United States v. Cook, A.F.C.C.A. (2017)
United States v. Cook, A.F.C.C.A. (2017)
United States v. Cook, A.F.C.C.A. (2017)
Robert D. COOK
Master Sergeant (E-7), U.S. Air Force, Petitioner
v.
UNITED STATES
Respondent
________________________
SPERANZA, Judge:
A general court-martial composed of officer and enlisted members found
Petitioner guilty of sexual assault in violation of Article 120, Uniform Code of
Cook v. United States, Misc. Dkt. No. 2016-18
I. BACKGROUND
Technical Sergeant (TSgt) LT, TSgt MH, and Mrs. AA went to a local bar
for a ladies night out. Petitioner was also at this bar with his girlfriend,
TSgt SB, who was an acquaintance of TSgt MH and Mrs. AA. Throughout the
night, the women danced and drank alcohol. Observations about TSgt LTs
level of intoxication during the night varied.
Near the end of the evening, Mrs. AA contacted her husband to pick her
and TSgt LT up from the bar and take them home. While waiting for her
husband to arrive, Mrs. AA walked with TSgt LT to Petitioners car. TSgt LT
got into the car but Mrs. AA then went back inside the bar. Petitioner drove
his car to an adjacent lot where TSgt LT alleged Petitioner sexually assaulted
her in the presence of TSgt SB, who was also in the car. During the sexual
act, TSgt LT told Petitioner, Oh my God, this is happening, and Please
dont, Im not on birth control, my anniversary is coming up.
1 Petitioner filed his petition and assignments of error on the same day. On appeal
and in the alternative, Petitioner argues trial defense counsel was ineffective in fail-
ing to locate, interview, and call the only witness who could impeach the complaining
witness on a critical issue for the merits and sentencing phases of trial, and this inef-
fective assistance prejudiced Petitioner by resulting in his conviction at trial. Accord-
ingly, we ordered Petitioners trial defense counsel, Major KM and Captain SL, to
submit affidavits or declarations responsive to Petitioners allegations.
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After TSgt LTs friends returned to the parking lot and did not see Peti-
tioners car, they attempted to contact TSgt LT. After a short period of time,
Petitioner drove back to the bar and was met by an angry Mrs. AA. TSgt LT
exited the car on her own and told Mrs. AA that she was okay.
Mrs. AAs husband drove TSgt LT and Mrs. AA to TSgt LTs home. Dur-
ing the car ride, according to Mrs. AA, TSgt LT at first appeared fine. She
was talking about what a fun night it was during the first 15 minutes or so,
but then she began crying and apologizing to Mrs. AAs husband. When Mrs.
AA asked TSgt LT what was wrong and why she was crying, TSgt LT said, I
think they raped me. Mrs. AA asked TSgt LT what she was talking about
and if she was sure. Once they arrived at TSgt LTs home, Mrs. AA asked
TSgt LT if she was lying. TSgt LT said no. Mrs. AA contacted the police.
Local law enforcement arrived at TSgt LTs home in the early morning
hours. TSgt LT provided a written statement and declined emergency medi-
cal care. A few hours after reporting the sexual assault, TSgt LT, accompa-
nied by her husband, underwent a sexual assault nurse examination (SANE)
that revealed redness in the area of her labia. TSgt LT said that she experi-
enced pain and apparent swelling near her elbow, which she injured at the
bar. The SANE report also noted C-section scarring; however, the SANE
yielded no other pertinent forensic evidence. 2
Civilian detectives interviewed TSgt LT the next day. During that inter-
view, TSgt LT told detectives that she and her husband have their issues
but maintained I would never, I would never cheat on him. TSgt LT also
stated, [T]heyre saying I consented. If I consented, then I got nothing to, Ive
got nothing . . . Ive got nothing to stand on.
