United States v. Serino

24 M.J. 848
CourtU S Air Force Court of Military Review
DecidedJuly 29, 1987
DocketACM 25835
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 24 M.J. 848 (United States v. Serino) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering U S Air Force Court of Military Review primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Serino, 24 M.J. 848 (usafctmilrev 1987).

Opinions

DECISION

STEWART, Judge.

The appellant was charged with fraternizing with two Air Force enlisted men by using marijuana with them in violation of Article 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice (U.C.M.J.), 10 U.S.C. § 934. He pleaded not guilty, but the military judge, sitting alone, found him guilty, by exceptions and substitutions, of fraternization by attending a party with the enlisted men during which and after which he condoned their use of marijuana. The approved sentence [850]*850includes a dismissal and forfeiture of $1000.00 pay per month for three months.

The appellant filed an assignment of errors, as well as a personal submission pursuant to United States v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431 (C.M.A. 1982). In this latter submission, a sworn letter, the appellant alleges his commander’s position concerning drug abuse caused his supervisors and fellow officers to tell him that if they provided any type testimony that was supportive of him, it would result in professional suicide. The government, in addressing this allegation, has moved that our court consider trial defense counsel’s affidavit. The assignment of error urges that the military judge erred in finding the appellant guilty of fraternization by attending a party and condoning the use of marijuana. Elaborating, appellate defense counsel argue that the factual circumstances do not make out a case of fraternization.

Initially however, it is necessary to address an issue raised by trial defense counsel in her submission to the convening authority. She averred that the finding of guilty changed the nature of the charge, and, thus, the appellant did not have adequate notice of the allegations.

The evidence disclosed that after work one night the two enlisted men, the appellant, and Lt H gathered at an apartment for pizza and beer. Later two civilians joined them. The appellant told an Air Force Office of Special Investigations Special Agent that when he suspected the civilians were using marijuana, he left. Senior Airman F testified that everyone smoked marijuana. On the other hand, Lt H, the only other attendee at the gathering who testified, acknowledged he smoked marijuana at the apartment, but did not say who else, if anyone, used marijuana.

Of course, the military judge could, if the evidence warranted, find the appellant guilty of an included offense by exceptions and substitutions. Article 79, U.C.M.J., 10 U.S. § 879; R.C.M. 918(a)(1). The issue is whether fraternization by condoning use of marijuana was an included offense of fraternization by using marijuana in this case.

An offense is included in a charged offense when the allegations either expressly or by fair implication put the accused on notice to be prepared to defend against it in addition to the offense charged. The notice requirement may be met, depending on the allegations, even though an included offense requires proof of an element not required in the offense charged. M.C.M., 1984, pt. IV, para. 2b. This concept has been described by the United States Court of Military Appeals as, “where one offense contains different elements as a matter of law from the other offense, but these different elements are fairly embraced in the factual allegations of the other offense.” United States v. Baker, 14 M.J. 361, 368 (C.M.A. 1983).

In this case one of the elements of the found offense is different than those in the charged offense, i.e., “condoned their use of marijuana” is quite different than “using marijuana with them.” Is this different element fairly embraced in the factual allegations of the charged offense?

The cases examining included offenses of charged drug abuse are numerous. Possession of a drug is fairly embraced in, and an included offense of, use of that drug. United States v. Bullington, 18 M.J. 164 (C.M.A. 1984). Possession of a drug is an included offense of distribution or introduction of that same drug. United States v. Zubko, 18 M.J. 378 (C.M.A. 1984); United States v. Hendrickson, 16 M.J. 62 (C.M.A. 1983). However, neither wrongful introduction of a drug and wrongful possession of the same drug with intent to distribute are fairly embraced within the other. United States v. Zupancic, 18 M.J. 387 (C.M.A. 1984). The logic of these principles is apparent. If one uses, introduces, or distributes a drug, he must have possessed it. On the other hand, because one introduces a drug onto a vessel or a military installation does not mean he intends to distribute it. Nor does possession with intent to distribute necessarily mean one introduced it onto a vessel or military installation.

Applying similar logic to the case before us, we believe it is apparent that [851]*851one who fraternizes with enlisted personnel by using marijuana with them will also be fraternizing by condoning the enlisted personnel’s use. The key is fraternization, and the nature of the offense is not changed. We hold, therefore, that the found offense was fairly embraced in the charged offense, and the former was an included offense of the latter.

We also find that the factual circumstances of the case do support the finding of fraternization. Officer condonation of enlisted men’s use of marijuana at a party without doubt undermines order, discipline, authority, or morale. M.C.M., 1984, pt. IV, para. 83c(l). The appellant, a nurse, supervised the two enlisted men, medical technicians, when they were on duty together at a ward in the base hospital. This supervisory relationship, by itself, was sufficient to remove this case from the ambit of United States v. Johanns, 17 M.J. 862 (A.F.C.M.R. 1983), aff'd/rev’d in part, 20 M.J. 155 (C.M.A. 1985). Furthermore, condoning illegal drug abuse by enlisted personnel at a small, intimate party, is distinctly different than the mutually voluntary, private, non-deviate sexual intercourse involved in Johanns. Cf. United States v. Adames, 21 M.J. 465 (C.M.A. 1986).

We turn now to the alleged unlawful command influence, and the government’s motion that we consider trial defense counsel’s affidavit. Said the appellant:

My commander, William Belk, had made his position clear about people who were simply charged with anything associated with drugs. ‘Any person in my commany (sic) is guilty of drug use if charged and will be treated as they are guilty regardless of the trial’s outcome.’
My supervisors and fellow officers had stated to me that if they provided any type of testimony that was supportive, it would result in professional suicide.

Our disposition of the command influence issue renders it unnecessary that we consider the trial defense counsel’s affidavit and moots the government’s motion. Nevertheless, because of the serious implications the motion raises, we feel impelled to comment upon it.

The affidavit recounts that the appellant had given trial defense counsel a list of five character references. Three of these persons either testified or provided written statements in the appellant’s behalf. She was unable to contact one officer who was on leave. Another officer supposedly made a statement, but it was not in trial defense counsel’s file, and she was unable to contact that officer also. None of the witnesses indicated to her that they were hesitant to testify because of the hospital commander’s views.

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24 M.J. 848, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-serino-usafctmilrev-1987.