United States v. Jameson

65 M.J. 160, 2007 CAAF LEXIS 780, 2007 WL 1805161

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
• Decided: June 21, 2007
• Docket: 06-0881/MC
• Status: Published

Opinions

Judge RYAN

delivered the opinion of the Court.

A special court-martial composed of a military judge alone convicted Appellant, contrary to his pleas, of failure to obey an order or regulation and drunken operation of a vehicle, in violation of Articles 92 and 111, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. §§ 892, 911 (2000). The sentence adjudged by the court-martial and approved by the convening authority included a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for ninety days, forfeiture of $500.00 pay per month for a period of four months, and a reduction to E-1. In a supplemental action, the convening authority suspended the bad-conduct discharge until the end of Appellant’s obligated service, at which time it would be remitted. The United States Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the findings of guilt and approved the sentence. United States v. Jameson, No. NMCCA 200401438 (N.M.Ct.Crim.App. June 26, 2006) (unpublished).

On Appellant’s petition, we granted review of the following issues:

I. WHETHER THE MILITARY JUDGE ABUSED HIS DISCRETION BY NOT ALLOWING DEFENSE COUNSEL TO RAISE A MOTION TO SUPPRESS THE RESULTS OF APPELLANT’S BLOOD TEST AFTER PLEAS HAD BEEN ENTERED.

II. WHETHER DEFENSE COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILING TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE OF CONSENT PRIOR TO SUBMISSION OF APPELLANT’S PLEAS AND FOR FAILING TO FILE A TIMELY MOTION TO SUPPRESS THE RESULTS OF APPELLANT’S BLOOD-ALCOHOL TEST.

For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.

I. Background

The charges in this case arise from a single-vehicle accident involving Appellant’s truck that occurred around 5:00 a.m. on November 10, 2003. Appellant had been drinking at two different parties from 8:30 p.m. the night before until approximately thirty minutes before the accident.

Appellant arrived at the first party between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. At this party, Appellant consumed beer and Jágermeister.¹ Around midnight, he went to another party, next door to the first party, and continued to drink vodka and Jágermeister.

Around 5:00 a.m., two Marines found Appellant and another Marine near Appellant’s wrecked truck off Snead’s Ferry Road on Camp Lejeune. They called 911 and attempted to aid both Marines.

The military police investigated the accident site. After looking at the truck, the skid marks, and indentations in the ground, police determined that the truck had swerved to the right, hit a speed limit sign, swerved to the left into a ditch, and then rolled several times before landing right side up.

Appellant was treated by paramedics and taken to the hospital for continued treatment. Around 10:50 a.m. that morning, after doctors had treated Appellant’s medical needs, two investigators, Sgt Bowick and Cpl (now Sgt) Luther, presented Appellant with a form requesting that he consent to a blood draw to determine his blood alcohol content (BAC) by chemical analysis. Sgt Bowick read the form to Appellant and asked Appellant if he understood what had been read to him. Appellant told Sgt Bowick that he understood. Appellant signed the form and blood was drawn from him for the purpose of calculating his BAC. At 11:00 a.m., more than five hours after Appellant was found at the accident scene, Appellant’s BAC measured .ll.²

Appellant made no motions to exclude evidence before trial. In both the opening statement and through cross-examination of the investigators, Appellant’s counsel raised the possibility that a third person had been driving the truck. During its case in chief, the prosecution presented evidence regarding the vehicle’s trajectory during the crash, Appellant’s voluntary, properly warned admissions to investigators that he had been drinking the night of the accident, and testimony that established that the smell of alcohol was emanating from Appellant at the crash site. The prosecution also proved that Appellant’s BAC was beyond the legal limit.

In order to establish the BAC evidence, the prosecution first called Sgt Bowick to establish that Appellant had consented to the blood draw. When trial counsel attempted to admit Appellant’s signed consent form into evidence, defense counsel requested an opportunity to voir dire Sgt Bowick. After completing his voir dire, defense counsel objected to both the admission of the document and any subsequent evidence based on the blood draw. Counsel argued that the taking of Appellant’s blood was an illegal search and that Appellant could not have consented because, at the time Appellant signed the form, he was in an impaired state from “drugs administered by the hospital, his own suspected intoxication,” and his injuries. Defense counsel made no offer of proof regarding any of these allegations, and the record contains no specific medical evidence concerning Appellant’s injuries or medical condition.