During their case preparation and investigation, trial defense counsel be-
came aware of rumors that TSgt LT had an extramarital affair with Mr. PS,
a former Air Force member, while they were performing temporary duty
(TDY). However, trial defense counsel was not able to positively identify or
locate Mr. PS, nor could they corroborate rumors of an affair after conducting
numerous witness interviews and searching military databases for Mr. PS
using multiple permutations of his name. 3
2An acid phosphatase test resulted in a presumptive positive for seminal fluid; how-
ever, further examination under a Woods lamp did not confirm the presence of semi-
nal fluid. The SANE nurse also collected TSgt LTs underwear and shorts, as well as
oral/buccal, perineum, vaginal, and cervical swabs.
3 Trial defense counsel interviewed several witnesses regarding these rumors, includ-
ing TSgt LT, her husband, TSgt MH, and Staff Sergeant (SSgt) BH. TSgt LT denied
(Footnote continues on next page)
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having a sexual relationship with Mr. PS or sexual encounters with anyone else dur-
ing past TDYs. TSgt LTs husband denied knowledge of TSgt LT having an extramar-
ital affair. TSgt MH stated that she did not have contact information for Mr. PS and
surmised that Mr. PS would not be willing to admit to the alleged affair due to his
personal circumstances. SSgt BH indicated he knew Mr. PS, but did not have any
contact information since Mr. PS separated from the military.
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sensual sexual encounter between Petitioner and TSgt LT. Mr. KM, a former
military member and supervisor of TSgt LT, also testified. Mr. KM recounted
a time when TSgt LT, after returning from TDY, told him that she was nerv-
ous during the TDY when her husband called because she was lying in bed
with Mr. PS and had to tell Mr. PS to be quiet. Mr. KM also described TSgt
LT explaining that she was staying late after work so she could meet Mr. PS
at the family camp on base.
Mr. PS testified at the post-trial Article 39(a) as well. Mr. PS, contrary to
his affidavit, claimed he had a sexual relationship with TSgt LT that includ-
ed several instances of vaginal intercourse and oral sex. Mr. PS was also able
to describe certain scars or marks on TSgt LTs stomach.
The defense paralegal testified about the Defenses efforts to locate Mr.
PS before trial. The military judge also received an affidavit from one of Peti-
tioners trial defense counsel that further described efforts taken to locate Mr.
PS. 4
4The Government also called its case paralegal who testified about the Governments
preparation for the post-trial 39(a) session, including its interviews and database
searches. The paralegal explained the relative ease with which the Government was
able to find Mr. PSs personal contact information when this information was already
known to the Government after Petitioners trial.
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A. Going on 13 years.
Q. Thirteen years. And how did you meet your husband?
A. I was in high school. I was 15 with three friends at the fair.
Q. And Im going to commit the cardinal sin of asking how old
are you now?
A. 30.
Q. So youve known him for 15 and been married for 13 years?
A. Correct.
Q. Is that correct?
A. Thats correct.
Q. [TSgt LT], have you had any other sexual partners?
A. I have not.
Q. Your husband is the only sexual partner youve ever had?
A. Thats correct.
Q. In June of 2014, how would you describe your marriage?
A. It was good. I mean we wereour goal was to get here to
Tampa. We were at Patrick for 7 years and loved Florida. We
wanted to come back to Florida and we got here and we had
just bought a brand-new home. We bought our first house. Ac-
tually things were really good. I mean, weve been married for
13 years, Im not going to say wehes a man. He drives me
crazy, but it was as good asit was good. Everything was
Q. Now we heard yesterday, [TSgt LT], that you fabricated this
allegation in order to save your marriage. Is that true?
A. Thats not true.
Q. Tell the members how you know that that is untrue.
A. I love my husband with all my heart. Hes my soul mate
without him I wouldnt be where I am today. Anything Ive ever
needed he has been there for. Ive had sexual issues myself and
hes been there. Like I have medical issues and he has been
there through all of it. Hes been by my side. I couldnt ask for
more supportive, more of a great father to my children. I have
absolutely no reason no desire for anybody but my husband.
Hes been the one that I wanted my entire life and hes the one
I have.
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Cook v. United States, Misc. Dkt. No. 2016-18
....
Q. [TSgt LT], had you come home that night like you said you
were wasted, had you come home wasted like you were, did you
fear in June 2014 that as a result of being wasted, your hus-
band would leave you?
