United States v. Longstreath

42 M.J. 806, 1995 CCA LEXIS 173, 1995 WL 407775
CourtArmy Court of Criminal Appeals
DecidedJune 19, 1995
DocketNMCM 91 00774
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 42 M.J. 806 (United States v. Longstreath) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Army 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. Longstreath, 42 M.J. 806, 1995 CCA LEXIS 173, 1995 WL 407775 (acca 1995).

Opinion

REED, Senior Judge:

The appellant was tried by a general court-martial, military judge sitting alone, on various dates between 10 December 1990 and 6 June 1991. Contrary to his pleas, he was convicted of three specifications of indecent acts, involving two different children under the age of 16, in violation of Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice [hereinafter “UCMJ” or “the Code”], 10 U.S.C. § 934 (1988). The military judge sentenced the appellant to confinement for 6 years, total forfeitures of all pay and allowances, reduction to pay grade E-l, and a dishonorable discharge. The convening authority approved the sentence as adjudged and, except for the punitive discharge, ordered it executed.

In several pleadings, the appellant, himself, and through various counsel, alleges numerous assignments of error.1 We have con[811]*811sidered all of these pleadings and the Government’s response thereto. We conclude that the findings and the sentence are correct in law and fact and that no error materially prejudicial to the substantial rights of the appellant was committed.

I. Facts

This is the appellant’s second court-martial for sex related offenses committed upon his minor children. At his first court-martial, which occurred on 28 July 1987, the appellant was convicted by a general court-martial convened by Commander Naval Forces, Philippines, for the offenses of carnal knowledge, sodomy and indecent acts committed upon his step-daughter [hereinafter “AL”], in violation of Articles 120, 125, and 134. He was sentenced to confinement for 90 days and reduction in pay grade to E-5. Prosecution Ex. 19. Shortly after his release from confinement in October 1987, the appellant was transferred to San Diego, California. Local authorities were apparently notified of the appellant’s court-martial, and in April 1988, AL and the appellant’s two natural daughters [hereinafter “CL” and “SL”] were placed in the custody of the county. By order of the San Diego County Juvenile Court, the children were permitted to continue to reside with their mother provided the appellant removed himself from the family home. The appellant was also ordered not to have any contact with his children other than supervised visitations. Prosecution Ex. 6.

In November 1988, AL was placed in a psychiatric hospital for two months and then transferred to a residential treatment center. During an extended stay at the treatment center, AL revealed to her primary counselor that the appellant had returned to the family home in violation of the court order and that he had continued to molest her after his release from the brig in 1987 until her present hospitalization. An investigation was conducted and appellant was charged at this court-martial with rape, carnal knowledge, sodomy, and 11 specifications of various indecent acts upon AL, and two specifications for indecent acts upon his natural daughters, CL and SL, in violation of Articles 120, 125 and 134 of the Code, 10 U.S.C. §§ 920, 925, 934 (1994). As reported above, he was convicted of only three specifications involving indecent acts.

The Government presented several witnesses at trial, including AL and CL, who, at the time of trial, were 16 and 10 years’ old, respectively. SL was only 2 years’ old at the time of trial and did not testify. Pursuant to a request by the Government, the military judge permitted CL to testify outside of the appellant’s presence, via closed circuit television, after testimony from a psychologist that testimony by CL in the appellant’s presence would seriously affect CL’s mental health. According to CL, the appellant had sexually molested her on numerous occasions by fondling her breasts and vaginal area and that on one occasion she had witnessed the appellant commit similar acts upon AL. CL also testified that she had seen the appellant digitally penetrate SL while he was changing her diapers.

AL also testified about the molestations. The Government initially attempted to have her testify in open court. AL’s direct testimony commenced on 9 January 1991. Shortly into the direct examination, AL became unresponsive and began to cry when trial counsel attempted to focus her attention on the specific offenses alleged. Despite numerous attempts by trial counsel and the military judge to get AL to respond to certain questions, she remained silent. Trial counsel then attempted to establish a foundation to allow AL to testify via closed circuit television, by eliciting from AL that her reluctance to answer certain questions was caused by the appellant’s presence in the courtroom. The military judge denied the Government’s request and AL was recalled to the stand on 18 January 1991.

[812]*812AL’s second time on the stand was also difficult, although she was able to discuss several of the offenses on direct examination. During the individual military counsel’s cross-examination, frequent recesses were required due to AL’s emotional state, which often included her crying. Despite these recesses, AL indicated that she would not be able to continue with the examination, and the military judge again recessed the court. When the court reconvened on 23 January, AL attempted to continue with the cross-examination, but after only a few questions she became unresponsive and broke down crying. After yet another recess, AL refused to answer any more questions and the trial defense counsel moved to strike her entire testimony. The military judge, however, reconsidered his earlier ruling, based upon AL’s demeanor in court, and, allowed AL to testify by means of closed circuit television.

Both parties were provided an opportunity to reexamine AL using closed-circuit television. The Government declined to reopen direct examination and the defense continued cross-examination. Use of the video equipment, however, did not alleviate AL’s reluctance to answer many of the questions asked by counsel about the details of certain specifications and the military judge finally excused AL from the stand.

Defense counsel again moved to have AL’s entire testimony stricken. The military judge granted the motion with the exception of a portion of AL’s testimony regarding two incidents in which the appellant had allegedly fondled her breasts. Record at 474-77. These incidents were the subject of Specification 1 of Charge III involving indecent acts, and were referred to at trial as the “Mel-rose” and “Navy Lodge” incidents in reference to the family residence at the time they occurred. The military judge subsequently granted a defense motion for a finding of not guilty to Charges I and II, alleging rape and sodomy, as well as Specifications 3 through 11 of Charge III, alleging various indecent acts upon AL. The one specification alleging indecent acts with CL (Specification 12 of Charge III) was also dismissed after the military judge determined the offense was beyond the statute of limitations. As a result the appellant was only convicted of two indecent acts involving AL (Specifications 1 and 2 of Charge III) and one indecent act involving SL (Specification 13 of Charge III).

II. Right to Confront Witnesses

The appellant alleges several violations of his right to confront AL and CL in assignments of error I, XIII, XIV, and XV.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
42 M.J. 806, 1995 CCA LEXIS 173, 1995 WL 407775, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-longstreath-acca-1995.