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DEPARTMENT OF TEB NAVY
U.S. NAVY-MARINE CORPS COURT OF CRIMINAL
OFFICI OF THE JObGEADVOCATE GENERAL
WASHINQTON NAVY YJUW
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08/30/2008 13:05 FAX 2028857880 NMCtCrimApp
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UNITED STATES NAVY.MARINE CORPS
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Before
D.E. O'TOOLE, V.S. COUCH, J.A. MAKSYM
Appellate Military Judges
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
EDWIN A. EHLERS II
SERGEANT (E.S), U.S. MARINE CORPS
NMCCA 200800190
GENERAL COURTMARTIAL
Sentence Adjudged: 21 August 2007.
Military JUdge: Maj Brian Kasprzyk, usMC.
Convening Authority: Commanding General, 1st Marine
Division (REIN), Camp Pendleton, CA.
Staff Judge Advocate's Recommendation: LtCol R.M.
Miller, USMC.
For Appellarit: Mr. Michael Eisenberg, Esq.; LT Sarah
Harris, JAGC, USN.
For Appellee: Capt Robert Eckert, USMC; LT Elliot
Oxman, JAGC, USN.
30 June 2009
OPINION OF THE COURT
AS AN UNPUBLISHED DECISION, THIS OPINION DOES NOT SERVE AS PRECEDENT.
COUCH, Senior Judge:
A military judge, sitting as a general court-martial,
convicted the appellant, contrary to his pleas, of sodomy
with a child under the age of 12 years, assault consummated
by a battery upon a child under 16 years, and indecent
liberties with a child under the age of 16 years, in
violation of Articles 125, 126, and 134, Uniform Code of
CENTRAl. FII.ES
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Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. 925, 928, and 934.
'
The
appellant was sentenced to confinement for 25 years,
forfeiture of all pay and allowances, reduction to pay grade
E-l, and a dishonorable discharge. The convening authority
approved the findings and the sentence, but disapproved all
confinement in excess of 19 years in an act of clemency.
The appellant alleges five assignments of error: (1)
that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to
support the findings of guilty to sodomy and indecent
liberties with a child; (2) that the appellant "was
prejudiced before and during the trial by the military's
misconduct" in the form of ineffective assistance of counsel,
prosecutorial misconduct, and unlawful command influence; (3)
that the offenses alleged constitute an unreasonable
multiplication of charges; (4) that the sodomy, assault, and
indecent liberties charges are multiplicious; and (5) that
the appellant's adjudged sentence of confinement for 25
years is "unduly disproportionate." After oonsidering the
record, the appellant's briefs and assignments of error, the
appellant's pro se petition for a new trial, the
Government's responses, and the affidavits of the trial and
detailed defense counsel which are attached to the record,
we conclude that the findings and the sentence are correct
in law and fact, and that no error materially prejudicial to
the substantial rights of the appellant was committed. Arts.
59(a) and 66(c), UCMJ. The appellant's petition for a new
trial is denied. Rtn:.E FOR COURTS-MARTIAL 1210(g) (2), MANuAL FOR
UNa]i;D S'l'A'l'EiS (2008 ed.) .
Background
While assigned to Camp Pendleton, California, the
appellant and his family became friends with their next door
neighbors, Petty Officer Second Class [S] and his family,
including their four year-old daughter, HS. The two
families were close, and their children played and spent
time together at each family's house. The appellant's
former spouse, Gloria, testified that she occasionally
babysat the [S] family children in her home, sometimes in
the company of the appellant,
At the time of the alleged offenses, Gloria testified
that the appellant routinely viewed pornography from the
internet, and maintained a collection of pornography
consisting of three digital video,disks (DVDs). Gloria
further testified that in August 2002, she underwent a
hysterectomy and, as a result, experienced a lack of sexual
drive and mood swings, which affected the marital
The offenses occurrea prior to October 2007, ana are therefore
unaffected by the amendment of Article 120, UCMJ. that now encompasses
sexual offenses involving children.
