United States v. Simmons

UNITED STATES, Appellee

v.

Jessie C. SIMMONS, Corporal
U. S. Marine Corps, Appellant

No. 05-0263
Crim. App. No. 200300528

United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

Argued December 7, 2005

Decided April 24, 2006

BAKER, J., delivered the opinion of the Court. GIERKE, C.J.,
filed a separate concurring opinion. EFFRON, J., filed a
separate opinion concurring in the result. CRAWFORD, J., and
ERDMANN, J., each filed a separate dissenting opinion.

Counsel

For Appellant: Lieutenant Anthony Yim, JAGC, USNR (argued).

For Appellee: Lieutenant TyQuili R. Booker, JAGC, USNR
(argued); Commander Charles N. Purnell, JAGC, USN (on brief);
Colonel William K. Lietzau, USMC, and Major Raymond E. Beal II,
USMC.

Military Judge: A. Diaz

THIS OPINION IS SUBJECT TO REVISION BEFORE PUBLICATION.
United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

Judge BAKER delivered the opinion of the Court.

Appellant was tried by special court-martial before a

military judge alone. Pursuant to his pleas, Appellant was

convicted of two specifications of failure to obey a lawful

order in violation of Article 92, Uniform Code of Military

Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. § 892 (2000), and one specification of

assault in violation of Article 128, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 928

(2000). Appellant was sentenced to a bad-conduct discharge,

confinement for 100 days, partial forfeitures, and reduction to

E-1. The convening authority approved the sentence as adjudged

and, with the exception of the bad-conduct discharge, ordered it

executed. The Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals found

no error and affirmed. United States v. Simmons, No. NMCCA

200300528 (N-M. Ct. Crim. App. Nov. 15, 2004) (unpublished). We

granted review of the following issue:

WHETHER A DUTY TO INTERVENE ARISES FOR PURPOSES OF
AIDER AND ABETTOR LIABILITY WHEN A SUPERIOR WITNESSES
THE COMMISSION OF AN OFFENSE BY OR AGAINST A SERVICE
MEMBER IN HIS CHAIN OF COMMAND.

We hold that such a duty may arise, however, it must be

accompanied by shared criminal intent for aider and abettor

liability to attach.

Background

Appellant’s conviction grew out of an incident in

Appellant’s barracks room between two members of his platoon,

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United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

Corporal (CPL) Schuknecht and Private First Class (PFC)

Whetstone. During the providence inquiry, the military judge

asked Appellant about the facts leading up to the assault.

Appellant responded:

ACC: It was one of our friend’s birthday [sic] that
night, sir; and we were getting ready to go out;
and Corporal Schuknecht -- well, me and Whetstone
had got in an argument because I told him to
leave the room and he wouldn’t leave, sir,
because he was drunk and I told him to leave; and
when he walked away from me, he, like, mumbled
something; and I didn’t hear him mumble anything.
That’s just what I was told, and Corporal
Schuknecht got in his face and grabbed him by the
neck and threw him against the rack and yelled at
him; and they went outside, sir.

Appellant pled guilty to aiding and abetting CPL Schuknecht’s

assault of PFC Whetstone consummated by a battery.

While explaining the elements of the offense to Appellant,1

the military judge noted the following:

MJ: An aider or abettor must knowingly and willfully
participate in the commission of the crime as
something that he or she wishes to bring about,
and must aid, encourage, or incite the person to
commit the criminal act. . . .

. . . .

Now, normally, presence at the scene of a crime
is not enough, nor is failure to prevent the
1
The charge sheet states: “CHARGE III: VIOLATION OF THE UCMJ, ARTICLE 128.
. . . SPECIFICATION 2: In that Corporal Jessie C. SIMMONS, JR., U.S. Marine
Corps, 3d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune,
North Carolina, did, on board Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, between about
January 2002 and 9 April 2002, standby and do nothing to prevent the
unlawful[ly] grabbing of Private First Class Robert L. WHETSTONE, U.S. Marine
Corps, around his throat[.] by the hand of Corporal David E. SCHUKNECHT, U.S
Marine Corps. The additions and deletions were noted on the record after a
conference pursuant to Rule for Courts-Martial (R.C.M.) 802.

