United States v. Katso

73 M.J. 630, 2014 CCA LEXIS 243, 2014 WL 2025126
CourtUnited States Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals
DecidedApril 11, 2014
DocketACM 38005
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 73 M.J. 630 (United States v. Katso) 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. Katso, 73 M.J. 630, 2014 CCA LEXIS 243, 2014 WL 2025126 (afcca 2014).

Opinions

OPINION OF THE COURT •

ROAN, Chief Judge:

The appellant was convicted, contrary to his pleas, by a general court-martial composed of officer and enlisted members of one specification of aggravated sexual assault, one specification of burglary, and one specification of unlawful entry in violation of Articles 120, 129, and 134, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 920, 929, 934. The adjudged and approved sentence consisted of a dishonorable discharge, 10 years of confinement, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances. The appellant raises two issues for our consideration: (1) Whether the appellant’s right to confrontation was denied when the military judged overruled a defense objection to the testimony of the Government’s DNA expert, and (2) Whether the appellant’s conviction for unlawful entry should be dismissed because the specification failed to state the terminal element.1 For the reasons discussed below, we find the surrogate expert improperly repeated testimonial hearsay and that the error was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

Background

While celebrating her 21st birthday with several friends, Senior Airman (SrA) CA became intoxicated after consuming between 15 and 20 drinks over the course of the evening. At an off-base bar and unable to return to the base on her own, she was assisted back to her room and fell asleep on her bed. SrA CA testified that she woke up when she felt “someone having sex with [her].” She said she was attacked by someone wearing denim pants, glasses, a beanie cap, and a coat. After SrA CA struggled against him, her assailant left, and SrA CA ran into another room and told a friend she had been raped. SrA CA subsequently identified the appellant as her attacker.

Agents of the local Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) responded and collected blood and DNA samples from SrA CA and the appellant. The evidence was sent to the United States Army Criminal Investigations Laboratory (USACIL) for analysis. Mr. Fisher, a USACIL forensic DNA examiner, examined the samples and produced a report reflecting a match between the appellant’s DNA profile and semen retrieved from SrA CA during the sexual assault examination. In accordance with USACIL’s standard operating procedures, a second DNA examiner, Mr. Davenport, conducted a technical review to verify Mr. Fisher’s findings.

Shortly before trial, Mr.' Fisher informed the Government that he would not be available to testify due to a family emergency. The Government sought to have Mr. Davenport testify in place of Mr. Fisher. Defense counsel objected to

Mr. Davenport’s testimony, arguing the appellant’s right to confront Mr. Fisher, the witness who had performed key steps in the DNA analysis that was to be used against him at trial, would be violated.

[633]*633During both the motion hearing and before the members, Mr. Davenport explained the process for analyzing and interpreting DNA samples, which is summarized below:

1. Evidence is sent by investigators to USACIL in a double-wrapped box. Included with the sealed box are the shipping documents and any documents sent by AFOSI, including chain of custody information, the request for DNA examination, and in some cases, statements pertinent to the case.
2. The evidence processing section scans the documents into the laboratory’s document management system to create a ease file which is then viewable by all technicians involved with the case. The sealed box containing the physical evidence is logged into the evidence processing section.
3. The case file is sent to the DNA analysis branch and a DNA examiner is randomly assigned to conduct the DNA testing.
4. The DNA examiner checks the physical evidence box out from the evidence processing section.
5. The DNA examiner opens the evidence box, examines the inventory, and looks at the tag numbers and chain of custody documents to verify the laboratory has received everything that is listed as having been sent by investigators.
6. When the evidence has been collected during a sexual assault examination, the DNA examiner conducts a visual serology examination to determine if semen is on the items associated with the ease. This serology determination involves three presumptive tests performed on a portion of the swab:
a. The DNA examiner applies a chemical agent to the sample and looks for a particular change in color;
b. The DNA examiner conducts a microscopic evaluation, looking for the presence of sperm cells; and
c. The DNA examiner applies a chemical liquid to the sample and places that liquid in a “test cassette” which ■! will then show either a positive or negative result.
d.The DNA examiner also runs a positive and negative control for each chemical used in the process. He also records the lot numbers of the chemicals to ensure they are not expired.
7. If semen is found, the evidentiary item will be sent for DNA analysis, as will the known samples taken from the victim and any suspect, in order to generate DNA profiles for comparison purposes. To ensure quality control, the examiner creates a profile from a known DNA sample from the laboratory and runs a blank reagent (which should yield no DNA profile). The DNA analysis process involves four steps for each sample, performed by the DNA examiner using machines within the laboratory:
a. Purifying the DNA;
b. Determining the quantity of DNA present by using a kit that creates a computer printout of the results;
c. Making “copies” of certain areas of the DNA; and
d. Generating a DNA profile by using a machine which creates computer files consisting of raw data.
8. The raw data generated in step 7d above is run through a computer program which assigns certain numbers to the DNA profile and creates an image with peaks reflecting those numbers. If a male DNA profile is found on the questioned sample, the DNA examiner “interprets” the evidence by comparing the DNA profile from the questioned samples with the DNA profile found in the suspect’s known profile swabs. If there is a match, the examiner conducts a statistical frequency calculation.
9. The statistical determination is created by comparing the male DNA profile found on the victim’s swab to the DNA profiles in the FBI database to determine how common or rare the profiles are. Using this database, the DNA examiner calculates the “statistical frequency,” namely the frequency that [634]*634genetic match will be found within the population.
10. The DNA examiner writes a report containing the results of the testing and analysis, including the serology findings, the DNA findings, and the frequency statistic.
11. The report goes through a two-step review process before it is published: a technical review and an administrative review.
a. The technical review is performed by another qualified DNA examiner at the laboratory.

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Related

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United States v. Katso
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People v. Barner
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Bluebook (online)
73 M.J. 630, 2014 CCA LEXIS 243, 2014 WL 2025126, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-katso-afcca-2014.