63 M.J. 531 | A.C.C.A. | 2006
A military judge sitting as a general court-martial convicted appellant, contrary to his pleas, of indecent acts with a child under sixteen years of age and indecent liberties with a child under sixteen years of age, in violation of Article 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 934 [hereinafter UCMJ]. The convening authority approved the adjudged sentence to a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for three years, and reduction to Private El. This case is before the court for review under Article 66, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866.
In their original pleadings, appellate defense counsel asserted, inter alia, the military judge erred by finding the victim unavailable to testify under Military Rule of Evidence [hereinafter Mil. R. Evid.] 804 in violation of appellant’s Sixth Amendment right to confrontation. We then specified the following issues: (1) whether, in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 124 S.Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004), appellant was denied his Sixth Amendment right to confront a witness against him where the military judge ruled that Ms. KG was unavailable to testify against him at his trial by court-martial; (2) assuming, arguendo, that the military judge erred in admitting the videotaped interview of Ms. KG, whether the error was harmless; and (3) whether, in light of Crawford, the videotaped interview of Ms. KG constitutes testimonial hearsay requiring that the declar-ant be subject to cross-examination as required by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
We agree with appellate defense counsel that the military judge erred in his finding of unavailability and, therefore, need not determine whether the videotaped interview of KG should be considered testimonial under Crawford. Nevertheless, we find the military judge’s error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt and affirm the findings of guilty and the sentence.
FACTS
The military judge found appellant guilty of committing an indecent act upon KG (appellant’s five-year-old biological daughter) by placing his hands on her vagina with intent to gratify his sexual desires between on or about September 1999 and December 1999 (Specification 4 of the Charge). He also found appellant guilty of taking indecent liberties with KG by exposing himself, having her touch his penis, then shaking his own penis until he ejaculated, with intent to gratify his sexual desires, on or about 29 December 2001 (Specification 1 of the Charge). The military judge found appellant not guilty of a second indecent acts specification (Specification 3 of the Charge) that alleged appellant touched KG’s vagina on another occasion during the same period alleged in Specification 4. He also found appellant not guilty of a second indecent liberties specification (Specification 2 of the Charge) that alleged appellant exposed his penis and ejaculated in KG’s presence between December 2000 and March 2001.
These offenses came to light when, on 29 December 2001, Mrs. Gardinier went to a friend’s house and left her five-year-old daughter, KG, and one-year-old son with appellant, her husband. When Mrs. Gardinier returned home, KG excitedly ran up to her mother and told her appellant was “laying naked.” Mrs. Gardinier then walked KG into KG’s room and asked her if anybody had ever “touched her in her private part.” In response, KG “opened her underwear to the side,” showed her mother her “private areas,” and said, “Daddy does.” Mrs. Gardinier confronted appellant who denied the allegation and told her, “If you don’t believe me, you can get the fuck out.” KG then told her mother “Daddy’s a liar.” Mrs. Gardinier took KG back to Mrs. Gardinier’s room, asked KG when her father inappropriately touched her, and KG said, “[E]very time [her mother] left” the house.
That same night, Mrs. Gardinier took KG to Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson where a doctor gave KG a regular physical examination. Upon completion of the examination, Mrs. Gardinier spoke with a social worker, and with two El Paso County police officers who took her statement. Thereafter, the police escorted Mrs. Gardini
After the investigation began, KG attempted to talk to her mother about what Mrs. Gardinier referred to as “Dad’s cooter,” but Mrs. Gardinier changed the subject. Mrs. Gardinier also testified that after KG was interviewed regarding appellant’s conduct, KG’s behavior worsened. Specifically, KG became violent towards her mother and younger brother; KG also bit herself. At trial, Mrs. Gardinier denied KG was developmentally slow for a five-year-old child but said KG had never been tested.
Detective Larsen of the El Paso County Sheriffs Office and Ms. Cheney of the Colorado Department of Human Services interviewed KG at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Colorado Springs on 2 January 2002. KG made several statements indicating appellant had sexually abused her. This interview was videotaped and admitted into evidence as Prosecution Exhibit 3 over defense objection. During the interview, KG told Detective Larsen that appellant “was naked and he was sitting on the couch,” and he does “that all the time.” KG also indicated appellant touched her in her groin area with his hand—by pointing there several times—after he helped her take a bath. When Detective Larsen asked KG whether appellant was wearing any clothes while bathing, she answered, “Nope.” Furthermore, KG stated her father touched her in her groin area on other occasions, including when her mother was home. Ms. Cheney asked KG whether her father ever made her touch him, and KG responded affirmatively; however, she would not respond orally to the question, “Where do you have to touch him at?” After Detective Larsen drew a picture of a person and asked KG to show him where her father made her touch him, KG pointed to the groin area which she said looked like “pee.” KG stated “[i]t gets bigger” when she touches her father’s penis. KG also drew on Detective Larsen’s picture her interpretation of “[i]t gets bigger.” Detective Larsen then asked, ‘What happens after that?” Ms. Cheney interjected by asking, “What comes out of it?” KG’s response was that “pee pee” comes out of her father’s penis after she touches it.
Ms. Sievers, a registered nurse, clinical forensic specialist, and sexual assault nurse examiner at the Children’s Advocacy Center, testified at trial that she also interviewed KG on 2 January 2002. While she was taking KG’s medical history, KG stated she saw appellant naked. KG also told Ms. Sievers that she wanted to tell her mother “that Daddy was naked and that she touched Daddy’s cooter.” KG spread her legs, pointed to her genital area, and stated that is where the “cooter” is located. KG told Ms. Sievers “her cooter was small, but sometimes she saw Daddy’s cooter get bigger.” Ms. Sievers completed a forensic medical examination form during the interview (admitted into evidence as Prosecution Exhibit 1) on which she annotated that KG “appears small for [her] age and delayed from a developmental perspective.” In addition to the information provided during her testimony, Ms. Sievers’ notes on the form indicate that when KG was asked why she came to see Ms. Sievers, KG replied, “Daddy was naked. I was going to tell mom. He was in Mommy’s room. I was touching his ‘cooter’ with my hand.” Ms. Sievers also performed a sexual assault examination on KG’s vaginal and anal areas and the “detailed genital assessment was negative. It was normal ... for her age.”
