourse. A few days later appellant asked PFC P to meet him in the library where, acting as a CID agent, he attempted to get to her to sign a CID incident report concerning her attempt to purchase cocaine. He produced an envelope which contained a cassette tape and CID forms. She indicated she wanted a lawyer and left. The next day appellant sent her a letter apologizing for “taking her through hell” and indicating he would not turn her in. Two days later, PFC P told her boyfriend of the incident. He reported the matter to the CID. A search of appellant’s work area resulted in the discovery of an envelope upon which was written PFC P’s name, which contained a cassette tape and a CID report. The CID report had PFC P listed as the subject, and contained information indicating the report was for her buying cocaine from Agent Sergeant Boyce Frye. A laboratory report concluded appellant’s signature was on the envelope and CID reports. Evidence of record shows appellant was neither a CID agent nor did he work for them.

The theory of the defense was that this was a drug deal that went sour — an exchange of drugs for sex. Appellant contended that, when PFC P discovered she was not getting cocaine from appellant after they had sex, she alleged rape. Appellant maintained that PFC P’s testimony was not worthy of belief.2

Before this Court, appellant alleges that, with respect to the rape charge, the military judge erred to his prejudice by instructing the court on the lesser included offense of indecent assault. Over defense objection,3 the military judge determined that indecent assault was raised by the evidence.4 Although he noted that consent was a central issue in the case, he decided to give the instruction stating, “I believe the jury could find, if they don’t find sufficient force to overcome the consent, indecent assault.” It is apparent that the court members were concerned over the force required as it related to consent because they asked three times for instructions concerning this issue and the distinction between rape and the offense of indecent assault. After hearing all the evidence the court members found appellant, “Guilty, except for the word ‘rape,’ substituting therefor the words, ‘commit an assault upon Private First Class [P], a person not his wife, by placing his tongue in her vagina and having sexual intercourse with her, with intent to gratify his sexual desires.’ ” 5 The court found appellant not guilty of sodomy.

I.

Appellant asserts that the military judge erred to his substantial prejudice by instructing the court members that they could consider indecent assault as a lesser included offense of rape. He contends that the only issue raised was consent, and that if PFC P consented to the intercourse, as the court must have believed, she also con[1078]*1078sented to the acts involved in the indecent assault.

It is well settled that a military judge must instruct the court members, sua sponte, on all lesser included offenses reasonably raised by the evidence; this duty arises whenever some evidence is presented to which the fact finders might attach credit if they so desire. United States v. Jackson, 12 M.J. 163 (C.M.A.1981); United States v. Clark, 48 C.M.R. 83 (C.M.A.1973); United States v. Evans, 38 C.M.R. 36 (C.M.A.1967). The military judge has this duty even if counsel oppose instructions on the lesser included offenses. See United States v. Emmons, 31 M.J. 108 (C.M.A.1990).

In the case before us, the military judge instructed the court that consent obtained by fraud is valid consent, and he properly left this issue for the court to determine. We believe this case is akin to those cases where purported consent was obtained by threat of disciplinary action, rather than by fraud.6 In United States v. Hicks, 24 M.J. 3 (C.M.A.), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 827, 108 5. Ct. 95, 98 L.Ed.2d 55 (1987), the threat was by a sergeant to report a purported violation of a regulation by the victim’s boyfriend. He offered not to report the violation in exchange for sex.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
33 M.J. 1075, 1992 CMR LEXIS 14, 1992 WL 7724, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-frye-usarmymilrev-1992.