United States v. Huelsman

27 M.J. 511, 1988 CMR LEXIS 694, 1988 WL 100572
CourtU.S. Army Court of Military Review
DecidedSeptember 27, 1988
DocketACMR 8800519
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 27 M.J. 511 (United States v. Huelsman) 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. Huelsman, 27 M.J. 511, 1988 CMR LEXIS 694, 1988 WL 100572 (usarmymilrev 1988).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

COKER, Senior Judge:

Appellant was tried by a military judge sitting as a general court-martial, and in accordance with his pleas was convicted of three specifications of making and uttering worthless checks and of drunk and disorderly conduct in violation of Articles 123a and 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §§ 923a and 934 (1982) [hereinafter UCMJ]. The checks were payable to the United States Treasurer in the amounts of $540.00, $450.00, and $500.00. Further, in accordance with his pleas, appellant was found not guilty of distributing thirty pounds of marijuana, possession of twenty pounds of marijuana with the intent to distribute it, both in violation of Article 112a, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 912a, and of ten additional bad check specifications. He was sentenced to a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for twelve months, and forfeiture of $300.00 pay per month for twelve months. The convening authority approved the sentence, but suspended confinement in excess of nine months pursuant to a pretrial agreement.

Before this court appellant argues, as he did at trial, that his confession concerning the possession and distribution of marijuana was inadmissible as evidence in aggravation of sentence. We agree.1 The record of trial is not entirely clear as to the circumstances surrounding appellant’s confession. In order to prevent any misunderstanding, the court will exercise its authority under Article 66(c), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866(c) in making findings of fact.2

Special Agent (SA) G of the Criminal Investigation Command (CID) questioned appellant concerning the bad check offenses. Prior to the interrogation, complete and proper advice under Article 31(b), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 831(b), was given to appellant by G, but only as to the offense of “larceny by uttering worthless checks.” Appellant indicated that he understood his rights to remain silent and to request the assistance of counsel. He waived these rights in writing, and willingly discussed the offenses with G. Appellant admitted writing the checks to the government even though he knew there was no money in his [513]*513checking account. G then asked him why he wrote the checks; appellant explained that he owed money to people in Denver. G continued by asking why appellant owed the money and he answered that, “he owed them money for a situation with drugs.”

At this point, G did not repeat or explain again any part of the Article 31(b) rights warning. She asked only a question to the effect, “You know you are still under rights advisement?” Appellant answered this question in the affirmative. The discussion then centered on appellant’s conduct as a courier of large amounts of marijuana. At the completion of the discussion, G reduced appellant’s statement to writing in a question and answer format, placed appellant under oath, and had appellant sign the statement. No further warning was given appellant prior to the preparation and signing of the written statement.

At trial, defense counsel moved to have the statement suppressed on the basis that it was taken in violation of Article 31(b), UCMJ, in that appellant had not been properly advised as to the nature of the offense of which he was suspected. Defense further argued that the statement was not admissible under Military Rule of Evidence 4033 in that its probative value was substantially outweighed by the degree of unfair prejudice. The military judge denied the motion and admitted the statement as evidence in aggravation during the presentencing hearing.

Under the United States Constitution, “No person ... shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.” 4 On this concept are based the decisions of the United States Supreme Court that protect an accused from compelled self-incrimination. See Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477, 101 S.Ct. 1880, 68 L.Ed.2d 378 (1981); Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). This protection is provided to members of the Armed Forces in Article 31(a), UCMJ: “No person subject to this chapter may compel any person to incriminate himself or to answer any question the answer to which may tend to incriminate him.” Yet, the provisions of Article 31, UCMJ, accord an accused much broader protection than that encompassed by the Fifth Amendment or articulated by the Supreme Court. For example, Article 31(b), UCMJ, provides in part, “No person subject to this chapter may interrogate or request any statement from an accused or a person suspected of an offense without first informing him of the nature of the accusation.” See Mil.R. Evid. 305(c)(1). Article 31(d) provides that: “No statement obtained from any person in violation of this article ... may be received in evidence against him in a trial by court-martial.” See Mil.R.Evid. 304(a), 305(a); see also United States v. Jones, 26 M.J. 353, 356 (C.M.A.1988). This exclusionary rule for violation of Article 31, UCMJ, is recognized by the government in this case; it contends, however, that a sufficient warning was given to appellant.

Neither the Court of Military Appeals nor this court requires or even expects a police officer to use the precision and expertise of an attorney in informing an accused of the nature of the offense of which he is suspected. See, e.g., United States v. Johnson, 43 C.M.R. 160, 164 (C.M.A.1971). The accused must be made aware, however, of the general nature of the allegation. The warning must include the area of suspicion and sufficiently orient the accused toward the circumstances surrounding the event. United States v. Schultz, 41 C.M.R. 31 (C.M.A.1970); United States v. Reynolds, 37 C.M.R. 23 (C.M.A.1966).

We find that the rights warning by G to appellant as to the offenses involving possession and distribution of marijuana violated Article 31(b), UCMJ, and, therefore, his statement concerning those offenses was inadmissible at his trial by court-martial. The court recognizes that appellant’s case is factually distinguishable from the cases cited by the government; however, the principle of law involved and the mandate of Article 31 are not. Initial[514]*514ly, the questions by G were innocent5 and relevant to an interrogation concerning appellant’s issuing bad checks. But, once the appellant revealed his involvement in a “drug situation,” he became a suspect of an Article 112a, UCMJ, offense. At that point, Article 31 mandated that appellant be advised in accordance with Article 31(a) and (b). United States v. Leiffer, 13 M.J. 337, 344 (C.M.A.1982). That special agent G was aware of this requirement is demonstrated by her interrogation and question as noted above. The continued discussion of the “suspected” drug offenses was neither spontaneous nor the result of “innocent” questions.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

United States v. SCOTTGEORGE
Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals, 2026
United States v. Lowery, ARMY MISC 20240300
Army Court of Criminal Appeals, 2024
United States v. Blanton
Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals, 2019
United States v. Private First Class CHANCE E. REDD
67 M.J. 581 (Army Court of Criminal Appeals, 2008)
United States v. Simpson
54 M.J. 281 (Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 2000)
United States v. Thompson
31 M.J. 781 (U.S. Army Court of Military Review, 1990)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
27 M.J. 511, 1988 CMR LEXIS 694, 1988 WL 100572, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-huelsman-usarmymilrev-1988.