Ms. Freeman, a family friend since 1999, testified on the merits that she moved in with the Gardiniers on 30 December 2001 when appellant moved out. Ms. Freeman said after she moved in, her daughter and KG were drawing pictures. When Ms. Freeman asked what the pictures depicted, KG told her one represented “daddy’s pee pee,” and another picture was “daddy laying on the bed naked. Mom wearing underwear.” The military judge stated he would only consider this information to reflect “things ... a 5-year-old female would not ordinarily have knowledge of,” not for the truth of the matter asserted, and therefore, not as hearsay. Ms. Freeman also testified that KG was much more aggressive after the 29 December 2001 incident.
Immediately following the interview with Detective Larsen, SA Phillips conducted a videotaped interview of appellant that is consistent with appellant’s two subsequently written statements. Afterward, appellant rendered a handwritten statement (Prosecution Exhibit 5) which reads:
On two separate occasions sometime after Sept. 99 when we moved here [KG] has taken a shower with me. She would walk in after I was already in there so after I got done washing, I would wash her up which included her groin area. Doing this unintentionally aroused me____ [A] year ago [KG] was in the bedroom watching cartoons, I was in the living room watching tv. I aroused myself and as I was finishing she came running in looking for chocolate milk and saw me.... Approx. 29 Dec. ’01,1 was changing into night clothes, [KG] came into [sic] watch cartoons in our bedroom, she saw me changing. In the course of trying to put my bottoms on, [my son] started crying. I ran out of the bedroom not yet fully dressed to see what happened. He just seemed to have toppled over____ [KG] came running out [and] noticed me still half-naked. She touched me which aroused me. My hand went to my penis which ejaculated a little which she noticed.
Appellant also provided a typed, sworn statement to SA Phillips on 7 January 2002 (Prosecution Exhibit 6). This second statement is generally consistent with the first, but adds further details. Appellant admits that when he showered with KG two times in September 1999, he was “somewhat aroused,” and his penis was “halfway erect” after he touched KG’s vaginal area, but “[i]t had nothing to do with her.”
Appellant further states in the 7 January 2002 statement that between January and March 2001, “while my wife was pregnant[, KG] was in the bedroom watching cartoons, I was in the living room watching TV. I started to get aroused and quickly relieved myself. Just as I was finishing up, [KG] ran out of the bedroom and caught me. She pointed to me and commented that I was peeing.” Appellant admits he was masturbating and ejaculated on himself and KG “probably did see [him] ejaculate” and she “probably” touched his penis.
In his 7 January statement, appellant also states that on 29 December 2001, KG came out of the tub with a towel and asked him to dry her off. He further indicates that on that night he ran out before he “got [his] pants fully on” to assist his son. Appellant states, “[KG] had come running out behind me and when I sat down she noticed my penis, her finger touched it as she commented on how I had a pee pee and [his son] had a pee pee____ It had gotten aroused and a drop of fluid was at the end of it.” Appellant further states KG touched his penis for “1-2 seconds” and he became “sexually aroused;” he touched it, and “some semen came out and was on the tip of [his] penis.”
The military judge denied appellant’s motion to suppress the 3 January 2002 videotaped interview between Detective Larsen, SA Phillips, and appellant, appellant’s 3 January 2002 handwritten statement, and appellant’s 7 January 2002 written sworn statement to CID. He then considered these exhibits during trial on the merits.
Trial defense counsel objected to admissibility of KG’s videotaped statement based upon the Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause. Trial defense counsel further argued that the victim had not yet refused to testify, and told the military judge, “The government, who has the burden, didn’t call [KG]____ They could have called her in a teleconference, or something to demonstrate simply the fact that she couldn’t talk about it. Now, she did talk to defense counsel. It wasn’t much. It was a statement, but it was certainly an accusatory statement, sir.”
At trial, the military judge qualified Mr. Lehman, a Colorado licensed clinical social worker, as an expert in child development and the treatment of sexually abused children. He testified during the pretrial hearing—regarding the government motion in limine to have KG declared unavailable and her videotaped interview admitted—that KG was having tantrums and was aggressive. Mr. Lehman said KG would not understand the judicial process or its seriousness, would be confused sitting in court in front of her father, and would be victimized again. However, he indicated that taking her testimony through closed-circuit television, though not beneficial or helpful to KG, would not be detrimental in the long run. Mr. Lehman said KG would probably refuse to talk, would have lost knowledge, or would be untruthful in front of her father. He stated KG was cognitively three or four years old, not her biological age of five.
Mr. Lehman testified on the merits that during one of his sessions with KG, she told him “about her father making her touch her cooter,” and that “Daddy made her touch his cooter.” He also noted Mrs. Gardinier’s concern that KG’s behavior had gotten progressively worse after the incident on 29 December 2001, and KG became more aggressive. Mr. Lehman restated his opinion from the motion hearing that, if she testified, KG would not benefit from being questioned by “individuals who aren’t trained as licensed psychologists or treatment providers,” in a “nontherapeutic environment,” concerning what her father did to her; KG would be retraumatized to a certain degree depending upon the questions asked. Mr. Lehman also stated he did not necessarily agree that closed-circuit television testimony would not be harmful, but it would be “the lesser of two evils” considering the other option would be live, in-court testimony in front of appellant.
