United States v. Woodyard

16 M.J. 715, 1983 CMR LEXIS 836
CourtUnited States Court of Military Appeals
DecidedJuly 15, 1983
DocketACM S25814
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 16 M.J. 715 (United States v. Woodyard) 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. Woodyard, 16 M.J. 715, 1983 CMR LEXIS 836 (cma 1983).

Opinion

DECISION

SNYDER, Judge:

Contrary to his pleas, the accused was convicted by special court-martial of housebreaking, and assault with intent to commit sodomy, in violation of Articles 130, and 134, U.C.M.J., 10 U.S.C. §§ 930, and 934. His sentence extends to a bad conduct discharge, confinement at hard labor for two and one-half months, forfeiture of $338.00 per month for two months, and reduction to airman basic. He has submitted eight assignments of error for our consideration. We affirm.

I

In his first assignment of error, the accused alleges that the trial counsel knowingly failed to disclose evidence favorable to the defense and exploited the nondisclosure. The affected offense was disapproved by the convening authority. We are convinced that Airman M’s testimony did not prejudice the accused on the remaining charges and specifications, and that no further relief is required.1

[717]*717II

A brief presentation of the facts will place the next issue in perspective. On 29 April 1982, Sergeant P was performing temporary duty at Travis Air Force Base, California, and billeted at the transient airmen quarters (TAQ), room G-2. At approximately 2300 hours the accused unlocked the door with a key, entered the room, and asked if it was room G-2, to which Sergeant P replied, “yes.” The accused placed his bag on the other bed and departed the room. Approximately 30 minutes later, the accused returned, stated he was being assigned to another room, obtained his bag, and departed.

Sergeant P was awakened at 0500 the next morning by someone pulling at his pants. He could see the accused’s face as the accused was leaning over Sergeant P’s midsection. The accused had Sergeant P’s penis in his hand, his mouth was open, and he was moving down towards Sergeant P’s penis. Sergeant P pushed the accused away and the accused ran to the other bed. Approximately 30 minutes later, Sergeant P dressed and went to the billeting office to ascertain who was assigned to his room. He learned that no one else had been assigned to room G-2. Security Police were called and met Sergeant P at the room. He opened the door and the Security Police entered, found the accused asleep in the other bed, awakened him and placed him under apprehension.

The accused was told to “pick up his things,” and he was transported to security police headquarters. At headquarters, the accused consensually surrendered eight magazines to the Security Police. The magazines contained pictures of nude men engaged in homosexual acts. The accused was permanently assigned to Travis Air Force Base and resided in one of the barracks thereon.

After evidence establishing the facts above had been introduced, trial counsel, citing Mil.R.Evid. 404b, moved to admit the magazines as evidence of the accused’s intent to commit sodomy. Defense counsel objected, asserting that the evidence’s sole purpose was to depict the accused as a bad person who had a propensity to commit offenses of the type charged, contrary to Rule 404a. In the alternative, trial defense counsel argued that the evidence should be excluded under Rule 403 as unduly prejudicial.2 The military judge overruled the objections and admitted the magazines for the limited purpose for which they were offered, making the following finding:

I will admit them solely for that purpose [intent]. I will instruct the jury that they are admitted for the limited purposes of determining whether or not the accused entertained the specific intent to either commit sodomy or to gratify his sexual desires as the case may be, on the 29th of April.

Additionally, the military judge admitted only two of the eight magazines, allowing trial counsel to select which two he desired to submit to the members. During instructions on findings, the military judge gave the following instruction:

The magazines admitted as Prosecution Exhibits 1 and 3 may be considered by you for the limited purpose of its tendency, if any, to prove that the accused intended to commit the offense of sodomy alleged in Charges I and II. You may not consider this evidence for any other purpose, and you may not conclude from this evidence that the accused is a bad person or has criminal tendencies and that he therefore committed the offense charged.

The accused now contends that the military judge’s ruling was error and that the magazines should not have been admitted. We disagree and hold otherwise.

The military judge admitted the magazines under Rule 404b. Rule 404 reads as follows:

[718]*718(a) Character evidence generally. Evidence of a person’s character or a trait of a person's character is not admissible for the purpose of proving that the person acted in conformity therewith on a particular occasion....
(b) Other crimes, wrongs, or acts. Evidence of other crimes, wrongs or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show that the person acted in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.

As we begin our analysis of this matter, we find Rule 404a inapplicable because a trait of character of the accused is not in issue. Whatever homosexuality or bisexuality may be, they are not traits of character; specifically, there is no scientific evidence that a homosexual or a bisexual is, ipso facto, a dishonest person or a criminal.3

Likewise, possession of homosexual literature is not a crime. United States v. Van Hoose, 11 M.J. 878 (A.F.C.M.R.), pet. denied 12 M.J. 301 (C.M.A.1981). However, the absence of criminality does not preclude the applicability of Rule 404b, for that rule also encompasses “wrongs or acts.” Thus, although not criminal per se, any extrinsic activity which tends to reflect adversely on an accused is within Rule 404b. United States v. Kloock, 652 F.2d 492 (5th Cir. 1981); United States v. Beechum, 582 F.2d 898 (5th Cir.) (En Banc), n. 1 and 17, cert, denied, 440 U.S. 920, 99 S.Ct. 1244, 59 L.Ed.2d 472 (1978).

To be. admissible under Rule 404b, evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts must be relevant to an issue other than character. United States v. Beechum, supra. Determining relevancy and probative value is within the broad discretion of the military judge; significantly for this particular type case, the military judge’s ruling will not be disturbed except for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Borland, 12 M.J. 855 (A.F.C.M.R.1982). Relevancy of other wrongs or acts is determined primarily by linking the accused with the acts in question. The probative value of other acts is determined by their similarity to the offense charged.

To be admissible on the issue of intent, evidence of other wrongs or acts need only be similar 4 to the offense charged and not too remote therefrom.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

United States v. Anderson
Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, 2022
United States v. Hyppolite II
Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, 2018
United States v. Mullings
Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, 2015
United States v. Suwinski
Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, 2014
United States v. Stone
37 M.J. 558 (U.S. Army Court of Military Review, 1993)
United States v. Espronceda
36 M.J. 535 (U S Air Force Court of Military Review, 1992)
United States v. Ferguson
29 M.J. 559 (U S Air Force Court of Military Review, 1989)
United States v. Saul
26 M.J. 568 (U S Air Force Court of Military Review, 1988)
United States v. Mann
26 M.J. 1 (United States Court of Military Appeals, 1988)
United States v. Berger
23 M.J. 612 (U S Air Force Court of Military Review, 1986)
United States v. Cuellar
22 M.J. 529 (U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Court of Military Review, 1986)
United States v. Mann
21 M.J. 676 (U S Air Force Court of Military Review, 1985)
United States v. Peterson
20 M.J. 806 (U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Court of Military Review, 1985)
United States v. Johnson
20 M.J. 610 (U S Air Force Court of Military Review, 1985)
United States v. Garries
19 M.J. 845 (U S Air Force Court of Military Review, 1985)
United States v. Rappaport
19 M.J. 708 (U S Air Force Court of Military Review, 1984)
United States v. Stark
19 M.J. 519 (U.S. Army Court of Military Review, 1984)
United States v. Campbell
17 M.J. 666 (U S Air Force Court of Military Review, 1983)
United States v. Fisher
17 M.J. 768 (U S Air Force Court of Military Review, 1983)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
16 M.J. 715, 1983 CMR LEXIS 836, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-woodyard-cma-1983.