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,
relationship between her and the appellant. The couple
separated in April 2004, and subsequently divorced.
While living next door to the [S] family, the appellant
babysat for HS on at least one occasion while her father was
on deployment and her mother was sick as a result of a
pregnancy. Record at 316. US testified that the appellant
masturbated in her presence, and spanked her on the buttocks
with his hand.' Id. at 348. HS also testified that the
appellant put type of lotion on his hand," put his penis
into her mouth, and that later 'white stuff came out." Id.
HS testified that she was afraid to tell anybody about the
incident because the appellant told her if she did, her
won't love me." Id.
HS'e parents testified that she occasionally rubbed her
genitals very hard. After the [S] family moved to Parris
Island, South Carolina in late 2003, the appellant's former
stepdaughter, RH, visited during her summer vacation. US's
parents mentioned US's behavior to RH, who in turn spoke to
HS. During this conversation, HS said that she had been
sexually abused by the appellant. HS's parents related
these allegations to medical care providers, and later to
agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
Towards the end of the NCIS investigation, Special
Agent (SA) Eric Meulenberg interviewed the appellant. The
appellant admitted to viewing pornography and masturbating
to ejaculation in the presence of HS, and to spanking heron
the buttocks while in the process of this sexual activity.
Id. at 267-88. The appellant also admitted that HS watched
him while he masturbated, and drew a diagram of his living
quarters to indicate where HS was standing during the
incident. rd. at 285; Prosecution Exhibit 2.
Legal and Factual Sufficiency
The appellant's first assignment of error claims that
the evidence underlying the findings of guilty are legally
and factually insufficient, specifically because the
Government failed to prove the appellant's sodomy of liS
occurred, the military judge acted as a 'second prosecutor"
during his questioning of the appellant, and the Government
failed to prove the appellant formed the requisite intent
gratify his lust sexual desires" in relation to the
indecent liberties offense under Charge II, Specification
1.' Appellant's Brief and Assignments of Error of 19 Jun at
5-17. We disagree.
, HS was four years old when the appellant's offenses occurred, and
eight years old when she testified at trial.
The speoifioation reads: "In that sergeant Edwin A. Ehlers, U.S.
Marine Corps, on active duty, did, on board Camp Pendleton, between on
or about 1 August 2002 and on or about 1 Ootober 2002. take indecent
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The test for legal sufficiency 1S whether, considering
the evidence in the light most favorable to the Government,
any rational trier of fact could have found the elementa of
the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia,
443 O.S. 307, 318-19 (1979); united states v. Turner, 2S M.J.
324, 325 (C.M.A. 1987); see also Art. 66(c), UCMJ. The test
for factual sufficiency is whether, after weighing all the
evidence in the record of trial and recogni3ing that we did
not see or hear the witnesses, this court is convinced of
the appellant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Turner, 25
M.J. at 325; see also Art. 66(c).
As a predicate matter, we consider the appellant's
assertion that the military judge abandoned hie impartial
role when he asked questions of the appellant during the
litigation of a pretrial motion to suppress the appellant's
admissions to SA Meulenberg. Appellant's Brief at 9.< It
is a basic right of military due process to have "a judge
Who appears impartial throughout [an accused's] court-
martial." United States v. Cooper, 51 M.J. 247, 250
(C.A.A.'F. 1999) I see also United States v. Grandy, 11 M.J.
270, 277 (C.M.A. 1981); R.C.M. 801(c), Discussion. It has
"long been the law" that the military judge may question
witnesses. United States v. Dock, 40 M.J. 112, 127 (C.M.A.
1994). The military judge does not abandon hie impartiality
by asking appropriate questions "to clarify factual
uncertainties." united States v. Reynolds, 24 M.J. 261, 264
(C.M.A. 1987) (citations omitted). Indeed, the military
judge has "wide latitude" to ask questions, including
"questions which might adversely affect one party or the
another." United States v. Acosta, 49 M.J. 14, 17-18
(C.A.A.F. 1998). .