The military judge asked trial counsel to show cause why the government should deprive appellant of his right to confront the victim-witness without at least trying to arrange for a method of testimony not harmful
During Mrs. Gardinier’s testimony, the military judge told her, “[E]vidence in a criminal case ought to be brought out in court. So, I’ve determined that I’d like to hear [KG] testify, if she can testify, by closed-circuit television____ I know that’s against your wishes. And I will not force her to testify if you say that you don’t want me to have her testify. I shouldn’t say ‘force her to testify.’ I won’t have her called if you don’t approve of that.” Mrs. Gardinier responded, “I don’t want her to.” The military judge further asked, “Are you saying you’ll not allow her to testify?” Mrs. Gardinier responded, ‘Yes.”
After the witness was excused, the military judge stated, “I’m going to have to think about that for awhile. I don’t think it’s right that I order [KG] to testify or to appear to try to testify over the objections of her mother. Obviously, [KG] is Ms. Gardinier’s child, not mine. So, I need to consider the implications of that now.” Subsequently, the military judge stated, “Make sure I have this issue framed correctly in my mind. I’ve decided, I guess as a matter of personal conscience, that I am not going to require [KG] to testify by closed-circuit TV over ... her mother’s objection.”
Later, when announcing his findings with regard to the motion in limine, the military judge stated:
MJ: Okay. I have determined that [KG] is unavailable to testify.
I watched the videotape interview of her again last evening. It’s apparent to me that [KG] was even then reluctant to talk about these charged events.
Mrs. Gardinier says that she has been unable to get [KG] to talk about the events, although based upon her testimony, I don’t believe that Mrs. Gardinier has pushed [KG] to discuss it with her.
Mr. Lehman has had six therapy sessions with [KG], each between 40 and 60 minutes long, and in those 5 or 6 hours of sessions, [KG] has made only one brief mention of what happened, despite Mr. Lehman’s attempts to get her to discuss this as part of her therapy. Mr. Lehman’s expert opinion is that [KG] will not provide any useful information if called because of her reticence and because the passage of time has dimmed her recall of events. Mr. Lehman talked to [KG] just days ago when she returned to Colorado, and he got nothing from her concerning the events. If she won’t relate the event to him, someone she’s familiar with, there’s no reason to believe that she will relate events to strangers in a judicial setting.
Counsel for both sides have attempted to discuss this with [KG] in preparation for trial without success. I think I have the trial counsel’s representation that the defense has been unable to get her to relate anything. I don’t believe I’ve heard that directly from the defense counsel.
I find that giving the defense an opportunity to cross-examine [KG] would not be productive or helpful. There are, of course, many other ways of attacking a [witness’] credibility other than through cross-examination.
It had been my intent yesterday, of course, to attempt to get her to testify by closed-circuit television, but that was just a hope and a prayer that she would in fact cooperate, and I find that she would not. And in view of Mrs. Gardinier’s objection to that attempt and because I’m convinced it would not be productive, I decided not to order that.
The military judge then made findings fulfilling the requirements of Mil. R. Evid. 807 (residual hearsay) and regarding the trustworthiness of the statements in accordance with Idaho v. Wright, 497 U.S. 805, 110 S.Ct.
ADC: Sir, just to clarify the record, during my conversation with [KG], I did ask her what happened, and she said, “Daddy had showed me his cooter on the couch.” When I asked her again, her response was no, that that didn’t happen. [Trial counsel] was there during that question and during her response, as well.
TC: Your Honor, just to elaborate on that. The statements made by defense counsel, of course, are true. Defense Counsel asked several questions about that, and [KG] several times said, “I’m done. I’m not talking about it,” and [KG] changed the subject. [Assistant defense counsel (ADC) ] continued to ask her questions, at which time [ADC] said, “Can you tell me what you told your mother?” and [KG] said, as defense counsel pointed out, “Daddy showed me his cooter. I’m done.” And [KG] said, “I’m stopped talking. I’m done now. I’m done,” and then [ADC] again said, “Can you tell me what you said?” and asked for more clarification questions, and [KG] refused to comply. She said “No. No.” And I don’t know if she meant no, it didn’t happen, “No, I’m done talking,” [or] “No, I won’t talk about it.” At that point, after several more minutes of that, [ADC] and I, I think, both decided that she would not be productive to talk to and she was not going to speak with us any longer.
The military judge then asked if trial counsel had interviewed KG without the defense present. Assistant trial counsel said she talked to KG without the defense two months prior to trial and KG “wouldn’t give [her] any more information then.” Assistant trial counsel told the military judge that when she interviewed KG “just ... the other day,” she asked KG if she remembered why she was going to testify. KG replied, “About my dad’s cooter,” but provided nothing further. When she asked KG if she would be able to come to the courtroom and tell the judge what happened, “her response was no.”
The military judge then stated, “Okay. So, at the most, she’s been able to—has been willing to repeat what she told her mother but without amplification. That doesn’t change my determination that she’s unavailable and that putting her on the stand would not be helpful.” Trial defense counsel renewed his objection to admission of KG’s 2 January 2002 videotaped statement based on Mil. R. Evid. 807 and the Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause.
On the brink of entering findings on the merits, the military judge asked trial counsel to explain the apparent facial duplicity regarding Specifications 3 and 4 of the Charge. Both specifications allege appellant committed an “indecent act upon [KG]” by “placing his hands on her vagina;” both specifications allege the same dates, i.e., between on or about September and December 1999. Trial counsel responded that appellant’s two written statements and his videotaped admissions essentially state, “Back in the fall or back in September through December of ’99, on two separate occasions I showered with my daughter.” After deliberating, the military judge announced his findings, and explained why he found appellant not guilty of Specification 3 of the Charge, but guilty of Specification 4 of the Charge. The military judge could not find beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant had the requisite intent concurrent with the committed act set forth in Specification 3 of the Charge. However, as for Specification 4 of the Charge, the military judge stated appellant “was on notice of his proclivities; and allowing it to happen again as charged in Specification 4,1 found beyond a reasonable doubt that the requisite intent was concurrent with the acts charged.”