The military judge asked defense counsel for good cause why the objection to the evidence had not been made before the trial, as required by the military rules of evidence. See Military Rule of Evidence (M.R.E.) 304(d)(2); M.R.E. 311(d)(2)(A). Defense counsel responded that his only good cause was that he had made two unsuccessful attempts to contact and interview Sgts Bowick and Luther, but had not been able to speak to either of them about the consent form prior to Sgt Bowick’s testimony that day. Defense counsel conceded that he had the medical document showing Appellant’s BAC long before the trial began. Defense counsel also conceded that he had discussed certain aspects of the taking of blood with Appellant. Defense counsel further conceded that he had never requested assistance from the Government or the military judge in producing either investigator for an interview before trial.

After considering the motion, the military judge determined that defense counsel had not articulated good cause why the motion had not been raised before trial in accordance with M.R.E. 311(d)(2)(A). The military judge reasoned that the issue would have been apparent to the defense early on, and that defense counsel had not availed himself of assistance available from the Government or the court to aid in his investigation. Accordingly, the military judge denied the belated request.

The prosecution went on to present evidence regarding the laboratory findings on Appellant’s BAC, thereby establishing that his BAC did measure .11 at the time of the blood draw. Defense counsel presented evidence of Appellant’s good military character only. The military judge found Appellant guilty.

II. Analysis

A. Good Cause

The question presented is whether the military judge abused his discretion when he determined that trial defense counsel had not shown good cause to make an untimely motion to suppress the results of Appellant’s BAC test. Appellant asserts that good cause was shown because defense counsel made two unsuccessful attempts to contact the witnesses involved in the seizure of the blood sample. We disagree.

M.R.E. 311(d)(2)(A) requires that motions to suppress evidence “be made by the defense prior to submission of a plea.” The general rule is that a failure to make the motion prior to the plea “constitutes a waiver of the motion or objection.” Id. The only exception is if “good cause” is shown by the moving party. Id. We review the military judge’s evidentiary decision on whether good cause was shown for an abuse of discretion. See, e.g., United States v. Howard, 998 F.2d 42, 52 (2d Cir.1993) (describing standard of review with respect to a decision under the analogous federal rule as “clear legal error” or “abuse of discretion”).

Fed. R.Crim.P. 12(e) is analogous to M.R.E. 311(d)(2). It states, inter alia, that a motion to suppress evidence must be raised before trial or by the deadline set by the trial judge unless good cause is shown. Id.; see Fed. R.Crim.P. 12(b)(3)(e). Federal courts have determined that no good cause exists when the defense knew or could have known about the evidence in question before the deadlines imposed under Fed. R.Crim.P. 12. See, e.g., Howard, 998 F.2d at 52 (finding no good cause when defense counsel could have found out the necessary information by interviewing defendant); United States v. Kessee, 992 F.2d 1001, 1003 (9th Cir.1993) (finding no good cause when the defense had access to evidence before trial). We see no reason why the same reasoning should not apply in this Court. See United States v. McCollum, 58 M.J. 323, 341 (C.A.A.F.2003)(noting that M.R.E. 101 instructs military courts to look to federal rules for guidance); see also M.R.E. 101.

In United States v. Coffin, this Court determined that there was good cause when the government “sandbag[sj” the defense. 25 M.J. 32, 34 n. 3 (C.M.A.1987). In Coffin, the government told defense counsel that one of the charges against the defendant would be dropped. Id. at 33. The evidence for which a motion to suppress would have pertained was relevant only to that charge. The day before trial, and after the arraignment, the government informed defense counsel that the charge would not be dropped. At that point, a motion to suppress was untimely. Because there was a possibility that defense counsel reasonably believed that the charge to which the motion to suppress pertained was dropped, we held that the facts in Coffin constituted good cause for purposes of M.R.E. 311(d)(2). Id. at 33-34.

Coffin is inapposite to this case. Here, the military judge fully probed defense counsel’s reasons for not making a timely motion to exclude the evidence. It is apparent from defense counsel’s responses that neither the charge, nor the BAC evidence at issue, was a surprise. The defense counsel knew about the evidence at issue and also knew the general circumstances surrounding Appellant’s signing the consent form. Furthermore, the prosecution did nothing to contribute to the defense decision not to file a timely motion to suppress. While defense counsel alleged that he left messages for the investigators, there is nothing in the record to suggest that Government counsel, or even the investigators, knew of those efforts. And defense counsel did not request assistance from either the military judge or Government counsel.

Given these facts, and the law in this Court and the federal courts, we conclude that the military judge did not abuse his discretion in determining that there was no good cause under M.R.E. 311(d)(2) to permit the defense’s untimely evidentiary challenge.

