United States v. Leiffer

13 M.J. 337, 1982 CMA LEXIS 16856
CourtUnited States Court of Military Appeals
DecidedJuly 26, 1982
DocketNo. 39643; NCM No. 79-0407
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 13 M.J. 337 (United States v. Leiffer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Military 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. Leiffer, 13 M.J. 337, 1982 CMA LEXIS 16856 (cma 1982).

Opinions

OPINION OF THE COURT

COOK, Judge:

Despite his pleas, the accused was convicted by general court-martial of attempted robbery, robbery, sodomy, assault and battery, and wrongful appropriation, in violation of Articles 80, 122, 125, 128, and 121, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §§ 880, 922, 925, 928 and 921, respectively. The sentence adjudged included a bad-conduct discharge, confinement at hard labor for one year, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances. The convening authority set aside the findings and sentence because of an error committed by the military judge and ordered a rehearing. At the rehearing the accused was again convicted of the same offenses despite his pleas, and received the same sentence. A different convening authority approved the findings and sentence but subsequently remitted part of the forfeitures after 19 March 1979. The United States Navy Court of Military Review set aside the findings and dismissed the charges against the accused on the ground that the testimony of the principal Government witness at trial should have been suppressed. 10 M.J. 639 (1980). After a motion for reconsideration was denied, The Judge Advocate General of the Navy certified the following question to us:

[339]*339WHETHER THE NAVY COURT OF MILITARY REVIEW WAS CORRECT, AS A MATTER OF LAW, WHEN IT DETERMINED: (1) THAT THE FAILURE TO ADVISE THE ACCUSED OF HIS ARTICLE 31(b), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 831(b), RIGHTS IN A TIMELY MANNER RENDERED INADMISSIBLE THE SUBSEQUENT TESTIMONY OF A PROSECUTION WITNESS; AND (2) THAT THE GOVERNMENT FAILED TO SHOW THAT ITS DISCOVERY OF THAT WITNESS’ IDENTITY AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ACCUSED HAD AN INDEPENDENT BASIS?

We answer the certified question in the negative.

While this Court cannot review the findings of fact of courts below where they are reasonably supported by the evidence of record, United States v. Quintana, 5 M.J. 484 (C.M.A.1978); United States v. Carmichael, 21 U.S.C.M.A. 530, 45 C.M.R. 304 (1972), we can, however, review the questions of law occasioned by the legal connotations placed upon those facts by lower courts. United States v. Kesteloot, 8 M.J. 209 (C.M.A.1980); United States v. Lowry, 2 M.J. 55 (C.M.A.1976). We are here restricted to the evidence admitted by the military judge on the basis of certain limitations he imposed.

Special Agent Richard L. Lucas of the Naval Investigative Service (NIS) assigned to the Naval Investigative Service Resident Agency (NISRA), Naval Training Center (NTC), San Diego, California, testified that on August 30, 1977, he was the chief agent of a team which was watching the NTC enlisted men’s club, the petty officer club, and the bowling alley looking for two men who had assaulted and robbed other NTC personnel on two previous nights (August 16-17 and 23). One of the assailants had a beard and the other, who was “thinner and slightly taller,” did not. When the accused left the club, one of the agents said, “There’s a guy with a beard now.” Agent Lucas responded that he did not believe accused resembled the composite drawing made up from victims’ descriptions because accused appeared to be taller and “his hair was parted in the middle” instead of on the right side. Also, accused’s companion did not fit the description of the robber’s accomplice. The agents then agreed that one of them, Special Agent Simon, would follow the accused. Agent Simon came upon the accused and his companion where they had been stopped by the Shore Patrol for urinating in public, and Simon “decided to go ... [ahead] and conduct a field interview since they had been stopped already.” Within five minutes, Agent Simon summoned Agent Lucas and told him, “Take a look at .. . [accused’s] shirt.” Accused was wearing a yellow shirt bearing the inscription “Led Zeppelin in Concert” on the front which matched a victim’s description of the shirt worn by his assailant.

Agent Lucas then asked the accused “if he would accompany” him “to the [NISRA] office for a further interview.” While Agent Lucas did not consider accused to be a suspect because he did not fit the composite description, he wanted to ask him certain questions. He said he asked accused to go to his office because he did not have any note paper with him in the car. Accused “was a little hesitant” and “wanted to know how long it would take.” Lucas “told him that it shouldn’t take too long” and said “that he was wearing an item of clothing ... and had a beard like a man ... [they] were looking for in [connection with] some robberies on the base.” Accused then agreed to accompany Special Agent Lucas to the NISRA office.

When they arrived, Agent Lucas asked accused for “his full identification .. .; his name; his rate; his social security [number]; date and place of birth; what ship he was off of” and “when was the last time he was at NTC.” Accused responded “that he was at the EM Club the last time that Mad Dog played” and “that he always trie[d] to make it to Mad Dog and sit right next to the band because he knows some of the band members.” Agent Lucas knew that Mad Dog’s last appearance at the NTC EM Club had been on the same night as the last assault and that the victim had first met his [340]*340assailants “in the Club sitting right next to the band.” At this point, Agent Lucas excused himself and went to get an acknowledgment and waiver of rights form because he “felt” the time had come to “give ... [accused] his Article 31 Rights.”

While he was out of the interview room, Agent Lucas was told by Special Agent Larabee that the accused was one of the men they had interviewed the previous week at a bus stop. Lucas then went through his notes and found a piece of paper that had been given to him the previous week by Agent Larabee bearing the names “Leiffer,” “Lamphear,” and the “USS Monticello.”

Upon his return, he advised the accused that he was suspected of robberies and assaults, and that he had the right to remain silent and make no statement whatsoever and that anything he did say could and would be used against him in a trial by court-martial; that he had the right to consult with an attorney prior to any questioning; this could either be a civilian attorney retained by him at his own expense or military attorney would be appointed to represent him free of charge by his command.
[T]hat he had the right to have the attorney, whether civilian or military, there during the entire interview.
And also that he had the right to terminate the interview at any time for any reason.

Agent Lucas “got more of ... [accused’s] background including how tall he was; his weight. If he had any scars, marks or tattoes [sic].” He learned “that ... [accused] did have a scar somewhere around ... one of his eyes”; “that he was a boxer and had experience in the ring.” This last bit of information was pertinent to certain descriptions offered by previous assault victims.1

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Bluebook (online)
13 M.J. 337, 1982 CMA LEXIS 16856, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-leiffer-cma-1982.