CONFRONTATION CLAUSE
Law
Admissibility of Evidence
Standard of Review
We review a military judge’s ruling on the admissibility of evidence for an abuse of dis
Where the erroneous admission of hearsay
Moreover, erroneously admitted residual hearsay that constitutes an “error of [Constitutional dimension”—because of its “Sixth Amendment ties”—requires reversal unless we determine the evidence “to be harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.” Hughes, 48 M.J. at 710 (citing United States v. Alba, 15 M.J. 573, 576 (A.C.M.R.1983)); see Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 24, 87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1967) (holding that before a Constitutional error can be held harmless, an appellate court must find the error was “harmless beyond a reasonable doubt”). We review “de novo” whether the “[Cjonstitutional error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Kreutzer, 61 M. J. 293, 299 (C.A.A.F.2005); see Arizona v. Fulminante, 499 U.S. 279, 295, 111 S.Ct. 1246, 113 L.Ed.2d 302 (1991); United States v. Hall, 56 M.J. 432, 436 (C.A.A.F.2002); United States v. Grijalva, 55 M.J. 223, 228 (C.A.A.F.2001); United States v. George, 52 M.J. 259, 261-62 (C.A.A.F.2000). “The inquiry for determining whether [Constitutional error is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt is ‘whether, beyond a reasonable doubt, the error did not contribute to the defendant’s conviction or sentence.’” Kreutzer, 61 M.J. at 298 (quoting United States v. Kaiser, 58 M.J. 146, 149 (C.A.A.F.2003), quoting United States v. Davis, 26 M.J. 445, 449 n. 4 (C.M.A.1988)).
Constitutional Right to Confrontation— Before Crawford
The Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires that, “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right ... to be confronted with the witnesses against him.” U.S. Const, amend. VI. While a literal reading of the Confrontation Clause would operate to bar the admission of any out-of-court statements made by declarants not present to testify at trial, see Ohio v. Roberts, 448 U.S. 56, 63, 100 S.Ct. 2531, 65 L.Ed.2d 597 (1980), the Supreme Court rejected such a strict interpretation as “ ‘unintended and too extreme.’” Wright, 497 U.S. at 814, 110 S.Ct. 3139 (quoting Bourjaily v. United States, 483 U.S. 171, 182, 107 S.Ct. 2775, 97 L.Ed.2d 144 (1987)). The Court has “consistently held that the Clause does not necessarily prohibit the admission of hearsay
In Ohio v. Roberts, the Supreme Court set out a general framework for determining whether admission of an out-of-court hearsay statement violates an accused’s Sixth Amendment right to confrontation.
[W]hen a hearsay declarant is not present for cross-examination at trial, the Confrontation Clause normally requires a showing that he is unavailable. Even then, his statement is admissible only if it bears adequate “indicia of reliability.” Reliability can be inferred without more in a case where the evidence falls within a firmly rooted hearsay exception. In other eases, the evidence must be excluded, at least absent a showing of particularized guarantees of trustworthiness.
Roberts, 448 U.S. at 66,100 S.Ct. 2531.
Essentially, the Court in Roberts held, “[H]earsay is admissible when the witness is unavailable and the hearsay either ‘falls within a firmly rooted hearsay exception,’ see, e.g., White v. Illinois, [502 U.S. 346, 355, 112 S.Ct. 736 (1992)], or has ‘particularized guarantees of trustworthiness,’ see, e.g., [Wright, 497 U.S. at 820, 110 S.Ct. 3139].” United States v. Bridges, 55 M.J. 60, 62-63 (C.A.A.F.2001) (citing Roberts, 448 U.S. at 66, 100 S.Ct. 2531). Furthermore, while firmly rooted hearsay exceptions will generally stand on their own inferred reliability, “the residual hearsay exception^ Mil. R. Evid. 807,] is not firmly rooted—thus, the requirement to establish unavailability and particularized guarantees of trustworthiness.” Id. at 63, 100 S.Ct. 2531; see Wright, 497 U.S. at 817, 110 S.Ct. 3139 (“Idaho’s residual hearsay exception ... is not a firmly rooted hearsay exception.”) (internal citation omitted).
Constitutional Right to Confrontation— After Crawford
In 2004, the Supreme Court’s decision in Crawford, 541 U.S. at 36, 124 S.Ct. 1354, partially overruled the well-established unavailability and trustworthiness framework enunciated in Roberts. The Crawford decision now requires a determination regarding whether out-of-court statements are “testimonial” or “nontestimonial” in nature. Crawford, 541 U.S. at 67-68, 124 S.Ct. 1354.
In light of Crawford, “testimonial” hearsay is inadmissible at trial unless the declarant is unavailable and the defense was afforded a prior opportunity to cross-examine the declarant. Id. at 68, 124 S.Ct. 1354. Decisions regarding admissibility of “nontestimonial” hearsay continue to involve fulfilling the requirements set forth in Roberts— unavailability of the declarant and, in the ease of residual hearsay, particularized guarantees of trustworthiness. Id.; Horton v. Allen, 370 F.3d 75, 83-84 (1st Cir.2004) (When “nontestimonial hearsay is at issue” the Crawford framework “is inapplicable and Roberts continues to apply.”), cert. denied, 543 U.S. 1093, 125 S.Ct. 971, 160 L.Ed.2d 905 (2005).
