United States v. Goddard

54 M.J. 763, 2000 CCA LEXIS 296, 2000 WL 33158178
CourtNavy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals
DecidedNovember 13, 2000
DocketNMCM 9501179
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 54 M.J. 763 (United States v. Goddard) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Goddard, 54 M.J. 763, 2000 CCA LEXIS 296, 2000 WL 33158178 (N.M. 2000).

Opinion

DORMAN, Senior Judge:1

The appellant was tried by general court-martial, before a military judge sitting alone on 27 October 1994. Contrary to his pleas the appellant was convicted of maltreatment and fraternization in violation of Articles 93 and 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §§ 893 and 934. On 15 May 1995, the convening authority approved a sentence that included confinement for 30 months, forfeiture of $432.00 pay per month for 30 months, reduction to pay grade E-l, and a dishonorable discharge.

We initially decided this case on 5 September 1997. United States v. Goddard, 47 M.J. 581 (N.M.Ct.Crim.App.1997). In that opinion we affirmed the findings except for language in the maltreatment specification that indicated that the appellant had engaged in sexual relations with Private S, the victim of the maltreatment, “without her consent and without inquiring as to her consent.” Goddard, 47 M.J. at 588. We also set aside the sentence and returned the record of trial to the Judge Advocate General for a sentencing rehearing. That rehearing was conducted on 22 January 1998, and resulted in an approved sentence of confinement for six months, forfeiture of $432 pay per month for six months, and reduction to pay grade E-4.

Following action by the convening authority, the record was returned to this court for further review. Following submission of the appellant’s brief on 26 February 1999 and the Government’s response on 20 April 1999, we issued an order returning the case to the Judge Advocate General. In that order we stated our belief that, since the appellant’s sentence no longer included a bad-conduct discharge, further review by our court was no longer required. The appellant petitioned our order to the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and on 14 September 1999, that court returned the record to us for [765]*765completion of review under Article 66, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866.

In his current appeal the appellant raises two additional assignments of error. First, he argues that the adjudged reduction to pay grade E-4 is inappropriately severe. He also argues that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to sustain his conviction of the maltreatment of Private S. This second argument is premised on the manner in which the specification was drafted, alleging that the appellant’s maltreatment of Private S occurred between 11 May 1993 and 10 September 1993 by making unwanted sexual advances towards her and engaging in sexual intercourse with her. The appellant argues that this specification alleges a course of conduct as opposed to a single incident. He further argues that since there was only one incident between the appellant and Private S, he was convicted of more pervasive misconduct than is supported by the record. Appellant’s Brief of 26 February 1999 at 6. The appellant acknowledges that he raises this issue for the first time. Once again, however, he suggests that the maltreatment specification is “legally infirm.” Id. at 6 n. 3.

In light of the appellant’s suggestion that the maltreatment conviction was legally infirm, on our own motion we decided to reconsider our earlier decision with respect to the maltreatment specification.2 On 17 February 2000, we ordered briefs on the following specified issue: “Whether the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the appellant’s conviction for a violation of Article 93, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 993 (1994); and if not, whether the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to affirm a conviction to a lesser-included, or closely related offense.” Both parties filed submissions on 5 April 2000, and the case was orally argued on 7 June 2000.

Upon reconsideration we find the evidence to be legally and factually insufficient to sustain a conviction for maltreatment. We, therefore, will take corrective action in our decretal paragraph, and reassess the sentence.

Facts

On 11 May 1993, Private S reported to Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, to attend Combat Camera School. When she arrived, the class was already filled, so she was assigned duties in the administrative section of the Marine Detachment for about two weeks. During that period of time, the appellant was the administrative chief of the Detachment and Private S worked for him. While working for him she felt comfortable and relaxed.

One evening in June or July 1993, Private S was part of a duty squad that indirectly reported to the appellant. The duty section had two formations, one at 1800 and the other at 2100. Prior to the 2100 formation Private S was talking with the appellant in the television lounge about them experiences at boot camp. After the formation, they, and others, went back to the television lounge where the conversation continued. They talked about finances involving the appellant’s truck and house, and about the appellant’s wife. Eventually everyone except Private S and the appellant left the television lounge. They then started talking about their families.

Private S told the appellant that she did not get along with her family, and that she was adopted. She also told the appellant how her father would sexually harass her. He would watch her put lotion on her legs while she was nude, and he had bought her “teddies.” She told the appellant that her father had told her never to say “no,” and that the best kind of woman was “a lady in public and a slut in bed.” Record at 85. She also told the appellant that her father had physically abused her, and that she could not fight back against her father because he would hit her. This personal conversation lasted about a half-hour or more. They then moved on to other topics. Private S testified that she did not believe the conversation [766]*766would have made the appellant think she was attracted to him.

After a while the appellant asked Private S to help him carry some files to the admin office. Once there, they put the files on a desk. The appellant then asked her if he could ask her a question, and she said yes. The appellant then asked if he could kiss her. Private S did not respond, but the appellant began to French kiss her and led her down to the floor of the office. When they started kissing she said, “No, this isn’t right,” but she did not pull away from the appellant. Record at 88. They were both wearing camouflage uniforms and the appellant began to feel her body through her clothes. Eventually, they engaged in sexual intercourse, although they did not remove their clothes, having their trousers and underwear down to their knees. The appellant attempted to please her, but she was not comfortable with it, and she faked an orgasm to make him stop. At trial she testified that she did not consent to what happened, and that she found the appellant’s conduct offensive.

On cross-examination, Private S testified that the information she shared with the appellant was very sensitive information that she would not share with just anyone. She also acknowledged that she had made several pretrial statements.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
54 M.J. 763, 2000 CCA LEXIS 296, 2000 WL 33158178, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-goddard-nmcca-2000.