We find nothing in the questioning of the accused
during pretrial motions that indicates the military judge
abandoned his impartiality. Moreover, we note that the
appellant elected to be tried by military judge alone atter
his motion to suppress his statements to NClS was litigated
pretrial. Record at 242. The appellant's assertion on
appeal that the military judge acted as a "second
prosecutor" is contrary to the evidence of record, and it is
inconsistent with his own affirmative decision to have the
same military judge serve as the sole trier of fact in his
liberties with [HS], a female under 16 years of age, not the wife of the
[appellant]. by e ~ p o s i n g his penis, masturbating, and ejaculating in
front of the said [HSl, with intent to gratify the sexual desires of the
[appellant] .
In light of the fact that the appellant did not testify in his defense
during the trial on the merits, we have not oonsidered this testimony
for purposes of our review of the faotual and legal suffioiency of the
evidenoe On findings beoause it was not "svidenoe presented at trial."
United States v. Beatty, 64 M.J. 456, 458 (C.A.A.F. 2007) (citations
omitted) .
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case following what he now alleges was biased conduct by
that military judge. This asserted error merits no relief.
The appellant next contends that, as an eight-year-old
witness testifying about matters that occurred when she was
four years old, HS was not a credible witness. We disagree.
Preliminary questioning established that HS was a competent
witness. HS then testified clearly that the appellant "put
his private" in her mouth and that "white stuff came out,"
although she did not know "what it tasted like." Record at
347-48. She later testified that another name for a boy's
"privates" is "penis." rd. at 353. Upon questioning by the
military judge, HS reiterated twice that the appellant had
placed his penis in her mouth. Id. at 354, 357. The
military judge was positioned as the trier of fact to assess
the veracity of RS' testimony by observing her in-COurt
demeanor.
We perceive the testimony of HS at trial to have been
in age appropriate terms, not adult-like. Highly persuasive
was her description of her male assailant's interest in oral
sex, when a child of her years would have no reason to know
or to understand the purpose of such an act. Even more
persuasive was her description of the appellant's sexual
bodily functions, including that a lubricant was used during
masturbation, and that ejaculation followed oral sodomy --
facts that, as previously noted, no child Would know in the
absence of the abuse described. And, if someone described
such acts to the child, intentionally or inadvertently, she
would have had no context into which to place such facts in
order to remember them correctly. In the view of the
majority, her graphic testimony would be possible only if
she was victim of the sodomy so as to indelibly fix those
facts in her mind in the proper sequence.
Even though HS was four years old at the time of the
offense, and eight years old when she testified at trial, we
find that HS' recounting of events was compelling and
credible, most especially because it was corroborated, in
large part, by the appellant's own admissions to NeIS. On
the whole of these facts, we find that the evidence amounted
to a strong case against the appellant. While we have noted
inconsistencies in HS's testimony regarding time and
location, such inconsistencies are not uncommon when any
abuse victim testifies:
[T)he evidence ... is underscored by the fact
that the persuasive testimony is from a child,
from whom gathering more exact details as to when
the sexual conduct precisely began is an
unreasonable expectation and formidable hurdle.
Any person who suffers from some type of traumatic
experience, adult or child, may have difficulty
relating that experience in a chronological,
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coherent and organized manner. 'See Kermit V.
Lipez, The Child Witness in Sexual Abuse Cases in
Maine: Presentation, Impeachment, and Controversy,
42 Me. L. Rev. 283, 345 (1990).
United States v. Cano, 61 M.J. 74, 77 (C.A.A.F.
2005) {quoting Paramore v. Filion, F. Supp. 2d 285, 292
(S.D.N.Y. 2003)}.