Unavailability of the Witness
Therefore, despite Crawford’s mandate to determine whether a statement is “testimonial” or “nontestimonial” in nature, trial judges must first analyze and find the de-clarant physically and legally unavailable,
Residual hearsay under Mil. R. Evid. 807 is permissible,
provided the Government adequately demonstrates the declarant’s unavailab[ility] as a witness. See Mil. R. Evid. 804(a). In determining unavailability, [t]he ultimate question is whether the witness is unavailable despite goodfaith efforts undertaken prior to trial to locate and present that witness. Nonetheless, if there is a possibility, albeit remote, that affirmative measures might produce the declarant, the obligation of good faith may demand their effectuation. The lengths to which the prosecution must go to produce a witness ... is a question of reasonableness.
United States v. Ferdinand, 29 M.J. 164, 166 (C.M.A.1989) (alterations in original) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 1044, 110 S.Ct. 840, 107 L.Ed.2d 835 (1990). Therefore, “to be admissible, residual hearsay statements have to pass both [Constitutional and evidentiary muster,” including the satisfactory showing of physical and legal unavailability. Palacios, 32 M.J. at 1051.
Prior to admitting residual hearsay under Mil. R. Evid. 807 (which is not a firmly rooted hearsay exception and not admissible under Mil. R. Evid. 803), the government must establish the declarant of the prior, out-of-court statement is legally unavailable pursuant to Mil. R. Evid. 804(a). See White, 502 U.S. at 355, 112 S.Ct. 736; Bridges, 55 M.J. at 63; United States v. Lyons, 36 M.J. 183, 186 n. 2 (C.M.A.1992); United States v. Clark, 35 M.J. 98, 105 (C.M.A.1992); Palac-ios, 32 M.J. at 1051 n. 6. Military Rule of Evidence 804(a) provided the military judge in appellant’s case three potentially applicable options for finding the child-victim legally unavailable. Specifically, Mil. R. Evid. 804(a) provides:
“Unavailability as a witness” includes situations in which the declarant—
(2) persists in refusing to testify concerning the subject matter of the declarant’s statement despite an order of the military judge to do so; or
(3) testifies to a lack of memory of the subject matter of the declarant’s statement; or
(6) is unavailable within the meaning of Article 49(d)(2)[, an article entitled “Depositions”].
Article 49(d)(2), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 849(d)(2), further states that a witness is unavailable if the witness, “by reason of death, age, sickness, bodily infirmity, imprisonment, military necessity, nonamenability to process, or other reasonable cause, is unable or refuses to appear and testify in person at the place of tidal or hearing.”
Discussion
We find the military judge made an insufficient attempt to obtain KG’s testimony. Furthermore, he abused his discretion in finding KG legally unavailable within the meaning of Mil. R. Evid. 804(a). Therefore, we need not enter the morass of case law interpreting the distinction between “testimonial” and “nontestimonial” hearsay statements set forth by the Crawford Court, and we will “leave for another day any effort to spell out a comprehensive definition of ‘testimonial.’” Crawford, 541 U.S. at 68, 124 S.Ct. 1354.
The military judge appeared to fulfill physical unavailability using the standard for legal unavailability. While in some cases this may be accomplished, in appellant’s case, the record is unclear upon which Mil. R. Evid. 804(a) provision the military judge based his finding of unavailability. Nevertheless, the government’s stated basis for KG’s unavailability was Mil. R. Evid. 804(a)(6). Specifically, trial counsel asserted that due to KG’s age: “she’s simply unable to testify;” did not understand the nature of the proceedings (due to developmental delay), and therefore, could not be truthful;
The military judge’s additional comments and findings reflect that he found KG unavailable because: (1) her mother asserted KG was reluctant to talk; (2) KG would not provide useful information because she had not revealed any new information to Mr. Lehman (her counselor) or assistant trial counsel, and KG would “repeat what she told her mother but without amplification;” (3) “cross-examin[ing KG] would not be productive or helpful;” and, (4) her mother “objected]” to KG testifying by closed-circuit television.
Additionally, as our superior court has noted:
We are mindful, as are several state jurisdictions, that a child may be found to be unavailable to testify if a psychiatrist or psychologist has determined that participation in a trial would be too traumatic for the child. Nothing in the record indicates, however, that any determination of this sort was ever made.
Ferdinand, 29 M.J. at 167 (internal footnote omitted). Testimony from Mr. Lehman merely supports that discussing the offenses would not be beneficial or helpful to KG, e.g., she may experience some behavioral problems as a result. However, Mr. Lehman, the licensed clinical social worker, told the military judge, if KG testified via closed-circuit television, he did not “think in the long run it would be detrimental.” As for Mrs. Gardinier’s testimony, a “military judge is hardly bound to accept a mother’s unprofessional, lay opinion that requiring a child to testify at trial would so traumatize the child as to outweigh an accused’s right to confrontation.” Ferdinand, 29 M.J. at 168. Nevertheless, the military judge did not include potential trauma to the victim as a basis for his finding of unavailability. Cf. Contreras v. State, 910 So.2d 901, 903, 907 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.2005) (finding, despite psychologist’s opinion that child-victim “would suffer severe ‘emotional and psychological harm’” if she testified at trial, unavailability based upon “generalized harm” does not satisfy physical availability requirement of Confrontation Clause).
Although the government moved to find KG unavailable pursuant to Mil. R. Evid. 804(a)(6) due to her age, the military judge is not bound by counsel’s assertions. As with objections, “[t]o require counsel for either side to identify all available [bases] in support of his or her [argument] is unnecessary in a context where the military judge is presumed to know the law and follow it.” Datz, 61 M.J. at 42. Moreover, if the military judge made specific findings regarding unavailability—pursuant to other provisions within Mil. R. Evid. 804 (other than the provision on which the government requested a finding of unavailability), but his findings were still supported by the facts and law— we would uphold that decision. Therefore, we will analyze KG’s unavailability based on other applicable provisions within Mil. R. Evid. 804 (i.e., Mil. R. Evid.804(a)(2) (persistent refusal to testify despite judge’s order to testify) and Mil. R. Evid. 804(a)(3) (lack of memory of subject matter)).