A. Being drunk?
Q. Right.
A. No.
....
Q. Now I want to talk about one of the other reasons you would
not have consented that evening. You said that your husband
was your only sexual partner?
A. Thats correct.
The Government also directed TSgt LTs testimony to a medical condition
she suffered by signaling, Im going to talk to you about the medical issue
that you have . . . . TSgt LT then testified that ever since the birth of her
son, who was eight at the time of trial, she had a medical condition that made
sexual intercourse painful for her. Although she testified her husband was
always supportive, she said they had an ongoing concern about the ability
to have intercourse as [i]t takes a lot for me to enjoy it and be able to have
intercourse with my husband.
After trial defense counsel attacked TSgt LTs credibility on cross-
examination, the Government presented three witnesses, an officer and two
noncommissioned officers, who offered positive opinions of TSgt LTs charac-
ter for truthfulness.
After identifying the elements of the offense, the military judge instructed
the members in findings, as follows:
Consent means a freely given agreement to the conduct at is-
sue by a competent person. An expression of lack of consent
through words or conduct means there is no consent. Lack of
verbal or physical resistance or submission resulting from the
use of force, threat of force, or placing another person in fear
does not constitute consent. A current or previous dating or so-
cial or sexual relationship by itself or the manner of dress of
the person involved with the accused and the conduct at issue
shall not constitute consent.
The evidence has raised the issue of whether [TSgt LT] consent-
ed to the sexual conduct elicited in the Specification of the
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5A determination of whether TSgt LT committed a fraud upon the court is not neces-
sary given our findings with respect to the newly discovered evidence.
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We now turn to the third requirement for granting a new trial based on
newly discovered evidence. In Petitioners trial, the Government sought to
prove that TSgt LT would not have consented to the alleged sexual act be-
cause she never engaged in sexual relationships with anyone other than her
husband and her medical conditions cause even consensual vaginal inter-
course with her husband to be painful. Accordingly, in findings, TSgt LTs
consent to the alleged sexual act, or lack thereof, became a material matter
for the members to consider when determining whether the Government had
proven the elements of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt. The
resolution of the issue of consent, like most of the material facts in Petition-
ers trial, rested squarely upon the credibility of TSgt LT. See Williams, 37
M.J. at 358. Thus, in the absence of physical evidence and direct corrobora-
tion testimony, factors affecting [TSgt LTs credibility] were clearly of critical
importance. Id.
The record before us establishes that the newly found evidence regarding
TSgt LTs extramarital sexual relationship with Mr. PS would probably pro-
duce a substantially more favorable result for Petitioner in findings and, at
the very least, sentencing. Moreover, evidence that TSgt LT engaged in an
extramarital affair with Mr. PS discloses noncumulative impeachment evi-
dence that is relevant not only to a material issue in the case, but the disposi-
tive issue in Petitioners caseTSgt LTs credibility. Id. at 375. We also note
that this newly discovered evidence may not only show that TSgt LT did, in
fact, have an extramarital affair in direct contradiction to her previous
statements and testimony, 6 but that she may have been dishonest with detec-
tives and trial defense counsel during her interviews, and concealed the affair
from her husband, Government counsel, Government character witnesses,
and a court-martial panel. See id. at 359. Considering the entire record before
us, we conclude that this devastating evidence concerning TSgt LTs credibil-
ity and the veracity of her testimony, if considered by Petitioners court-
martial in the light of all other pertinent evidence, would probably produce a
substantially more favorable result for Petitioner.
6 We have considered matters related to Mr. PSs credibility, but find the proffered
evidence sufficiently believable to make a more favorable result probable for Peti-
tioner. United States v. Luke, 69 M.J. 309, 314 (C.A.A.F. 2011) (The reviewing court
does not determine whether the proffered evidence is true; nor does it determine his-
torical facts. It merely decides if the evidence is sufficiently believable to make a
more favorable result probable.).
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III. CONCLUSION
The findings and the sentence are SET ASIDE. Petitioners petition for a
new trial is GRANTED. The record is returned to TJAG for action consistent
with this opinion.
KURT J. BRUBAKER
Clerk of the Court
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