United States v. Henley

48 M.J. 862
CourtUnited States Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals
DecidedAugust 17, 1998
DocketACM 32551
StatusPublished

This text of 48 M.J. 862 (United States v. Henley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Air Force 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. Henley, 48 M.J. 862 (afcca 1998).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

SNYDER, Senior Judge:

We hold in this ease as follows: 1) a magistrate, or authorizing official, may, when presented an adequate supporting basis, consider opinion evidence when determining whether probable cause to search exists; 2) when evidence of other crimes or acts is admitted at trial under both Mil.R.Evid. (Rule) 404(b) and 414, a determination at the appellate level that the evidence was properly admitted under Rule 404(b) moots any issue regarding Rule 414; and, 3) questions by appellate defense counsel as to “why” trial defense counsel did or did not do certain things before and during the trial, without more, do not raise any cognizable issue regarding ineffective assistance of counsel.

I. Background

Tried by general court-martial, appellant was convicted, contrary to his pleas, of con[867]*867sensual oral sodomy, two instances of committing indecent acts, and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. Articles 125, 134, and 133, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §'§ 925, 934, and 933. He was sentenced to a dismissal and confinement for 6 years, which the convening authority approved. Appellant submits 11 assignments of error, only one of which has merit, and only four of which merit extended discussion. We grant partial relief but otherwise affirm.

The charges appellant was convicted of arose from repeated instances of him molesting his son and daughter between 1976 and 1995. Due to the statute of limitations, however, he was charged only with those instances which occurred between September 20, 1990, and May 1995. See Article 43(b)(1), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 843(b)(1). The first issue we consider is appellant’s assertion that the military judge erred in not granting his motion to suppress the results of a search of his residence.

II. Facts

The military judge made extensive findings of fact on this issue. They are as follows:

First, on or about 24 April 1995, [JLH] and [DRH] were interviewed by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. They completed signed, sworn statements in which they alleged a long history of sexual abuse perpetuated upon them by the accused.
The statement of [DRH] related the accused watched pornographic movies with him on Sunday mornings; made video tapes of [DRH] involved in sexual conduct with the accused; that [the accused] showed to [DRH] “dirty magazines” and showed him homemade video tapes of sexual conduct occurring between the accused and his wife.
In the statement of [DRH], he indicated that often this type of behavior occurred as a method used by the accused in initiating sexual acts with [DRH].
Second, after reviewing the statements and consulting with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment Superintendent, Special Agent [B] telephonieally contacted Lieutenant Colonel Nancy A. Slicner, an Investigative Psychologist assigned to AFOSI. She reviewed the case information and provided a memo indicating an opinion that the subject described was “sexually indiscriminate” or [a] “try-sexual” [meaning they will try anything plus everything sexual]. She further opined that there was an “exceptional strong likelihood” that such an individual would keep articles of past sexual exploitations.
Three, Lieutenant Colonel Slicner told Special Agent [B] that, based on the information she had been provided, it was her opinion the accused was a “classic pedophile.” Special Agent [B] then reviewed information from a treatise on pedophilia titled The Sexual Exploitation of Children by Seth Goldstein. That information included certain common characteristics of persons who, among other things, molest children. Those criteria include collecting sexually explicit materials and rarely, if ever, disposing of such materials.
Fourth, Special Agent [B] took the statements of [JLH] and [DRH], the statement of Dr Nancy Slicner, and the information obtained from the Goldstein treatise to Detective [S] of Live Oak [Texas] Police Department. He briefed Officer [S] on the investigation and allowed her to review and inspect the information he had regarding the case. Agent [B] prepared an affidavit for search warrant and Officer [S], accompanied by Agent [B], appeared before Judge R.N. Cate [a magistrate of Bexar County, Texas]. Officer [S] and Agent [B] were sworn by Judge Cate, related the information substantially as it is contained in [the affidavit]. It provided Judge Cate with the statements of [JLH] and [DRH], the statement from Lieutenant Colonel Slicner, and a summary of the information from the Goldstein treatise. Judge Cate took approximately one hour to review the information provided to him prior to him issuing the warrant.
Five, none of the information provided to Judge Cate specifically told him the materials had last been seen by [JLH] and [DRH] in 1990 in a location other than the accused’s residence in Live Oak, Texas.
[868]*868Six, Judge Cate did have available for his review, the 24 April ’95 sworn statements of the Henley children, which allege sexual abuse occurred in California, Arkansas, Germany, Abilene, Texas, and Warrens-burg, Missouri. Additionally, the statements clearly indicated the time frame of the alleged abuse.
Seven, [JLH] indicated in her 24 April ’95 statement that she presently resided in the premises which the affidavit requested permission to search.
Eight, on 25 April ’95, the Live Oak Police Department did not have an open case involving the accused, nor was any case ever opened by the Live Oak Police Department on [the accused] arising from this investigation.
Nine, the warrant obtained from Judge Cate was executed by Officer [S] with the assistance of the Live Oak Police Department and the [AFOSI] and resulted in the seizure of [over 1000 video tapes; video recording equipment, including a camcorder camera; and, numerous sexually explicit magazines, some of which depicted nude children and homosexual acts, were seized].

After making the above findings, the military judge ruled that Judge Cate had a substantial basis for finding probable cause to search and denied the motion to suppress. We find no error in the ruling.

III. Discussion

A. Probable Cause to Search

A military judge’s ruling on the admission or exclusion of evidence, including rulings on motions to suppress, are reviewed for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Ayala, 43 M.J. 296 (1995); United States v. Agosto, 43 M.J. 745, 748 (A.F.Ct.Crim.App. 1995). As search issues generally are mixed questions of fact and law, we review a military judge’s findings of fact under a clearly erroneous standard, and we review the military judge’s conclusions of law under a de novo standard of review. A military judge abuses his or her discretion on a motion to suppress only if the factual findings are clearly erroneous or the law is applied erroneously. Ayala, 43 M.J. at 298; United States v. Burris, 21 M.J. 140, 144 (C.M.A.1985). Finding the military judge’s findings in full accord with the evidence of record, we adopt them as our own. Article 66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C.

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Bluebook (online)
48 M.J. 862, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-henley-afcca-1998.