United States v. Young

11 M.J. 634, 1981 CMR LEXIS 741

• Court: U S Air Force Court of Military Review
• Decided: May 11, 1981
• Docket: ACM S25015
• Status: Published

Opinions

DECISION

POWELL, Senior Judge:

A special court-martial consisting of members convicted the accused, contrary to his pleas, of separate offenses of wrongful transfer and possession of marijuana, violations of Article 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 934. The approved sentence is a bad conduct discharge, confinement at hard labor for 30 days and reduction to airman basic.

We agree with appellate defense counsel’s single assigned error that the military judge’s failure to instruct on accomplice testimony prejudiced the accused. We set aside the findings of guilty of the transfer offense and reassess the sentence.

During the early morning hours of 18 April 1980 as the accused drove his automobile onto Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois, he was stopped by an Air Force security policeman for a routine identification check. When a car window was opened, the gate guard thought he smelled marijuana smoke and asked the accused and the three occupants, Airmen Huggins, Robert and Collins, to get out of the car. At the guard’s request, the accused gave his consent to search his car. During the search of the individuals, approximately one ounce of marijuana was found on Robert and two ounces of marijuana on Collins. The searches of Huggins, the accused and the automobile produced no controlled substances or other incriminating evidence.

At trial, the accused maintained his complete innocence. Airman Collins testified that the three ounces of marijuana possessed by himself and Robert had been transferred to them by the accused earlier that night after the three were dismissed from their military class. Collins stated that at his and Robert’s request to purchase marijuana, the accused reached under the dash of his car and produced the marijuana which he handed to Robert for the two of them. From approximately 2330 hours to 0300 hours the three of them drove around the base, attended a party on base, went off base to eat, and upon their return were stopped, searched and apprehended. During this time, Collins and Robert smoked marijuana while in the accused’s car. Collins accepted non-judicial punishment for his possession and use of marijuana on this date.

On cross-examination, Collins admitted to as many as 15 prior uses of marijuana and that, when apprehended, he lied to the security policemen in explaining his possession of two ounces of marijuana in order to allay their suspicions that he was “dealing” in the substance. To reinforce this denial, he informed the security police that the accused transferred the marijuana to him. He commented on the irony in the possibility of being prosecuted after his cooperation with the authorities in the instant case. Further, he indicated his willingness to lie to his parents in explaining his delayed reassignment from the base because of his Article 15.

Airman Robert, who was Collins’ roommate, testified for the defense and stated that the marijuana which he possessed that night was purchased from Collins. The sale took place that same night immediately after class in a restroom in the classroom building. Robert denied that the accused transferred any marijuana to Collins or himself that night and that any marijuana was smoked in the car. He received an Article 15 for his possession of the one ounce of marijuana and also confirmed Collins’ previous use of marijuana. Airman Huggins denied smelling any marijuana smoke in the accused’s car during his ride with the three airmen from an off-base restaurant to the base. The accused denied transferring any marijuana to Collins or Robert and testified that no one smoked marijuana in his car on the night in question.

Although the military judge instructed the court generally as to the credibility of witnesses, no instruction regarding accomplice testimony was included. The defense did not request such an instruction and had no objection to the instructions given.

Failure to request an instruction regarding accomplice testimony generally precludes consideration of its absence as an issue on appeal. United States v. Giliiam, 23 U.S.C.M.A. 4, 48 C.M.R. 260 (1974); United States v. Diaz, 22 U.S.C.M.A. 52, 46 C.M.R. 52 (1972); United States v. Westmoreland, 1 M.J. 706 (A.F.C.M.R.1975), rev’d on other grounds, 4 M.J. 91 (C.M.A. 1977). However, when the absence of an instruction has resulted in plain error or a miscarriage of justice, the issue is not waived. United States v. Diaz, supra; United States v. Lell, 16 U.S.C.M.A. 161, 36 C.M.R. 317 (1966); United States v. Stephen, 15 U.S.C.M.A. 314, 35 C.M.R. 286 (1965). Specifically, the military judge must instruct sua sponte on the effect of accomplice testimony when such testimony is of “pivotal importance” to the Government’s case. This is the exceptional situation where an accomplice is the crucial prosecution witness upon whose credibility the ultimate question of the accused’s guilt or innocence depends. United States v. Gilliam, supra; United States v. Moore, 8 M.J. 738 (1980); United States v. Moore, 2 M.J. 749 (1977); United States v. Baker, 2 M.J. 360 (1977); United States v. Petrie, 40 C.M.R. 991 (A.F.B.R.1969). It is of “vital importance” to an accused to call the court members’ attention to those matters specifically affecting the witness’ credibility. United States v. Stephen, supra; United States v. Winborn, 14 U.S.C.M.A. 277, 34 C.M.R. 57 (1963); United States v. Scoles, 14 U.S.C.M.A. 14, 33 C.M.R. 226 (1963). This is even more significant when the witness’ believability has been seriously attacked. United States v. Moore, supra; United States v. Baker, supra; United States v. Petrie, supra.

In this case, Airman Collins was culpably involved in the commission of the wrongful transfer offense and therefore was an accomplice. United States v. Scoles, supra; United States v. Allums, 5 U.S.C. M.A. 435, 18 C.M.R. 59 (1955); United States v. Petrie, supra. His uncorroborated testimony is the only evidence proving the accused’s guilt of that offense. In view of the defense’s showing of Collins’ inclination and willingness to lie to his own advantage, the accused was entitled to have the court members fully instructed on the special matters they could consider in determining his worthiness of belief. Normally a rehearing would be ordered but, in the interest of justice, we set aside the finding of guilty as to this offense and reassess the sentence based on the remaining findings of guilty.

For the reasons stated, the finding of guilty of Specification 1 of the Charge is set aside and the specification is ordered dismissed. Only so much of the sentence as provides for confinement at hard labor for 30 days and reduction to airman basic is approved.

The findings of guilty of Specification 2 of the Charge and the Charge and the sentence, as modified, are

AFFIRMED.

KASTL, Judge, concurs.