53 M.J. 142 | C.A.A.F. | 2000
v.
Donald L. GARREN, Sergeant
U.S. Army, Appellant
No. 99-0418
Crim. App. No. 9700732
United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
Argued January 13, 2000
Decided June 29, 2000
CRAWFORD, C.J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which SULLIVAN, GIERKE, and EFFRON, JJ., and COX, S.J., joined.
Counsel
For Appellant: Captain Donald P. Chisholm (argued); Colonel Adele H. Odegard and Major Scott R. Morris (on brief); Colonel John T. Phelps II and Captain Kirsten V. Campbell-Brunson.
For Appellee: Captain Katherine M. Kane
(argued); Colonel
Russell S. Estey, Lieutenant Colonel
Eugene R. Milhizer and
Captain Kelly R. Bailey (on brief).
Military Judge: Larry R. Dean
THIS OPINION IS SUBJECT TO EDITORIAL CORRECTION BEFORE FINAL PUBLICATION.
Chief Judge CRAWFORD delivered the opinion of the Court.
Contrary to his pleas, appellant was convicted by an officer and enlisted panel of conspiracy, larceny of a motorcycle, and false swearing, in violation of Articles 81, 121, and 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 USC §§ 881, 921, and 934, respectively. Appellant was sentenced to a bad-conduct discharge, 5 years confinement, total forfeitures, and reduction to the lowest enlisted grade. The convening authority reduced the confinement to 3 years but otherwise approved the sentence. The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the findings and sentence. 49 M.J. 501 (1998). We granted review of the following issue:
COMMENTED UPON APPELLANT'S INVOCATION OF
HIS FUNDAMENTAL, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO
PLEAD NOT GUILTY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
OPENING STATEMENT, CLOSING ARGUMENT, AND
ARGUMENT ON THE SENTENCE, WHEN THE TRIAL
COUNSEL ARGUED THAT THIS CASE IS ABOUT A
NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER WHO HAS REFUSED
TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS ACTIONS.
In his opening statement, trial counsel said: "Mr. President, members of the panel, this case is about an NCO who has refused to accept responsibility for his actions." Also in his opening statement, trial counsel referred to three separate statements appellant made to criminal investigators, two on December 2, 1996, and one on December 4, 1996, ranging from denying participation in the larceny to denying any belief that the motorcycle would be stolen to finally claiming he thought it was all a joke.
Trial counsel also opened his final argument with the same theme:
Finally, trial counsel used the same theme during his sentencing argument. He opened as follows:
DISCUSSION
In his opening statement, closing argument on findings, and sentencing argument, trial counsel repeated the theme that appellant was a noncommissioned officer who would not accept responsibility for his conduct. Appellant did not object at trial, but now styles trial counsels theme as inappropriate comment upon appellants constitutional right to plead not guilty. Appellants argument is premised on his conclusion that trial counsels argument commented on appellants right to plead not guilty.
All of the charges upon which appellant was arraigned related to a stolen motorcycle. The false swearing charge, however, was based upon appellants three varying statements to criminal investigators. Thus, from the outset, this trial dealt with appellants lies about his criminal responsibility.
In the absence of any objection that would have shed additional light on the meaning and intent of trial counsels argument, we will evaluate whether appellant has met his burden to establish that there was plain or obvious error materially prejudicing his substantial rights. United States v. Powell, 49 M.J. 460 (1998).
It is telling that in the findings argument, trial counsel referred immediately to "proof" that appellant did not take responsibility for his criminal conduct. The opening statement was fair comment on what trial counsel expected to show and what he was in fact required to show to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The findings argument simply affirmed that trial counsel met his burden as he promised in his opening statement.
As the Army Court of Criminal Appeals stated in its opinion:
to the appellant "not accepting responsi-
bility for what he has done" during his
opening statement and findings argument
did not constitute an impermissible comment
on the appellant's exercise of his right to
plead not guilty. Rather, the trial counsel's
remarks called attention to the appellant's
inconsistencies in his statements to the
criminal investigators.
As to the sentencing argument, trial counsel continued to comment fairly upon the evidence, the charges, and appellants unsworn statement. The Army Court of Criminal Appeals noted that,
and the court may consider, an accused's lack
of remorse in determining an accused's rehabilita-
tive potential if the following foundation has been laid: "an accused has either testified
or has made an unsworn statement and has either expressed no remorse or his expression of remorse
can be arguably construed as being shallow,
artificial, or contrived." United States v. Edwards, 35 M.J. 351, 355 (CMA 1992) (cites omitted).
The evidence in this case was overwhelming. The issue centered around appellants statements to investigators as to whether he was merely joking or really instigating the theft of the motorcycle. There is adequate reason on the record to reject appellants "joking" explanation. Thus, we hold that appellants substantial rights were not materially prejudiced, and there was no plain error.
The decision of the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals is affirmed.