United States v. Hennis

40 M.J. 865, 1994 CMR LEXIS 298, 1994 WL 535234
CourtU S Air Force Court of Military Review
DecidedSeptember 22, 1994
DocketACM 30488
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 40 M.J. 865 (United States v. Hennis) 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. Hennis, 40 M.J. 865, 1994 CMR LEXIS 298, 1994 WL 535234 (usafctmilrev 1994).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

SCHREIER, Judge:

Contrary to his pleas, members convicted appellant of two specifications of indecent acts and one specification of indecent liberties with his daughter, CH. The approved sentence is a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for two years, and reduction to E-1. Appellant alleges seven errors. We will discuss in detail only the issues pertaining to ineffective assistance of counsel and multiplicity. We conclude that specifications 1 and 3 are multiplicious for findings and combine them.

INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL

This was a hard-fought case in which appellant stipulated to multiple instances of watching CH shower and touching her breasts and a single instance of masturbating in her presence and placing her hand on his penis. Appellant contested the intent and indecency elements of the charged offenses, claiming the acts were for medical or educational reasons. Appellant alleges trial defense counsel abandoned his role as appellant’s advocate resulting in a presumption of ineffectiveness. United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. 648, 104 S.Ct. 2039, 80 L.Ed.2d 657 (1984).

We evaluate claims of ineffective assistance of counsel under two related but different concepts. When appellant alleges specific errors of counsel, he must show both deficient performance and subsequent prejudice which is sufficient to deprive him of a fair trial. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984); United States v. Scott, 24 M.J. 186 (C.M.A.1987). In evaluating for prejudice, one does not focus solely on the outcome. Rather, the test is whether the results of the proceeding are fundamentally unfair or unreliable. Lockart v. Fretwell, — U.S. -, 113 S.Ct. 838, 122 L.Ed.2d 180 (1993). Alternatively, when the circumstances of a case are so egregiously prejudicial that they result in a total breakdown of the adversarial process, ineffectiveness of counsel is presumed without a specific finding of prejudice. Cronic; Stano v. Dugger, 921 F.2d 1125 (11th Cir.1991) (en banc). Here, we have no allegation of specific errors; appellant argues there was a total breakdown in the adversarial process and we must apply Cronic.

Appellant claims his attorney abandoned him and became an advocate for the government by conceding his guilt during findings and sentencing arguments. During findings argument, defense counsel conceded there was an element of sexual stimulation inherent in masturbation and ejaculation. Later, during argument on sentencing, counsel indicated that an acquittal was the worst thing the members could have done. We will analyze these actions to determine if they result[868]*868ed in a total breakdown of the adversarial process.

As a trial strategy, counsel may concede certain elements of an offense or guilt of one of several charges. United States v. Swanson, 943 F.2d 1070 (9th Cir. 1991). Appellate courts will not second-guess tactical concessions made for the purpose of retaining credibility with the members, so long as counsel’s decisions are reasonable under the circumstances of the case. United States v. Hansen, 36 M.J. 599 (A.F.C.M.R.1992) pet. denied, 38 M.J. 229 (1993). The reasonableness of counsel’s actions are evaluated from counsel’s perspective at the time. Strickland v. Washington. “Representation is an art, and an act or omission that is unprofessional in one case may be sound or even brilliant in another.” Strickland 466 U.S. at 693, 104 S.Ct. at 2067. Appellant’s consent to the allegedly prejudicial trial strategy is another factor we consider in evaluating the reasonableness of counsel’s actions. See Hansen.

The overall conduct of appellant’s defense clearly preserved the adversary trial process. Extensive preparation, detailed motion practice, and thorough direct and cross-examinations characterized counsel’s performance. Counsel’s comments appear to be part of a planned trial strategy. During findings argument, counsel did not concede guilt to the charged offense but only stated the obvious when he said that sexual stimulation was present during the act of masturbation. Yet, having conceded that, he went on to argue the defense theory that the act was not indecent under the circumstances. See Hansen. Likewise, counsel’s comments during sentencing argument should not be considered in isolation. Appellant had already admitted in his unsworn statement that he was a “child abuser.” Numerous witnesses discussed the need for and process of rehabilitation, including the need for appellant to confront his admitted problem. The defense counsel’s argument emphasized the need for rehabilitation and counseling for both appellant and his entire family as opposed to punishment for the sake of punishment. This emphasis on rehabilitation, evident throughout the defense sentencing case, began before trial when appellant took actions to obtain rehabilitation for CH and hired an independent counselor to evaluate him. We find the questioned comments were part of a valid trial strategy and did not cause the trial to lose its adversarial character.

Appellant’s appellate counsel have provided only unsubstantiated allegations that appellant did not concur with this strategy. Appellant’s actions both during and after trial indicate at least tacit concurrence with the trial strategy. Appellant admitted during his unsworn statement he was a child abuser, wanted rehabilitation, and had voluntarily subjected himself to the jurisdiction of a Utah state court to obtain rehabilitation for his family. Appellant’s unsworn statement further indicated he knew how to complain about the actions of counsel when he said he fired his prior military counsel for not representing his interests. However, appellant did not express disagreement with his counsel’s strategy either at trial or in his clemency submissions. We acknowledge that appellant’s expression of satisfaction with his counsel carries no weight in an analysis for ineffectiveness. Cronic, 466 U.S. at 657, 104 S.Ct. at 2046, 80 L.Ed.2d at 667 (footnote 21). However, we do believe the information is relevant in determining whether the acts now complained of were part of an agreed upon trial strategy. We find that appellant agreed with the trial strategy and that trial defense counsel did not abandon his role as appellant’s advocate.

MULTIPLICITY

Trial defense counsel argued the indecent acts and indecent liberties specifications were multiplicious for findings because they “essentially address one statutory provision which really addresses only one social standard.” The military judge denied the motion.

The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment is the base for any multiplicity analysis. There is a constitutional violation of this clause, only when a court, contrary to the intent of Congress, imposes multiple convictions and punishments “for [869]*869the same act or course of conduct.” United States v. Teters, 37 M.J. 370, 373 (C.M.A.1993). In Teters, the Court of Military Appeals adopted the legislative intent/elements test of Blockburger v. United States,

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Bluebook (online)
40 M.J. 865, 1994 CMR LEXIS 298, 1994 WL 535234, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-hennis-usafctmilrev-1994.