B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Appellant alleges that his trial counsel’s failure to file a motion in limine preventing the admission of Appellant’s BAC test rendered him ineffective. We analyze ineffective assistance of counsel claims under the test outlined by the Supreme Court in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). In order to prove ineffective assistance of counsel, Appellant must show that his trial counsel’s performance was deficient and that the deficiency deprived him of a fair trial. United States v. Garcia, 59 M.J. 447, 450 (C.A.A.F.2004). With regard to allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel, “the burden rests on the accused to demonstrate a constitutional violation.” United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. 648, 658, 104 S.Ct. 2039, 80 L.Ed.2d 657 (1984). Consistent with this principle, this Court has stated that, “‘[wjhen a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is premised on counsel’s failure to make a motion to suppress evidence, an appellant must show that there is a reasonable probability that such a motion would have been meritorious.’ ” United States v. McConnell, 55 M.J. 479, 482 (C.A.A.F.2001) (quoting United States v. Napoleon, 46 M.J. 279, 284 (C.A.A.F.1997)). Given this standard, the decisional issue is whether Appellant has carried his burden to show that his counsel would have been successful if he had filed a timely motion preventing the admission of Appellant’s BAC test.

Appellant asserts that he would have succeeded at trial on a Fourth Amendment claim to suppress this evidence because his consent to the blood draw was involuntary. In determining whether Appellant has a “reasonable probability” of succeeding on this claim, this Court considers the totality of the circumstances surrounding the consent. See United States v. Wright, 52 M.J. 136, 142 (C.A.A.F.1999). As noted by Judge Breyer in another case involving a drunk driving blood draw, “[pjetitioner’s mere speculation that a motion to suppress may have proved meritorious is not enough to ‘affirmatively prove prejudice.’” Travasso v. Clark, 162 F.Supp.2d 1106, 1118 (N.D.Cal.2001) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 693, 104 S.Ct. 2052).

Here, Sgt Bowick testified that he informed Appellant of his right to consent or object to the drawing of blood. He further testified that he observed Appellant sign the consent form. At trial, Sgt Bowick authenticated the signed consent form. To show prejudice under Strickland in the context of this case, it is Appellant who must adduce evidence that his apparent consent was, in fact, involuntary. McConnell, 55 M.J. at 484. But there is no evidence in the record that any of the factors marshaled by Appellant’s counsel in fact affected Appellant’s understanding of his rights or his consent to the blood draw.

We decline to hold as a matter of law that Appellant was incapable of consenting because he had a BAC of .11. See, e.g., United States v. Lindsey, 158 FedAppx. 757, 759 (8th Cir.2005) (holding that the “ ‘mere fact that one has taken drugs, or is intoxicated, or mentally agitated, does not render consent involuntary’ ”) (quoting United States v. Rambo, 789 F.2d 1289, 1297 (8th Cir.1986)); United States v. Scheets, 188 F.3d 829, 839 (7th Cir.1999) (holding that “[t]he mere fact that an individual is intoxicated does not render consent involuntary”); United States v. Gay, 774 F.2d 368, 377 (10th Cir.1985) (reasoning that “[o]ne can be too intoxicated to operate a motor vehicle, but rational enough to understand requests [to consent to a search] and to give plausible explanations”).

We are left to compare the bare assertions of counsel that Appellant was either impaired and incapable of consent at the time he consented, or that his consent was a mere acquiescence to a claim of lawful authority, with Sgt Bowick’s trial testimony and the signed consent form. In a similar case, addressing “appellant’s word against that of the investigator in possession of a signed acknowledgement form,” we reasoned that “[w]ithout more, appellant has failed to show a reasonable probability that a motion to suppress this evidence would have been meritorious.” McConnell, 55 M.J. at 482.

Appellant has not met his burden to show a reasonable probability of success on the Fourth Amendment issue. Consequently, Appellant has failed to make the required showing to succeed on his Sixth Amendment ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Id. at 484; see United States v. Del Rosario-Puente, 41 Fed.Appx. 483, 484 (1st Cir.2002) (holding that “appellant has failed to show that the motion to suppress was likely to succeed” and, therefore, counsel was not ineffective).

III. Decision

The decision of the United States Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals is affirmed.

1 . Jágermeister is a strong, 70-proof, alcoholic beverage flavored with herbs.

2 . Manual for Courts-Martial, United States pt. IV, para. 35.a.(b)(1)(A)(2005 ed.)(MCM) provides that, for purposes of an Article 111, UCMJ, violation of the blood alcohol limit is the lesser of the limit set by the law of the state where the violation occurred, or the limit in the MCM. The limit in the MCM is .10 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. Id. at para. 35.a.(b)(3). The BAC limit under North Carolina law is .08. N.C. Gen.Stat. § 20-138.1(a)(2) (2000).