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United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

commission of an offense. It must be an intent
to aid or encourage the persons who commit the
crime.

On the other hand, if the accused witnessed the
commission of the crime and had a duty to
interfere but did not because he wanted to
protect or encourage, in this case Corporal David
E. Schuknecht, then he or she is considered to be
a principal.

After explaining these elements, the military judge asked

Appellant whether “these elements that I just described to you .

. . correctly describe what happened to [sic] this occasion?”

Appellant responded, “Yes, sir.”2

In response to the military judge’s specific question as to

how he thought he was “criminally responsible” for the assault,

Appellant offered the following: “Because my inaction

encouraged it, sir, because I’m an NCO [noncommissioned officer]

in Whetstone’s platoon and I should have stepped in and stopped

it, sir; but I didn’t.” Appellant further indicated that the

assault lasted “for about ten seconds” and that he “had time to

step in” but did not. However, when the military judge asked

Appellant, “[d]id you know that Corporal Schuknecht was going to

grab PFC Whetstone about the throat?,” Appellant responded,

2
Even if we were to accept that in responding “yes,” Appellant was admitting
to each of the elements without actually revealing the factual basis for his
response, thereby satisfying the requirements of R.C.M. 910(e), there would
still be a substantial basis in fact to question the providency of the plea
based on Appellant’s later, inconsistent statements with regard to his
intent. United States v. McCrimmon, 60 M.J. 145, 152 (C.A.A.F. 2004)
(quoting Article 45, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 845 (2000); United States v. Outhier,
45 M.J. 326, 331 (C.A.A.F. 1996)).

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United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

“[n]o sir.”

The military judge revisited the issue of Appellant’s

intent and the two had the following exchange:

MJ: And during the ten-second interval, rather than
stepping in and trying to prevent harm to your
junior Marine, you just sat there and watched?
ACC: Yes, sir.
MJ: Did you actively encourage Corporal Schuknecht to
assault --
ACC: By not doing anything, sir, I think that --
MJ: But you didn’t yell at him and say, [sic] Get him
or do it some more,” did you?
ACC: No, sir.
MJ: You just sat there and did nothing?
ACC: Yes, sir.

With regard to his duty to intervene, the military judge

and Appellant had the following exchange:

MJ: And do you believe that and admit that even
though you may not have anticipated that Corporal
Schuknecht was going to do what he did, that when
he did do that, that you had an obligation and a
legal duty to stop that from happening?
ACC: Yes, sir.
MJ: And you had the obligation why?
ACC: I was the NCO in PFC Whetstone’s platoon, sir;
and I should have stepped in.

On review, the lower court concluded that Appellant’s

guilty plea to assault was provident:

[A]ppellant admitted that, as the noncommissioned
officer directly supervising the victim, he had a duty
to intervene to stop another corporal from grabbing a
junior Marine by the throat, and that his inaction
operated to encourage his friend’s misconduct.
Although the military judge could have conducted a
more thorough inquiry regarding this charge, we find
the facts the appellant admitted to fairly met the
requirements of the Manual for Courts-Martial . . . .

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United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

Simmons, No. NMCCA 200300528, slip op. at 2.

Appellant challenges his conviction on the basis that he

did not share CPL Schuknecht’s criminal intent when the latter

assaulted PFC Whetstone in Appellant’s barracks room. According

to Appellant, by affirming his conviction, the lower court

failed to follow the mandate of Article 77, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §

877 (2000), and created a new standard of liability that ignores

the concept of mens rea necessary to establish aider and abettor

liability.

Appellant, in his brief, concedes that he had a duty to

intervene in the fight between CPL Schuknecht and PFC Whetstone.

