The up and down case of United States v. Hayes, has been decided again by NMCCA. Appellant has gained a new sentencing hearing because the NMCCA is convinced the judge was not impartial when adjudging a sentence. This is another one of those cases which arose because of comments during a bridging the gap talk with the MJ.
ACCA and LIO’s
United States v. Moore, decided 28 October 2010.
Appellant alleges, inter alia, that assault with intent to commit rape is not a lesser-included offense of rape under United States v. Jones, 68 M.J. 465 (C.A.A.F. 2010) and that his conviction should be set aside. We agree, and provide relief in our decretal paragraph. Because we decide the case on the basis of this assignment of error, we do not consider appellant’s other allegations.
Also a quick note about “notice.”
DADT
Air Force Times reports:
Military officials say a survey of U.S. troops and their families is finding that a majority don’t care whether gays are allowed to serve openly and think “don’t ask, don’t tell” could be done away with.
Nerad-CP-sentencing
I’ve posted before about CP sentencing in federal courts. Here is a piece with links at Sentencing Law & Policy which further discusses CP related sentencing in federal courts and the U. S. Sentencing Guidelines Commission.
As the sentencing guidelines for child pornography crimes have grown increasingly harsh, a strong trend has developed among federal judges to reject the proposed prison terms as draconian. Now two influential federal appellate courts — the 2nd and 3rd Circuits — have joined the trend and declared that the child pornography guidelines are seriously flawed, or at least that a trial judge wouldn’t be wrong for thinking so.
Here is a related link from SL&P. While not precisely on point I read United States v. Nerad in the context of some push back on what’s to be punished and how severely.
Up periscope
The Post & Email reports that Walter Fitzpatrick was arrested today, possibly after a “physical struggle.”
Marine Corps Times reports the CO of Cheery Point has been arrested off base for DUI.
Pernell-Bragg-rapes case sitrep
Trial is scheduled to begin 8 December 2010 at Fort Bragg.
The Judge has decisions pending on a suppression motion and a motion to dismiss an attempted rape charge for failure to state an offense.
As FayObserver ‘observes:’
Ramrod Five–Stryker Brigade sitrep
Military.com reports:
The soldier who tried to blow the whistle on an alleged plot to kill Afghan civilians for sport has been put in solitary confinement in a windowless cell for 23 hours a day, his family said.
The father of Spc. Adam Winfield is objecting to the conditions at Joint Base Lewis-McChord south of Seattle, and wants the soldier moved to a different facility.
Oddity
Some years ago LCDR Walter Fitzpatrick was prosecuted and convicted at court-martial and later retired. After that he began a website called JAGHunter. Initially he used the site to lambast any of the Navy JAG’s involved in his case along with his commanders. Over the years there have been other oddities from the retired LCDR. He became involved in the birther movement. The retired LCDR has been vocal in his support of LTC Lakin. And more recently he was arrested and being prosecuted because he wanted to arrest some public officials for actions he didn’t like.
Fitzpatrick was arrested in April after he interrupted a closed door grand jury hearing in an attempt to make a citizens arrest of jury foreman Gary Pettway. Fitzpatrick felt Pettway and the jury was illegally blocking his attempts to indict President Obama.
Fitzpatrick has said he believes Obama is not an American citizen and is serving illegally as president.
Up periscope
NWA Online reports that:
A Little Rock Air Force Base airman lost his stripes Friday and was ordered to jail for a month after being found guilty of assault for whipping his stepdaughter with a belt and an extension cord, but the military court stopped short of kicking him out of the service.
KWCH News 12 reports: