United States v. Jones

263 F. Supp. 943, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7387
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Georgia
DecidedJanuary 25, 1967
DocketCrim. No. 3031
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 263 F. Supp. 943 (United States v. Jones) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Jones, 263 F. Supp. 943, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7387 (M.D. Ga. 1967).

Opinion

OPINION AND JUDGMENT

ELLIOTT, District Judge.

In this case it is charged:

“That on or about May 23, 1966, within the Albany Division of the Middle District of Georgia, NATHAN TONY JONES wilfully and knowingly did fail and neglect to perform a duty required of him under and in the execution of the Universal Military Training and Service Act and the rules, regulations, and directions duly made pursuant thereto, in that he did fail and neglect to comply with an order of his Local Selective Service Board; that is, to report for the purpose of receiving instructions to proceed to a Civilian Work Assignment; all in violation of 50 App. USC 462.”

Upon entry of the Defendant’s plea of not guilty the Defendant waived his right to trial by jury and requested the Court sitting without a jury to determine all factual and legal issues presented. The Defendant was joined in this request by the prosecution. Pursuant to this re[944]*944quest the Court proceeded to hear the evidence in the case and had the benefit of oral argument by counsel, which oral argument was later supplemented by written briefs. The Court now files this opinion in conformity with the requirements of Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

The Defendant, as a registrant of Local Board No. 48 in Albany, Georgia, filed his original Selective Service Classification Questionnaire on December 16, 1963. He was then 19 years of age. In the questionnaire he claimed to be both a conscientious objector and a minister of the Jehovah’s Witnesses sect. He showed that he had become a member of this religious group in 1954 and that he was a student preparing for the ministry under the direction of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. In a detailed statement which was made a part of the Defendant’s completed questionnaire he showed that he spent from three to five hours each week going from house to house “proclaiming the good news” and that, in addition, he regularly attended Bible study meetings conducted by his congregation. He further claimed that for one hour each week he personally presided over a Bible study. On the basis of this information he contended that he should be classified as a minister of religion (Class IV-D), however, in Series V of the Classification Questionnaire the Defendant listed his occupation as “apprentice electrician”, showing that he worked an average of 40 hours per week in this secular employment. On February 25, 1964 he submitted a completed conscientious objector form, by which he claimed conscientious opposition by reason of religious training and belief to both combatant and non-combatant training and. service in the Armed Forces.

On March 9, 1964 the Local Board classified the Defendant in Class I-A and notified him of that board action on that date. In a letter received by the Local Board on March 23, 1964 he requested a personal appearance for the purpose of discussing his classification, and in a separate letter submitted on the same date he stated that he wished to appeal his I-A classification. He appeared personally before the Local Board on May 15, 1964, at which time he reiterated the claim which he had previously made that he should be placed in Class IV-D. The file shows that the Local Board explained to him that in order to be classified in Class IV-D he would have to be a full time minister or a recognized ministerial student.

The Selective Service file of the Defendant was referred to the Appeal Board, which tentatively determined that on the basis of the record before it he was not entitled to be classified in Class 1-0 or in a lower classification. Accordingly, pursuant to Section 6(j) of the Universal Military Training and Service Act, the file was referred to the Department of Justice for inquiry and advisory recommendation. While the Defendant’s file was before the Appeal Board awaiting the recommendation of the Department of Justice the Local Board received a letter from him dated February 20, 1965 in which he stated that beginning March 1, 1965 he would be devoting full time to the ministry, and with that letter he submitted evidence that he had been appointed to serve as a “Vacation Pioneer” for the period from March 1 to May 31, 1965. “Vacation Pioneers” are members of the sect who are on the “Pioneer” list of the sect temporarily. It is an arrangement whereby persons can engage in the “pioneer” ministry for short periods, such as, when one is on vacation, or when one is free for a short period and can engage in the ministry. This designation is distinguished from the “Regular Pioneers” of the sect who are permanently on the ministerial list. Stated otherwise, a person is placed in the Vacation Pioneer Service because it is only temporary.

On July 13, 1965 the Department of Justice recommended to the Appeal Board that the Defendant be classified in Class 1-0 (Conscientious Objector) and pursuant to pertinent regulations, the Defendant was, on July 16, 1965, furnished a copy .of the recommendation of the Department of Justice and was given 30 [945]*945days within which to file a reply thereto. No reply having been received from the Defendant, the Appeal Board by unanimous vote on September 17, 1965 did classify the Defendant in Class 1-0 and he was notified of this action in appropriate manner on October 12, 1965. In a letter received by the Board on October 20, 1965 the Defendant expressed his dissatisfaction with the classification given to him and he submitted for consideration a certificate from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society showing that he had served a congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses since May 11, 1965 as an Accounts Servant and Book Study Conductor.

On December 14, 1965 the Defendant was physically examined and found acceptable for service and notified of his acceptability on December 20,1965. Subsequent to this determination of his acceptability by Armed Forces physical examination, he was processed for civilian work in lieu of induction, pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Selective Service Regulations.

On January 6, 1966 the Defendant was furnished a Special Report for Class 1-0 Registrants with which he could submit to his Local Board three types of approved civilian work which he felt qualified to do and which he could offer to perform in lieu of induction into the Armed Forces. On January 12, 1966 he returned this form offering only to work for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., obviously intending by this offer to continue to perform the type of service he was then performing as a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses. By letter dated January 25, 1966 the Defendant’s Local Board requested the Defendant to furnish information as to whether he was currently devoting 100 hours or more to the ministry each month and he was requested to have the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society submit a statement certifying to his .'status. By letter received February 7, 1966 the Defendant informed the Local Board that he was no longer serving as a “Vacation Pioneer” and in a Current Information Questionnaire which he submitted on the same date he listed his then present occupation as “electrician”.

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Related

Kenneth Paul Yeoman v. United States
400 F.2d 793 (Tenth Circuit, 1968)
Nathan Tony Jones v. United States
387 F.2d 909 (Fifth Circuit, 1968)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
263 F. Supp. 943, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7387, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-jones-gamd-1967.