However, according to Appellant, federal law also requires

knowledge on the part of the accused that he is sharing in the

criminal venture and its purpose as an essential element of the

crime of aiding and abetting. Appellant cites United States v.

Jackson, 6 C.M.A. 193, 201, 19 C.M.R. 319, 327 (1955), for the

proposition that mere inactive presence at the scene of a crime

does not establish guilt.

In response, the Government argues that Appellant’s failure

to intervene served as encouragement, which is in and of itself

sufficient to sustain the conviction for assault on the theory

of aiding and abetting. In support of its position, the

Government cites two lower court cases, United States v. Void,

17 M.J. 740, 743 (A.C.M.R. 1983), and United States v. Toland,

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United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

19 C.M.R. 570 (N.B.R. 1955). According to the Government, both

cases stand for the proposition that inaction can lead to an

inference of aid or encouragement and therefore liability as a

principal under Article 77, UCMJ.

Discussion

“Pleas of guilty should not be set aside on appeal unless

there is ‘a substantial basis in law and fact for questioning

the guilty plea.’” United States v. Eberle, 44 M.J. 374, 375

(C.A.A.F. 1996) (quoting United States v. Prater, 32 M.J. 433,

436 (C.M.A. 1991) (quotation marks omitted)). “A military

judge’s decision to accept a guilty plea is reviewed for an

abuse of discretion.” Id. (citing United States v. Gallegos, 41

M.J. 446 (C.A.A.F. 1995)).

A military judge may not accept a guilty plea unless he

makes “such inquiry of the accused” that satisfies him of a

“factual basis for the plea.” R.C.M. 910(e). See United States

v. Care, 18 C.M.A. 535, 541, 40 C.M.R. 247, 253 (1969) (“[T]he

record of trial . . . must reflect . . . that the military trial

judge . . . has questioned the accused about what he did or did

not do, and what he intended . . . .”). “[T]he accused must

admit every element of the offense(s) to which the accused

pleads guilty.” R.C.M. 910(e) Discussion. See United States v.

Barton, 60 M.J. 62, 64 (C.A.A.F. 2004) (“[The] factual predicate

is sufficiently established if ‘the factual circumstances as

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United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

revealed by the accused himself objectively support that plea.’”

(quoting United States v. Davenport, 9 M.J. 364, 367 (C.M.A.

1980)); see also United States v. Jordan, 57 M.J. 236, 239

(C.A.A.F. 2002) (finding that “‘mere conclusions of law recited

by an accused . . . are insufficient to provide a factual basis

for a guilty plea’” (quoting United States v. Outhier, 45 M.J.

326, 331 (C.A.A.F. 1996)).

According to the explanation accompanying Article 77, UCMJ,

to be guilty as a principal under an aiding and abetting theory,

a person must:

(i) Assist, encourage, advise, instigate,
counsel, command, or procure another to commit, or
assist, encourage, advise, counsel, or command another
in the commission of the offense; and

(ii) Share in the criminal purpose of design.

. . . In some circumstances, inaction may make
one liable as a party, where there is a duty to act.
If a person . . . has a duty to interfere in the
commission of an offense, but does not interfere, that
person is a party to the crime if such a
noninterference is intended to and does operate as an
aid or encouragement to the actual perpetrator.

Manual for Courts-Martial, United States pt. IV, para. 1(b)(i),

(ii) (2005 ed.) (MCM); see United States v. Crouch, 11 M.J. 128

(C.M.A. 1981) (upholding an aiding and abetting conviction where

appellant had a duty to act because, while performing guard

duty, he failed to stop two servicemembers from breaking into a

military motor pool). However, “[m]ere presence at the scene of

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United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

a crime does not make one a principal.” MCM pt. IV, para.

1.b.(3)(b), cited in United States v. Pritchett, 31 M.J. 213,

217 (C.M.A. 1990).