Military Rule of Evidence 804(a)(2), authorizes a military judge to find a witness unavailable if a witness “persists in refusing to testify ... despite an order of the military judge to do so.” We reiterate our sister court’s position that a military judge must:
attempt to persuade a recalcitrant witness to answer questions rather than assume an initial refusal is final. Although the judge may, in some circumstances, lack contempt power, a thorough explanation of the impact of refusal to testify on the parties to the trial and the exercise of all the moral persuasion available to the court should be attempted before a witness is declared unavailable.
United States v. Hogan, 16 M.J. 549, 550 (A.F.C.M.R.1983) (citing United States v. Oliver, 626 F.2d 254 (2d Cir.1980)), rev’d on other grounds, 20 M.J. 71 (C.M.A.1985) (“spill over” effect of Mil. R. Evid. 404(b) evidence). Furthermore, when dealing with a child witness, the more cautious approach would be to determine that the child “herself
In appellant’s case, after KG’s mother stated she would not “allow” KG to testify, the military judge—without ordering KG to testify (as required by Mil. R. Evid. 804(a)(2))— “decided, ... as a matter of personal conscience,” that he would not require KG to testify via closed-circuit television. While we agree that a mother’s refusal to produce a child "witness could be the basis for an unavailability determination under Mil. R. Evid. 804(a)(2), the military judge must fulfill the requirement of ordering her to produce the child prior to making that determination. “A military judge is hardly exercising his contempt powers under Article 48, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 848, ... when he finds that any efforts to compel a mother to produce a child to testify would be ‘futile’ simply because she threatens to disobey his order before it is even issued.” Ferdinand, 29 M.J. at 167.
Military Rule of Evidence 804(a)(3) allows the military judge to find a witness “functionally unavailable” when a child testifies that he does not remember. United States v. Martindale, 30 M.J. 172, 173 (C.M.A.1990). For example, the Martindale Court upheld the military judge’s finding of unavailability when a twelve-year-old, emotionally and mentally disabled boy—the victim of a sex offense—was “functionally unavailable” based on his “claimed lack of memory and unwillingness to testify, as well as [the doctor’s] testimony regarding the traumatic effect testifying would have on the child.” Id. at 175. In appellant’s case, KG never testified; others merely told the military judge she might not remember what her father did to her.
The military judge in appellant’s case had potential options under Mil. R. Evid. 804(a) that he could have used to find KG unavailable. However, he abused his discretion when he found the child-victim unavailable because: her mother said KG was “reluctant to talk;” KG would not provide “useful information” and would “repeat what she told her mother;” “eross-examin[ing KG] would not be productive or helpful;” and her mother “objected” to KG testifying even by closed-circuit television. Furthermore, this court is unaware of any authority which permits a military judge to decline to order a witness to testify simply because he does not “think it’s right” or “as a matter of personal conscience.”
The military judge’s determination that KG would not provide any “helpful” information alone does not provide a valid basis for a finding of unavailability. “[T]he Confrontation Clause guarantees only ‘an opportunity for effective cross-examination, not cross-examination that is effective in whatever way, and to whatever extent, the defense might wish.’ ” United States v. Owens, 484 U.S. 554, 559, 108 S.Ct. 838, 98 L.Ed.2d 951 (1988) (alteration in original) (quoting Kentucky v. Stincer, 482 U.S. 730, 739, 107 S.Ct. 2658, 96 L.Ed.2d 631 (1987), quoting Delaware v. Fensterer, 474 U.S. 15, 20, 106 S.Ct. 292, 88 L.Ed.2d 15 (1985)); see United States v. Rhodes, 61 M.J. 445, 449-50 (C.A.A.F.2005) (citing Owens, 484 U.S. at 554, 108 S.Ct. 838) (finding admission of statement did not violate confrontation rights where special agent testified and was subject to cross-examination); see also United States v. Moore, 12 M.J. 854 (A.F.C.M.R.1981) (noting military judge has discretion over scope of cross-examination to impeach witness credibility based on raising matters concerning witness’ mental or emotional problems).
Therefore, based on the facts of this case, we find the military judge erroneously determined KG was unavailable to testify at trial, and improperly admitted KG’s videotaped statement.
HARMLESS BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT
Law
Standard of Review
Since we have determined the military judge abused his discretion by admitting KG’s videotaped statement into evidence in violation of appellant’s Sixth Amendment right to confrontation, we must now decide de novo whether that Constitutional error was “harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Simmons, 59 M.J. 485, 489 (C.A.A.F.2004) (citing Chapman, 386 U.S. at 24, 87 S.Ct. 824).
Indecent Acts and Indecent Liberties
Article 134, UCMJ, provides that “all disorders and neglects [not specifically enumerated in the UCMJ,] to the prejudice of good order and discipline[, or tending] to bring discredit upon the armed forces, ... of which persons subject to this chapter may be guilty, shall be taken cognizance of by ... court-martial, ... and shall be punished at the discretion of that court.” The offenses of indecent acts and indecent liberties with children are included under Article 134, UCMJ. The offense of indecent acts (such as the allegation, in Specification 4 of the Charge, that appellant touched his daughter’s vagina for sexual gratification between September 1999 and December 1999) contains the following elements:
(1) Physical contact.
(a) That the accused committed a certain act upon or with the body of a certain person;
(b) That the person was under 16 years of age and not the spouse of the accused;
(c) That the act of the accused was indecent;
(d) That the accused committed the act with intent to arouse, appeal to, or gratify the lust, passions, or sexual desires of the accused, the victim, or both; and
(e) That, under the circumstances, the conduct of the accused was to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces or was of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces.
