[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: Fosler Ruling



Ranae,
Thanks! 

Haytham,
You said you won a Fosler motion in a recent case.  Can you modify that one to fit the Burke case re: 134: leaving the scene of an accident?
N
Neal A. Puckett, Esq
LtCol, USMC (Ret)
Puckett & Faraj, PC
1800 Diagonal Rd, Suite 210
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.706.9566

The information contained in this electronic message is confidential, and is intended for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you are hereby notified that any use, distribution, copying of disclosure of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you received this communication in error, please notify Puckett & Faraj, P.C. at 703-706-9566 or via a return the e-mail to sender.  You are required to purge this E-mail immediately without reading or making any copy or distribution.

On Sep 26, 2011, at 9:54 AM, Doser-Pascual, Ranae L Capt MIL USAF AFLOA/JAJD wrote:

Neal,

This is a bit of a different issue, but a shell to work with for our motion
to dismiss.

/r

Ranae L. Doser-Pascual, Capt, USAF
AFLOA/JAJD Deputy Chief Policy and Training
Joint Base Andrews NAF, MD
DSN: 612-4792
COMM: 240-612-4792


-----Original Message-----
From: Puckett Neal [mailto:neal@puckettfaraj.com]
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 8:56 AM
To: Doser-Pascual, Ranae L Capt MIL USAF AFLOA/JAJD
Cc: Faraj Haytham
Subject: Re: Fosler Ruling

Ranae,
Perfect.  If you're not available then our availability is moot.  Do we need
a motion to dismiss for the 134.
Oh, and Faraj is Haytham's last name.  Thought you might have had some
confusion about that since the two of you haven't met yet.  
Neal

Neal A. Puckett, Esq
LtCol, USMC (Ret)
Puckett & Faraj, PC
1800 Diagonal Rd, Suite 210
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-706-9566


The information contained in this electronic message is confidential, and is
intended for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not
the intended recipient of this message, you are hereby notified that any
use, distribution, copying of disclosure of this communication is strictly
prohibited. If you received this communication in error, please notify
Puckett & Faraj, P.C. at 703-706-9566 or via a return the e-mail to sender.
You are required to purge this E-mail immediately without reading or making
any copy or distribution.

On Sep 26, 2011, at 8:51 AM, Doser-Pascual, Ranae L Capt MIL USAF AFLOA/JAJD
wrote:


Neal, Faraj:

By the way, there is a lot more background on this, particularly at
Dyess
that I am still dealing with the fall out of.  I have a Fosler-type
case
that was overturned by the MJ after we filed a post-trial motion
based on
the new Fosler case law.  Basically, the only thing our guy was
found guilty
of was a 134 offense.  They amended the charge sheet at trial; MJ
held it
was a minor change under current law.  We argued it was a major
change to
add the terminal element. After trial, the Fosler decision came out
and
before the MJ authenticated the record we filed a post-trial motion
for him
to reconsider his ruling that it was a minor change. The MJ agreed
that
under the new case law it was a major change and dismissed the
findings and
sentence as to that charge. The Government has filed its notice to
file a
62a appeal regarding the MJ's post-trial ruling. As such I do not
recommend
that we agree to allow them to amend the charge sheet.  It is a
major change
and the charge fails to state an offense without the terminal
element (see
attached ruling from my case).  What we probably should do is file a
motion
to dismiss the 134 charge(s) for failing to state an offense.

I am unavailable for a 32 prior to our scheduled trial day.  

/r

Ranae

Ranae L. Doser-Pascual, Capt, USAF
AFLOA/JAJD Deputy Chief Policy and Training
Joint Base Andrews NAF, MD
DSN: 612-4792
COMM: 240-612-4792


-----Original Message-----
From: Puckett Neal [mailto:neal@puckettfaraj.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 4:39 PM
To: Doser-Pascual, Ranae L Capt MIL USAF AFLOA/JAJD; Faraj Haytham
Subject: Fwd: Fosler Ruling

Haytham and Ranae,
Fosler issue and ruling in AF case attached.  TC was Capt Harris (at
Dyess
supervising U.S. v.  Burke).  He called today to ask if we could
either not
object to adding the terminal element in our 134 offense or schedule
another
Art 32 between now and 11 Oct.  Told him that Haytham and I were
booked so,
no, we probably couldn't attend a 32.  Not sure how they'll handle
that, or
whether we should just accede to his request to add the terminal
element
language as a pen change to the Art 134 offense on the Burke case
charge
sheet.  He implied that if we can't work this out (32 or no
objection)
pretrial, they might choose to re-prefer and take him to a new 32
and
court-martial post-trial.  Not sure they'd go to that trouble, but
they
might be tempted when we win.  Though Col Sullivan opines that they
have to
bring all known (and properly pled) charges to the same trial and
that
Fosler has been out since May.  So they've had plenty of time to fix
the
defect and we might could win on that issue second time around.
Frankly I'm
not inclined to let them just do it if we can leverage this to our
client's
advantage in any way.  The other fix would be ordering you, Ranae,
to attend
a 32 even in our absence.  Then there would be error but current
case law
calls for that error to be tested for prejudice, and there may not
be very
much.  So the decisions we make now about this might either make the
charge
sheet have one less charge but subject our client to a second
process, on
which we may prevail procedurally.  Or we can all (or one of us) go
(at
additional expense to the client) and do another 32.  Or we can not
object,
give them what they want on the assumption that an additional
throwaway
charge of leaving the scene of an accident doesn't really tip the
scales
either way.  Seeking your learned input here.  Have attached the
earlier
case, motion and ruling.
Neal

Neal A. Puckett, Esq
LtCol, USMC (Ret)
Puckett & Faraj, PC
1800 Diagonal Rd, Suite 210
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.706.9566
www.puckettfaraj.com
www.twitter.com/puckettfaraj


The information contained in this electronic message is
confidential, and is
intended for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you
are not
the intended recipient of this message, you are hereby notified that
any
use, distribution, copying of disclosure of this communication is
strictly
prohibited. If you received this communication in error, please
notify
Puckett & Faraj, P.C. at 703-706-9566 or via a return the e-mail to
sender.
You are required to purge this E-mail immediately without reading or
making
any copy or distribution.

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Sullivan, Dwight H CIV USAF AFLOA/JAJA"
<Dwight.Sullivan@pentagon.af.mil>

Date: September 22, 2011 4:04:41 PM EDT

To: Puckett Neal <neal@puckettfaraj.com>

Subject: FW: Fosler Ruling




Dwight H. Sullivan
Acting Chief
Air Force Appellate Defense Division
(AFLOA/JAJA)
1500 West Perimeter Road, Suite 1100
Joint Base Andrews, MD 20762
240-612-4773
DSN:  612-4773
Fax:  240-612-5818  


-----Original Message-----
From: White, Nathan A Capt MIL USAF AFLOA/JAJA
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 4:04 PM
To: Sullivan, Dwight H CIV USAF AFLOA/JAJA
Subject: Fosler Ruling

Sir,



Attached.



V/R,



Nathan A. White, Captain, USAF

Appellate Defense Counsel (AFLOA/JAJA)

Joint Base Andrews, MD 20762

Phone:  (240) 612-4782  Fax: -5818

Toll free:  1-800-414-8847 (clients)




<Ruling on Def motion to Reconsider wrt Amendment of Charge -
Brissette.pdf>


<Motion to Dismiss (Failure to State on Offense)(GO violation, AFI 34-219)(Sanitized).docx>