In United States v. Thompson, this Court inferred criminal

intent from the appellant’s affirmative acts, including

contributing to the rape victim’s intoxication and providing the

condom to his friend responsible for the actual assault. 50

M.J. 257, 258 (C.A.A.F. 1999). Furthermore, this Court found

that Thompson “knew SGT [Sergeant] Timmons was going to have

intercourse with PFC K” and he encouraged SGT Timmons by failing

to dissuade him. Id. (emphasis added).

Similarly, in United States v. Jackson, this Court upheld

Jackson’s conviction by inferring shared criminal purpose from

the circumstances surrounding the murder of a German national by

Jackson’s companion. Burns, 6 C.M.A. 193, 203, 19 C.M.R. 319,

329 (1955). “Both accused were armed with knives; both were

aggressive; and Jackson knew that Burns had a predisposition to

‘fool’ with his knife. A homicide resulting from an assault

under such circumstances is sufficient to support a conviction

for murder.” Id. In support of this same principle of law, the

Government also cites Void and Toland.

By contrast, in United States v. Lyons, this Court found

insufficient evidence from which to infer criminal intent to

steal a truckload of coffee. 11 C.M.A. 68, 71, 28 C.M.R. 292,

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United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

295 (1959). “[T]he only circumstance tending to show

participation by the accused is his acceptance of [the] offer of

a bribe. That connection is insufficient to establish a

conscious sharing of the alleged intent of the co-actors.” Id.

Analysis

Article 77, UCMJ, first element

Before this Court, Appellant adopts his concession to the

military judge that he had a duty to intervene and stop the

fight between CPL Schuknecht and PFC Whetstone on the basis that

Appellant “was the NCO in PFC Whetstone’s platoon” and he

“should have stepped in.” As to Appellant’s admission of duty,

we conclude there is no substantial basis in law and fact to

question the sufficiency of the plea under the first element of

Article 77, UCMJ.

Indeed, applicable Navy and Marine Corps regulations

evidence 230 years of the custom and tradition of the service

creating the type of duty espoused by Appellant before this

Court and in his colloquy with the military judge. See U.S.

Marine Corps, Leading Marines, MCWP 6-11, paras.

1100.2.d.(1),(3), 1100.4.b., 1100.5. (Nov. 27, 2002); Dep’t of

the Navy, Regs. 1990, paras. 1023, 1034.1., 1034. 2., 1037, 1131

(Sept. 14, 1990); see also Dep’t of the Navy, Marine Corps

Manual, paras. 0002.1., 0003.2., 1000.1.b., 1002.3.a., 8.a.1.,

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United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

1301.1. (Mar 21, 1980) (making Navy regulations applicable to

Marine Corps personnel).

Article 77, UCMJ, second element

Appellant focuses his argument on the second element of

Article 77, UCMJ. Specifically, Appellant points to his lack of

knowledge with regard to CPL Schuknecht’s intent prior to the

assault and the relative quickness of the entire incident. As

noted, during the providence inquiry, Appellant specifically

disavowed any prior knowledge of the assault and testified that

the entire event took about ten seconds.

The Government asserted in its brief that “absence of

action where there is a clear duty and ability to act is akin to

an affirmative act and equally indicative of the requisite mens

rea.” However, this argument goes too far. Establishment of a

duty to intervene, without more, does not per se satisfy the

requirement of a shared purpose under Article 77, UCMJ. Both

parties cite cases in which this Court found aider and abettor

liability premised on inaction. Failure to act in accordance

with a legal duty can reflect criminal intent. However, this is

a fact-specific inquiry and the facts of this plea inquiry fail

to establish such shared intent. As such, we find that there is

a substantial basis in fact to question the sufficiency of

Appellant’s guilty plea.