Finally, in assessing HS's credibility, we do not
consider the four-year delay between the abuse and the trial
as negatively affecting the child's credibility. Given that
the appellant himself corroborated that the child was with
him in the house, in front of the computer, as he sat
masturbating, her memory as to these events is clearly
neither faulty, fanciful, nor manufactured. Nothing leads
us to conclude HS's testimony is credible about the offenses
that the appellant admitted, but then to impute a lack of
credibility to that portion of her testimony relating to the
sodomy, on an elapsed period of time that applies
equally to all of her testimony.
with respect to intent, the reoord provides ample
circumstantial evidence to show the appellant's intent to
gratify his own lust and sexual desires by taking indecent
liberties with HS. The appellant specifically told SA
Meulenberg that he viewed pornography and masturbated twice
a day, Gloria and her son both testified they had seen the
appellant viewing what appeared to be pornography of teenage
girls. Record at 260-61, 333-34. The appellant admitted to
NelS that at the time of the offenses his relationship with
his wife, Gloria, was strained and that they were not having
sexual relations. 1d. at 286. These facts, combined with
the testimony of HS that the appellant ejaculated in her
presence as a result of sodomizing her, are more than
sufficient to establish his intent in taking the preceding
indecent liberties with HS was also to gratify his lust.
Despite the credibility challenges made by the
appellant at trial and now on appeal, we are mindful that
reasonable doubt does not require that the evidence be free
from conflict. United states v. Rankin, 63 M.J. 552, 557
(N.M.Ct.Crim.App. 2006) (citing United States v. Lips, 22 M.J.
679, 664 (A.F.9.M.R, 1966)), aff'd, 64 M.J. 346 (C.A.A.F.
2007). Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to
the prosecution, including all reasonable inferences, we
find that a trier of fact could have found the
essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt."
united States v. Brown, 65 M.J. 227, 229 (C.A.A.F. 2007)
(quoting Jackson, 443 U.S. at 318-19). Likewise, for the
reasons set forth above, we too are convinced of the
appellant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. After weighing
all the evidence in the record of trial and recognizing that
we did not see or hear the witnesses, we conclude that the
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appellant is guilty of all specifications and charges beyond
a reasonable doubt. United States v. Washington, 57 M.J.
394, 399 (C.A.A.F.
Multiplicity and unreasonable Multiplication of Charges
The appellant's third assignment of error alleges that
all of the offenses constitute an unreasonable
multiplication of charges, and his fourth assignment of
error asserts that the sodomy (Charge I), and indecent,
liberties and assault (Charge II, Specification 1 and 2)
offenses are mUltiplicious under United States v. Weymouth,
43 M.J. 329 (C.A.A.F. 1995). We disagree.
We note that in addition to the sodomy charge and its
sole specification, the appellant was charged with six
specifications of indecent liberties, and one specification
of communicating a threat. In response to a motion to
dismiss under R.C.M. 917, the military judge dismissed three
of the indecent liberties specifications, and the
communicating a threat specification. Record at 367. Of
the remaining three indecent liberties specifications, the
military judge found the appellant guilty of only one; not
guilty of one; and, of the third, of the lesser
included offense of assault consummated by battery.
Notwithstanding the appellant's unreasonable multiplication
claim regarding all of his charged offenses, we limit our
consideration here to the sole conviction for sodomy (Charge
I), and the convictions for indecent liberties and assault
(Charge II) .
We have examined both of the appellant's claims to
determine whether the specifications under Charge I or
Charge II constitute an unreasonable multiplication of
charges. considering the five factors set forth in united
States v. Quiroz, 57 M.J. 583, 586 (N.M.Ct.Crim.App.
2002) (en bane), aff'd, 58 M.J. 183 (C.A.A.F. 2003) (summary
disposition), we conclude that they do not.
Multiplicity, a Constitutional violation under the
Double Jeopardy Clause, occurs if a court, "contrary to the
intent of Congress, imposes multiple convictions and
punishments under different statutes for the same act or
course of conduct." Uni ted States v. Paxton, 64 M. J. 484,
490 (C.A.A.F. 2007) (quoting United States v. Teters, 37 M.J.
370. 373 (C.M.A. 1993)).
