United States v. Griffith

• Court: Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals
• Decided: March 28, 2022
• Docket: 202100330
• Status: Published

Opinion

This opinion is subject to administrative correction before final disposition.

Before HOLIFIELD, STEWART, and HACKEL Appellate Military Judges

_________________________

UNITED STATES Appellee

v.

Elijah M. GRIFFITH Lance Corporal (E-3), U.S. Marine Corps Appellant

No. 202100330

Decided: 28 March 2022

Appeal from the United States Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary

Military Judge: Nicolas S. Henry (arraignment) Glen R. Hines (trial)

Sentence adjudged 19 August 2021 by a general court-martial convened at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, consisting of a military judge sitting alone. Sentence in the Entry of Judgment: reduc- tion to E-1, confinement for 195 days, 1 forfeiture of all pay and allow- ances, and a dishonorable discharge.

For Appellant: Lieutenant Jackson M. Beach JAGC, USN

1 Appellant was credited with having served 195 days of pretrial confinement. United States v. Griffith, NMCCA No. 202100330 Opinion of the Court

This opinion does not serve as binding precedent under NMCCA Rule of Appellate Procedure 30.2(a).

PER CURIAM: After careful consideration of the record, submitted without assignment of error, we have determined that the findings and sentence are correct in law and fact and that no error materially prejudicial to Appellant’s substantial rights occurred. 2 However, we note that the Entry of Judgment does not accurately reflect the disposition of the charges. Although we find no prejudice, Appellant is en- titled to have court-martial records that correctly reflect the content of his pro- ceeding. 3 In accordance with Rule for Courts-Martial 1111(c)(2), we modify the Entry of Judgment and direct that it be included in the record. The findings and sentence are AFFIRMED.

FOR THE COURT:

RODGER A. DREW, JR. Clerk of Court

2 Articles 59 & 66, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §§ 859, 866. 3 United States v. Crumpley, 49 M.J. 538, 539 (N-M. Ct. Crim. App. 1998).

2 UNITED STATES NMCCA NO. 202100330

v. ENTRY OF Elijah M. GRIFFITH JUDGMENT Lance Corporal (E-3) U.S. Marine Corps As Modified on Appeal Accused 28 March 2022

On 9 August 2021, the Accused was tried at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, by a general court-martial, consisting of a military judge sitting alone. Military Judge Glen R. Hines presided.

FINDINGS

The following are the Accused’s pleas and the Court’s findings to all offenses the convening authority referred to trial:

Charge I: Violation of Article 120b, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 920b. Plea: Guilty. Finding: Guilty.

Specification 1: Sexual assault of A.L., a child who had attained the age of 12 years but had not attained the age of 16 years, from on or about 30 December 2020 to on or about 31 December 2020, by penetrating A.L.’s vulva with LCpl Griffith’s penis. Plea: Guilty. Finding: Guilty.

3 United States v. Griffith, NMCCA No. 202100330 Modified Entry of Judgment

Specification 2: Sexual assault of A.L., a child who had attained the age of 12 years but had not attained the age of 16 years, from on or about 30 December 2020 to on or about 31 December 2020, by causing contact between A.L.’s mouth and LCpl Griffith’s penis. Plea: Not Guilty. Finding: Dismissed.

SENTENCE

On 19 August 2021, a military judge sentenced the Accused to the following: Reduction to pay grade E-1. For Specification 1 of the Charge: confinement for 195 days. Confinement for a total of 195 days. Forfeiture of all pay and allowances. A dishonorable discharge. The Accused has served 195 days pretrial confinement and shall be credited with 195 days of confinement already served, to be deducted from the adjudged sentence to confinement.