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United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

Here, the facts on the record do not establish that

Appellant shared CPL Schuknecht’s criminal intent. Although he

might have intended to haze PFC Whetstone, a charge he also pled

guilty to, this does not necessarily mean that he intended for

CPL Schuknecht to assault PFC Whetstone. By contrast to

Thompson, Appellant did not know of CPL Schuknecht’s plan to

assault PFC Whetstone (in fact, even CPL Schuknecht may not have

known of his intent to do so until the moment he engaged in the

assault), nor did he provide any affirmative assistance to CPL

Schuknecht in the ten seconds it took CPL Schuknecht to assault

PFC Whetstone. The Government argues that Appellant, by his

inaction, encouraged CPL Schuknecht. However, the Government is

mistaking intent and result. Article 77, UCMJ, is conjunctive;

it requires a finding of encouragement, for example, a result

plus an intent. Here, while the facts on the record might

support a finding of a result, they do not support a finding of

intent. Here, Appellant specifically denied any knowledge of

CPL Schuknecht’s intent to assault PFC Whetstone. Although

Appellant may have shared Schuknecht’s intent, without further

factual development on the record, CPL Schuknecht’s actions were

too spontaneous and too quick to draw such an inference without

further inquiry into the facts. As a result, Appellant’s case

is distinguishable from the circumstances present in Thompson

and Jackson. If the assault had lasted longer, or if the record

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United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

reflected some affirmative action on Appellant’s part, then,

perhaps this Court could infer shared criminal intent. However,

those are not the facts of this case.3

As a result, because Appellant did not admit on the record

to all the elements of the offense, in this case the requisite

mens rea, we hold that there is a substantial basis in law and

fact to question the guilty plea.

The parties raised the issue of whether dereliction in the

performance of duty is a lesser included offense that can be

affirmed in this case. We need not reach this issue because,

even assuming it is a lesser included offense in this case,

affirming it would have no effect on Appellant’s sentence.4

Therefore, we do not address the parties’ arguments on this

point.

3
As noted, in support of its argument, the Government also cites to two other
lower court cases, Void and Toland. However, the Government’s argument is
misplaced with regard to both cases. In Void, the facts were similar in that
the accused did not actively engage in the multiple assaults for which he was
found guilty of aiding and abetting. 17 M.J. at 741-42. In Void, the
accused was a bystander in a series of assaults, all occurring within a short
period of time. As the court noted, after the first assault, “appellant had
no doubts about the intentions and activities of the others.” Id. at 743.
From those facts, the court could properly infer encouragement and shared
criminal intent, even absent active participation in the subsequent assaults.
Likewise, in Toland, although the accused did not ultimately participate in
the theft of items from the ship’s store, he knew of his cohorts’ plan; it
was the accused who, with his keys to the store, left it open for them to
carry out the plan. Furthermore, the accused originally intended to
participate, although he later changed his mind. 19 C.M.R. at 571.
4
The maximum punishments for dereliction of duty through neglect and simple
assault are the same. Compare MCM pt. IV para. 16(e)(3)(A), with MCM pt. IV
para. 54(e)(1)(A).

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United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

DECISION

For the reasons stated, the decision of the United States

Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals is reversed as to

specification 2 of Charge III and that specification and the

charge are dismissed. The decision as to the remaining findings

and the sentence is affirmed.

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United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

GIERKE, Chief Judge (concurring):

I concur with the lead opinion that merely failing to

intervene when one may have a duty to do so does not make one

culpable as an aider and abettor.

I further agree with the conclusion of the lead opinion that

Article 77 liability may attach if the failure to intervene is

intended to and actually does aid or encourage the perpetrator.

The lead opinion concludes that the providence inquiry fails

to establish Appellant’s intent to aid the perpetrator. I concur

fully in that conclusion.