Manual for Courts-Martial, United States (1998 ed.), Part IV, para. 87b(l).
Furthermore, the offense of indecent liberties (such as the allegations, in Specification 1 of the Charge, that appellant, for sexual gratification, exposed himself, had his daughter touch his penis, and shook his penis until he ejaculated on 29 December 2001) contains the following elements:
(2) No physical contact.
(a) That the accused committed a certain act;
(b) That the act amounted to the taking of indecent liberties with a certain person;
(c) That the accused committed the act in the presence of this person;
(d) That this person was under 16 years of age and not the spouse of the accused;
(e) That the accused committed the act with the intent to arouse, appeal to, or gratify the lust, passions, or sexual desires of the accused, the victim, or both; and
(f) That, under the circumstances, the conduct of the accused was to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces or was of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces.
Discussion
Considering all the evidence properly admitted at trial, we find the military judge’s error in admitting KG’s videotaped statement is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Appellant’s statements (which are corroborated by the many admissible statements of the victim and other witnesses) describe several incidents of sexual contact with KG. The military judge only convicted appellant of two—specifically, committing an indecent act upon KG by placing his hands on her vagina with intent to gratify his sexual desires between on or about September 1999 and December 1999, and taking indecent liberties with KG by exposing himself, having her touch his penis, then shaking his own penis until he ejaculated, with intent to gratify his sexual desires, on or about 29 December 2001.
The few statements KG made during her videotaped interview add nothing new to the evidence properly admitted at trial. KG’s interview, at best, offers cumulative evidence already elicited from other witnesses and documentary evidence. Therefore, we find that even when the five-year-old victim’s videotaped statement is excluded from the evidence, the other properly-admitted evidence proves the offenses and appellant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Appellant’s admissions and the additional evidence properly admitted at trial fully support appellant’s conviction of the indecent acts offense. During his interview, appellant admitted to SA Phillips that when he bathed his daughter and touched his daughter’s vagina, he got sexually aroused to the point that he got an erection. This, he asserts, occurred “a couple of times” or “about two times.” Appellant told Detective Larsen, “If I thought of anything [while touching KG’s vagina] ... maybe I thought, “Wow, my wife will be home soon, maybe we can go play,’ ” referring to being sexually intimate with Mrs. Gardinier. In his subsequent written statements, appellant admitted he twice showered with KG on or after September 1999, “unintentionally” became aroused, and his penis was “halfway erect” when he washed her “groin” or “vaginal” area. Mrs. Gardinier testified that after she returned home on 29 December 2001, KG came running up to her and told her mother “that her dad was laying naked.” When she asked KG if anyone “touched her in her private part,” KG “opened her underwear to the side,” showed her mother her “private areas,” and said, “Daddy does.” Once appellant denied any inappropriate contact with his daughter, KG told her mother, “Daddy’s a liar,” and that her father touched her “every time [her mother] left” the house.
As for the indecent liberties offense, appellant further describes an incident that occurred between January and March 2001. During his videotaped interview with SA Phillips, appellant admitted, “She has touched [my penis] ... on one other night[, other than on 29 December 2001] ... maybe a year or so ago.” In his written statements, appellant asserts he was in his living room masturbating. He stated, “I aroused myself’ and “ejaculated on me.” KG saw appellant “as [he] was finishing,” pointed to him, and commented that he was “peeing.” Appellant admits KG “probably did see [him] ejaculate” and “probably” touched his penis. Despite this incident with his five-year-old daughter earlier in 2001 of which appellant was found not guilty,
These admissions are also fully corroborated by the evidence properly admitted at trial. Specifically, the victim told Ms. Sievers that she “touched daddy’s cooter” and pointed to her genital area when referring to the cooter. KG also told Ms. Sievers “her cooter was small, but sometimes she saw daddy’s cooter get bigger.” Ms. Sievers’ notes on the forensic medical examination form indicate KG told her, “Daddy was naked. I was going to tell mom. He was in Mommy’s room. I was touching his ‘cooter’ with my hand.” KG further told Mr. Lehman that “Daddy made [her] touch his cooter.”
Conclusion
We have considered appellant’s other assignments of error, and those matters personally raised by appellant pursuant to United States v. Grostefon, 12 M.J. 431 (C.M.A.1982), in our review of the record and find them to be without merit. Accordingly, the findings of guilty and the sentence are affirmed.
Senior Judge MERCK
. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966).
. Detective Larsen testified SA Phillips was present during the interview. Our review of the videotaped interview indicates SA Phillips initially observed the interview from a separate room. Later in the videotaped interview Special Agent Phillips explains this to appellant.
. "A motion in limine normally has the purpose of preventing the introduction of an adversary's evidence. See United States v. Gamble, 27 M.J. 298, 306 (C.M.A.1988). In this case, the Government, rather than offering the statement, sought a pretrial ruling as to admissibility.” United States v. Giambra, 33 M.J. 331, 333 n. 3 (C.M.A.1991).
. See note 11, infra, describing the requirements that must be met under Mil. R. Evid. 807 and Wright.
. Hearsay is defined as an out-of-court statement being offered into evidence to prove the truth of matter asserted in the statement. Mil. R. Evid. 801(c). Hearsay is generally not admissible at trial unless it falls under one of the enumerated exceptions to the rule against its admission or some other applicable evidentiary rule. See Mil. R. Evid. 802-805. Where hearsay does not fall under one of the enumerated exceptions or other evidentiary rule, the proponent of the hearsay statement may move for its admission under the "residual exception.” Mil. R. Evid. 807. The residual exception allows admission of "statement[s] not specifically covered by [Mil. R. Evid.] 803 or 804 but having equivalent circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness." Mil. R. Evid. 807.
