CAAF -a grant

Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Order Granting Petition for Review
 
No. 21-0086/AR. U.S. v. Ronald C. Givens. CCA 20190132. On consideration of the petition for grant of review of the decision of the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals, it is ordered that said petition is granted on the following issue:
 
WHETHER THE MILITARY JUDGE ERRED IN DENYING THE DEFECTIVE PREFERRAL/UNLAWFUL COMMAND INFLUENCE MOTION ON PROCEDURAL GROUNDS.

ACCA opinion here.

A military judge sitting as a general court-marital convicted appellant, consistent with his plea, of one specification of assault consummated by a battery, in violation of Article 128, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U .S.C. $ 928 (2012 & Supp. IV  2016) [UCMJ]. On 1 March 2019, an enlisted panel sitting as a general court­ martial convicted appellant, contrary to his pleas, of one specification each of making a false official statement, larceny of military property, assault consummated by a battery, communicating a threat, and child endangerment, in violation of Articles 107, 121, 128 and 134, UCMJ. Appellant was sentenced to confinement for 90 days, forfeiture of $1,680 pay per month for one month, reduction to E-1, and a bad-conduct discharge. Appellant was acquitted of one specification of assault consummated by a battery and one specification of adultery in violation of Articles 128 and 134, UCMJ. 

ACCA does not discuss the UCI claim (likely a Grosty?. The court does however set aside the reckless endangerment conviction, reassesses the sentence for the remaining convictions, and approves the sentence.

​P.C.