The concurring opinion of Judge Effron concludes that the

providence inquiry fails to establish that Appellant’s inaction

actually did encourage the perpetrator. I write separately only

to indicate that I agree with Judge Effron, who has provided an

additional reason why Appellant’s plea is improvident.
United States v. Simmons, 05-0263/MC

EFFRON, Judge (concurring in the result):

The crime of aiding and abetting through nonperformance of

a duty has four components: (1) duty (the accused has “a duty

to act”); (2) inaction (the accused “has a duty to interfere in

the commission of an offense, but does not interfere”); (3)

intent (the “noninterference is intended to . . . operate as an

aid or encouragement to the actual perpetrator” of the

underlying crime); and (4) effect on the perpetrator (the

“noninterference . . . does operate as an aid or encouragement

to the actual perpetrator”). Manual for Courts-Martial, United

States pt. IV, para. 1.b.(2)(b) (2005 ed.). Each of these

components is essential. Regardless of whether the prosecution

demonstrates duty, inaction, and intent, that is insufficient if

the inaction does not actually aid or encourage the perpetrator.

For example, it is not an offense under this provision if the

perpetrator has no awareness of the presence of the person with

the duty or if the perpetrator testifies that he or she acted

without perceiving any aid or encouragement from the inaction.

In the context of a guilty plea, each of the four

components must be addressed by the military judge and the

accused. First, the military judge must explain the four

components in the course of explaining the elements.
United States v. Simmons, 05-0263/MC

Second, the military judge must engage in a dialogue with the

accused and ensure that there is a factual basis for the plea.

Rule for Courts-Martial 910(e) and accompanying Discussion.

Here the plea was improvident because the military judge

did not explain to Appellant that it was necessary for the

perpetrator to be aware of Appellant’s nonperformance of a duty.

In that context, the statements of Appellant during the plea

colloquy did not address whether the perpetrator was, in fact,

aware of Appellant’s inaction.

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United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

CRAWFORD, Judge (dissenting):

Appellant’s testimony under oath before the military judge

established that Appellant was involved in a continuous course

of conduct as a principal in misusing and abusing members of the

unit including choking Private First Class (PFC) Whetstone.

Appellant admitted that between January 2002 and April 2002, he

violated a general order by hazing PFC Whetstone by having him

drink an excessive amount of alcoholic beverages, attaching and

using an electronic muscle contracting device attached to PFC

Whetstone’s face, referring to PFC Whetstone as being a “boot,”

“weak,” and other terms, and impeding the investigation into his

misconduct by threatening to injure PFC Whetstone and others.

Appellant described one of the drinking events: “[W]e had

younger Marines [including PFC Whetstone] come in and sit in the

chair and they would hold their heads back and we poured alcohol

down their mouth for a couple of seconds and then get them up

and bring another one in . . . .” Appellant also admitted that

on March 2, 2002, the following took place: “We were sitting at

the barracks again, we were drinking beers; and one of the guys

had a one of those half stimulators . . . . muscle stimulators .

. . . and we hooked it up to Palencia’s face and told him it

wouldn’t hurt; did Whetstone’s face; and then we sent them to go

find more new Marines to come sit in the chair and put it on

their face also, sir.”
United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

Moments before the choking incident occurred, Appellant and

the victim, Whetstone, got in an argument. Appellant told PFC

Whetstone to leave the room because he was drunk. Then PFC

Whetstone walked away from Appellant mumbling something.

Appellant testified that “Corporal [CPL] Schuknecht got in [PFC

Whetstone’s] face and grabbed him by the neck and threw him

against the rack and yelled at him; and they went outside . . .

.” The military judge asked Appellant if he was “willing to

admit . . . [that he] violated Article 128 of the Uniform Code

of Military Justice [10 U.S.C. 928 (2000)] by allowing and not

preventing Corporal Schuknecht from committing assault and

battery upon PFC Whetstone?” Appellant replied “Yes, sir.” He

testified that there was no doubt in his mind that he violated

Article 128. After the inquiry set forth by the military judge

and the responses just mentioned, both the trial counsel and the

defense counsel agreed that no further inquiry was needed to

establish the providency of the plea. Id.; cf. Bradshaw v.

Stumpf, 125 S. Ct. 2398, 2406 (2005) (“Where a defendant is

represented by competent counsel, the court usually may rely on

that counsel’s assurance that the defendant has been properly

informed of the nature and elements of the charge to which he is

pleading guilty.”).