In that the appellant failed to raise the issue of
mUltiplicity as to the offenses referred for trial, it is
waived so long as the specifications are not facially
duplicative. United States v. Heryford, 52 M.J. 265, 266
(C.A.A.F. 2000) (citing United States v. Britton, 47 M.J. 195,
198 (C.A.A.F.1997)). Our review of the sodomy specification
under Charge I satisfies us that it is not faCially
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duplicative with the indecent liberties specifications under
Charge II, because both the language of the specifications
and facts apparent on the face of the record are different,
and not based upon the same conduct. United States v.
Barner, 56 M.J. 131, 137 (C.A.A.F. 2001) (citing United
States v. Powell, 49 M.J. 460, 464-65 (C.A.A.F. 1998));
United States v. Lloyd, 46 M.J. 19, 23 (c.A.A.F. 1997). The
appellant has not met his burden that plain error exists in
relation to any specification under Charge I or Charge II.
Sentenoe Severity
The appellant's fifth assignment of error alleges his
adjudged sentence of confinement for 25 years is
inappropriately severe. upon our review of the record,
we find that the sentence, including 19 years confinement,
approved by the convening authority, is appropriate for this
offender and his offenses. United States v. Baier, 60 M.J.
382 (C.A.A.F. 2005); United States v. Healy, 26 M.J. 394
(C.M,A, 1988); Ohited States v. Snelling, 14 M.J. 267 (C.M.A.
,1982). Granting additional sentence relief at this point
would be to engage in additional clemency, a prerogative
reserved for the convening authority, who exercised it in
this case. Healy, 26 M.J. at 395-96.
Prejudice by "Military Misconduct"
We have considered the appellant's remaining assignment
of error, and find that it has no merit. Ohited States v.
Reed, 54 M.J. 37, 42 (C.A.A.F. 2000) (citing United States v.
Matias, 25 M.J. 356, 363 (C.M.A. 1987)). As for the
appellant's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, we
specifically find that the appellant has failed to meet his
burden to show that his defense counsel's performance "fell
below an objeotive standard of reasonableness," United
States v. States v. Edmond, 63 M.J, 343, 345 (C.A.A.F.
2006) (citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984),
and United States v. Davis, 60 M.J. 469, 473 (C.A.A.F.
2005). Despite his allegations of prosecutorial misconduct
and unlawful command influence, the appellant has also
failed to substantiate either claim. See United States v.
63 M.J. 372 (C.A.A.F. 2006), and Uhited
States v. Lewis, 63 M.J. 405 (C.A.A.F. 2006).
Petition for a New Trial
Following submission of the appellant's brief and
assignments of error, the appellant filed a Petition for a
New Trial pro se. A new trial shall not be granted on the
basis of newly discovered evidence unless the petition
demonstrates that:
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(i) The evidence was discovered after the trial;
(2) The evidence is not such that it would have been
discovered by the petitioner at the time of trial
in the exercise of due diligence; and
(3) The newly discovered evidence, if considered by a
court-martial in the light of all other pertinent
evidence, would probably produce a more favorable
result for the accused .
.R.C.M. 1210(f) (2). Requests for a new trial, and thus
rehearings and reopenings of trial proceedings, are
generally diafavored; relief is granted only if a manifest
injustice would result absent a new trial, rehearing, or ,
reopening based on proferred newly discovered evidence.
United StateS v. Johnson, 61 M.J. 195, 199 (C.A.A.F. 2005).
The denial of an appellant's request for a new trial based
on newly discovered evidence is not an abuse of discretion
where the evidence did not offer some new version of the
facts presented at trial and where additional impeachment
material and potential perjury by witnesses would probably
not have produced a substantially more favorable result for
the accused. See Johnson, 61 M.J. at 199-201.
The appellant's petition amounts to a restatement of
issues already litigated at trial, and lacks reference to
any "neWly discovered evidence.
ff
The appellant thus fails
to meet the criteria set forth in R.C.M. 1210(f). The
appellant's petition for a new trial is denied.