. Nontestimonial hearsay statements that fall under a firmly rooted hearsay exception do not require a finding of legal unavailability prior to their admission. See Mil. R. Evid. 803 (availability of declarant immaterial).
. Varying judicial interpretations are reflected in case law applying Crawford in determining
. A military judge may allow a child witness to provide remote live testimony pursuant to Mil. R. Evid. 611(d)(1), which states, "In a case involving abuse of a child or domestic violence, the military judge shall ... allow a child victim or witness to testify from an area outside the courtroom as prescribed in [Rule for Courts-Martial [hereinafter R.C.M.]] 914A.” However, Mil. R. Evid. 611(d)(4) does not permit remote live testimony if an accused first elects to leave the courtroom pursuant to R.C.M. 804(c). In any case, before using remote live testimony, a military judge must make a finding that a child is unable to testify in the presence of the accused because the child is afraid, would suffer emotional trauma from testifying, is mentally or otherwise infirm, or the parties' actions in court render the child unable to continue testifying. See Mil. R. Evid. 611 (d)(3)(A)-(D).
. A child-witness’ ability to be truthful does not impact their competence to testify. Pursuant to Mil. R. Evid. 601, ”[e]very person is competent to be a witness." Military Rule of Evidence 603 further provides that prior to testifying, a witness must "declare that [he or she] will testify truthfully, by oath or affirmation____” This, however, does not mean children "might be incompetent to testify based on some general inability to understand an oath or affirmation to tell the truth.” United States v. Morgan, 31 M.J. 43, 47 (C.M.A.1990) (internal footnote omitted); see also United States v. LeMere, 16 M.J. 682, 685-86 (A.C.M.R.1983) (finding three-year-old victim witness competent to testify and matters affecting her credibility properly left for panel members to decide), offd, 22 M.J. 61 (C.M.A.1986).
. In light of our holding, we need not review the military judge's findings made in accordance with Mil. R. Evid. 807 and Wright, 497 U.S. at 820-22, 110 S.Ct. 3139. We note, however, that before residual hearsay may be admitted pursuant to Mil. R. Evid. 807, the following requirements must be met: declarant’s unavailability, circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness, materiality, probative value, interests of justice, and notice to the adverse party. See Bridges, 55 M.J. at 63; United States v. Sanchez-Lima, 161 F.3d 545, 547-48 (9th Cir.1998); United States v. Hsia, 87 F.Supp.2d 10, 16 (D.D.C.2000); Coyle v. Kristjan Palusalu Mar. Co., 83 F.Supp.2d 535, 545 (E.D.Pa.2000), aff'd, 254 F.3d 1077 (3rd Cir.2001). Additionally, in Wright, the Supreme
. This provision remains unchanged in the 2000 edition of the Manual.
. The military judge admitted KG’s statements to her mother as excited utterances—hearsay exceptions pursuant to Mil. R. Evid. 803(2) (excited utterance hearsay exception; availability of de-clarant immaterial). Military Rule of Evidence 803(2) permits the admission of an excited utterance "relating to a startling event or condition made while the declarant was under the stress of excitement cause[d] by the event or condition.” The excited utterance exception is a "firmly rooted” exception to the hearsay rule. See White, 502 U.S. at 355 n. 8, 112 S.Ct. 736; Mungo v. Duncan, 393 F.3d 327, 331 (2nd Cir.2004). This means its reliability is inferred because it has been time-tested against "longstanding judicial and legislative experience.” Wright, 497 U.S. at 817, 110 S.Ct. 3139 (citing Roberts, 448 U.S. at 66, 100 S.Ct. 2531). Furthermore, such statements are generally "nontestimonial” within the meaning of that term as described in Crawford. See, e.g., United States v. Hadley, 431 F.3d 484, 499-507 (6th Cir.2005) (domestic violence victim’s spontaneously and excitedly made statements to police arriving at scene nontestimonial); Compan v. People, 121 P.3d 876, 880-81 (Colo.2005) (abuse victim’s statements to friend constituted excited utterances and nontestimonial); Herrera-Vega v. State, 888 So.2d 66, 69 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.2004) (child’s unrecorded, spontaneous statements to mother, later repeated to father, that she was sodomized nontestimonial), rev. denied, 902 So.2d 790 (Fla.2005). We agree with the military judge’s findings regarding KG’s statements to her mother, and do not find the military judge abused his discretion. See United States v. Donaldson, 58 M.J. 477, 484 (C.A.A.F.2003) (noting presumption, generally, against admission of statements not immediately following startling event; however, cognizant of courts’ flexibility "in cases in which the declarant is young, particularly where the statement was made during the child’s first opportunity alone with a trusted adult”) (citing United States v. Jones, 30 M.J. 127, 129 (C.M.A.1990) (noting child victims may stay excited longer than adults)); United States v. Feltham, 58 M.J. 470, 474—75 (C.A.A.F.2003); United States v. Moolick, 53 M.J. 174, 176 (C.A.A.F.2000); United States v.
. In Specification 2 of the Charge, appellant was charged with "exposing his penis and ejaculating in [KG's] presence” between December 2000 and March 2001.
. We also find the military judge properly admitted KG’s statements to Ms. Sievers and Mr. Lehman. These statements are admissible as hearsay exceptions pursuant to Mil. R. Evid. 803(4) (statements for medical diagnosis and treatment hearsay exception; availability of de-clarant immaterial). Military Rule of Evidence 803(4) reads, "Statements made for purposes of medical diagnosis or treatment and describing] medical history, or past or present symptoms, pain, or sensation, or the inception or general character of the cause or external source thereof insofar as reasonably pertinent to diagnosis or treatment." The medical diagnosis or treatment exception is also a "firmly rooted" exception to the hearsay rule. See White, 502 U.S. at 355 n.
Senior Judge Merck took action on this case prior to his retirement.