Mere presence is not enough to constitute a principal.

Manual for Courts-Martial, United States pt. IV, para. 1.b.(3)

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United States v. Simmons, No. 05-0263/MC

(2005 ed.). But a principal is criminally liable for crimes

committed by another “if such crimes are likely to result as a

natural probable consequence of the criminal venture or design.”

Id. at para. 1.b.(5).∗ Appellant’s conduct in this case

established that he associated and participated with those

engaging in the unlawful acts charged and was not an innocent

bystander. These acts taking place over a sixty-day period of

time establish a common understanding for misuse of the junior

members of the unit, the assault by CPL Schuknecht being one of

these instances. This is not a single, spontaneous, and

isolated incident that took place within ten seconds, but a

continual course of conduct. As a result, I would hold there is

not a substantial basis in law or fact to set aside this plea.

See United States v. Prater, 32 M.J. 433, 436 (C.M.A. 1991).

Thus, I respectfully dissent from setting aside the plea.

∗
If one is not a perpetrator, to be guilty of an
offense committed by the perpetrator, the person must:
(i) Assist, encourage, advise, instigate, counsel,
command, or procure another to commit, or assist,
encourage, advise, counsel, or command another in the
commission of the offense; and (ii) share in the
criminal purpose of design.

Id. at para. 1.b.(2)(b).

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United States v. Simmons, 05-0263/MC

ERDMANN, Judge (dissenting):

The majority finds no substantial basis in law or fact to

question the sufficiency of Corporal (CPL) Simmons’ plea under

the first element of Article 77, Uniform Code of Military

Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. § 877 (2000), dealing with criminal

liability as a principal for an offense committed by another.

See Manual for Courts-Martial, United States pt. IV, para.

1.b.(2)(b)(i) (2005 ed.) (MCM). The majority ultimately finds

that the plea is improvident as the plea inquiry failed to

establish the requisite shared intent under the second element

of Article 77, UCMJ. See id. para. 1.b.(2)(b)(ii). Under the

circumstances of this guilty plea case, I agree that the record

establishes Simmons’ duty to act and that the providence inquiry

is adequate as to the first element of Article 77, UCMJ. I

further conclude that the record is adequate to support Simmons’

plea with respect to the second element of Article 77, UCMJ,

which requires a shared criminal purpose or design.

This specification arose from an assault committed by CPL

Schuknecht on Private First Class (PFC) Whetstone in Simmons’

presence. As a result of that incident Simmons was charged with

assault consummated by a battery under an aiding and abetting

theory. This charge relied on the theory that Simmons, as a

corporal, had a legal duty to intervene and stop the assault

because he was a noncommissioned officer in Whetstone’s platoon.
United States v. Simmons, 05-0263/MC

In order to establish liability under an aiding and

abetting theory under Article 77, UCMJ, two elements must be

established: (1) that the defendant assisted, encouraged,

advised, instigated, counseled or commanded the commission of an

offense; and (2) that the defendant shared the criminal purpose

or design of the perpetrator. Id. para. 1.b.(2)(b); United

States v. Gosselin, 62 M.J. 349, 351-52 (C.A.A.F. 2006).

Generally, mere presence at the scene of a crime or the failure

to prevent the commission of a crime is not enough to make one a

principal to the offense under Article 77, UCMJ. Id. para.

1.b.(3)(b). However, where there is a clear duty to act,

inaction that is “intended to and does operate as an aid or

encouragement to the actual perpetrator” may make one liable

under Article 77, UCMJ, as a principal. Id. para. 1.b.(2)(b);

see also United States v. Shearer, 44 M.J. 330, 335 (C.A.A.F.

1996).