Conclusion
The findings and sentence, as approved, are affirmed.
Chief Judge O'TOOLE concurs.
MAKSYM, Judge (dissenting in part, and concurring in part) :
I dissent. AS a matter of moral conscience and mindful
of my oath as a jurist, I cannot bring myself to join my
learned brethren in affirming the sodomy conviction below.
Clearly, reasonable minds can differ in determining whether
or not the Government has satisfied its burden of proof
based upon the facts as they have been placed before us.
My marked reservations are, in the main, prompted by
the significant delay - opaquely portrayed in the record of
the nearly three year interregnum between the first
statement by the minor alleged victim and a trial on the
merits. Record at 319-20. These massive delays shroud the
entire proceedings with the specter of reasonable doubt.
Any explanation from the United States as to the rationale
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for these delays would have permitted me to place them in
context. No such explanation exists.
To be clear, I advance no allegation or even suspicion
that the Naval Criminal Investigative Service ("NCIS") or
any arm of law enforcement improperly influenced the
formulation or content of the alleged minor victim's
testimony. I simply draw upon my own knowledge of the ways
of the world combined with the admitted and numerous
conversations that took place over the long span of more
than three years ,between this child and her parents as well
as investigative and proBecutorial personnel in reaching the
conclusion that her testimony is not fully reliable.
Moreover. I cannot ignore the multiple assertions of abuse
by the child, followed by numerous recantations. 'I am
mindful of the Constraints, properly outlined by the
majority, that we only consider facts raised within the four
corners of the cases in-chief below. Uhited States v.
Eeatty. 64 M.J. 456. 458 (C,A.A.F. 2007).
However, I cannot ignore the uncontroverted fact that
the minor witness, four years old at the time of the alleged
incident and eight years old at the time of trial, had
originally alleged in the NelS forensic interview that the
appellant had committed an act or acts of penile penetration.
Yet. at trial she advanced, during incredibly unformulated
and non-detail seeking direct examination, an allegation of
a single act of oral sodomy. Similarly representative of
the child's apparent confusion are the numerous
inconsistencies in the record on issues as significant as
the location and date of the act, those present at the time
of the act, the date the child's family learned of the act,
and a later instance of alleged sexual contact between the
victim and another child. Record at 260, 2 6 ~ , 270, 275-76,
316, 318-20, 323, 327, 329, 348, 350-51, 354. Moreover, I
consider the child's vocabulary during her testimony,
unquestionably mature beyond her tender years, as indicative
of outside influence, benign or not. See Record at 356
(child victim responding "no, not that I'm aware of" to the
questioning of the military judge) .
This case was not well-tried and left me with
significant doubt as to the appellant's culpability for
forcible sodomy. Beyond the massive and unexplained delays,
the dispositive child testimony, given half a life from the
date of the alleged incident and her atatement thereafter,
was not buttressed by any medico-forensic evidence or expert
testimony. I am mindful that the trial judge is in the best
position to evaluate the deportment of the witnesses before
him and had heard extensive testimony during the litigation
of several motions. Of course, as a result of hearing these
motions, the military judge would have known that the child
witness had originally accused the appellant of an actor
acts of penile penetration and three years later made no
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such accusation and was not as to this alleged
occurrence by the United States.
Nonetheless, I do have confidence, based upon the
inculpatory statement of the appellant that he was guilty of
indecent acts, by way of his conducting acts of masturbation
in front of a minor child, and admitting to having touched
her person during this felonious episode. I would affirm
the findings of guilty to assault consummated by a battery
and indecent acts with a child, and I would reassess the
sentence. I also concur in the majority's resolution of the
asserted errors as they relate to these two offenses.
However, based upon my significant doubts as to factual
sufficiency and the anemic state of the Government's case, I
cannot affirm the sodomy conviction. I respectfully dissent.
For the 'Court

R.ll. TROIDL
Clerk of Court
11