At the providence inquiry Simmons admitted without

qualification that he had a duty and knew he had a duty to

intervene. As this court said in Shearer:

Appellant himself admitted that he had a
duty and knew he had a duty to report
Fireman Atwood’s identity as the driver of
the vehicle involved in the accident to the
Japanese. “Post-trial speculation” as to
the precise source of this duty need not be
“countenanced” at this late stage of the
proceedings. See United States v. Harrison,
26 M.J. 474, 476 (C.M.A. 1988). Moreover,

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United States v. Simmons, 05-0263/MC

the prosecution may have been induced by the
defense to plea to forgo presenting its
entire case concerning appellant’s duty to
report accidents in this foreign country.
See United States v. Burnette, 35 M.J. 58,
60 (C.M.A. 1992[]); see generally United
States v. Dupree, 24 M.J. 319, 322 (C.M.A.
319, 322).

44 M.J. at 335. I have reservations about the existence of a

clear legal duty to intervene under such circumstances and I do

not view this case as conclusively establishing such a duty.1

However, as this is a guilty plea there is no legal basis upon

which to question Simmons’ factual recitation with respect to

his duty to intervene in the assault.

I do not agree with the majority’s conclusion that the

facts as set forth by Simmons fail to establish the second

element of Article 77, UCMJ. Simmons admitted that the elements

as described by the military judge correctly described what

happened with respect to this offense. The military judge

explained that in order to be guilty Simmons had to “participate

in the commission of the crime as something that he or she

1
There may well be a custom in the Marine Corps that a
noncommissioned officer has a legal duty to intervene in every
situation where a subordinate enlisted member is subject to an
assault. However, that custom may not exist in every situation
and I question whether it is capable of accurate and ready
determination by a twenty-one-year-old corporal in the Marine
Corps without further instruction by the military judge.
Military judges would be well advised to identify this legal
duty and inform an accused as to the nature and scope of this
legal duty so that the accused can make an informed decision as
to whether that duty applied to him in a given situation.

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United States v. Simmons, 05-0263/MC

wishes to bring about, and must aid, encourage, or incite the

person to commit the criminal act.” Simmons was told that his

presence would make him a principal to the offense if he had “an

intent to aid or encourage the person who commit[s] the crime”

or if he failed to perform a duty to interfere in order to

“protect or encourage” CPL Schuknecht.

Article 77, UCMJ, can be satisfied by inaction where there

is a duty to act and the inaction “is intended to or does

operate as an aid or encouragement to the actual perpetrator.”

MCM pt. IV para. 1.b.(2)(b)(ii). The majority finds that “CPL

Schuknecht’s actions were too spontaneous and too quick” to

infer that Simmons shared intent in this case. That conclusion

is at odds with Simmons’ own words. The providence inquiry

reflects that the assault lasted “about ten seconds.” While on

review this might not appear to be an extensive period, Simmons

was there and said that he “had time to step in, sir; but I did

not.” Rather than taking any steps pursuant to his duty,

Simmons “just sat there and watched.” I find no basis in this

record to second-guess Simmons’ own words.

Simmons agreed when the military judge asked if the

elements the military judge had described, including that he

wanted to bring about the commission of the assault, correctly

described what happened. Later, in response to a question from

the military judge as to how he actively encouraged CPL

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United States v. Simmons, 05-0263/MC

Schuknecht to assault PFC Whetstone, Simmons responded “[b]y not

doing anything, sir.” Taken in context with the military

judge’s explanation of the offense, Simmons’ statements of fact

clearly support an inference that he shared the criminal design

or purpose in this instance.

Simmons’ providence inquiry reflects that: (1) he had a

duty to act; (2) he saw the assault that lasted about ten

seconds; (3) he had the opportunity to intervene but did not do

so; (4) he merely sat and watched the assault; and (5) he

admitted his inaction encouraged the assault. In my view, the

providence inquiry adequately establishes both elements of

Article 77, UCMJ, and there is no substantial basis in law or

fact to question the providence of this plea. While I may not

find a duty to intervene or shared criminal intent in other

circumstances, I find no basis to dispute or contest Simmons’

direct factual statements in support of this plea. I would

affirm the Court of Criminal Appeals and therefore respectfully

dissent.

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