United States v. Goldsmith

DECISION

KASTL, Senior Judge:

The principal question before us is whether it constitutes a false official statement for an officer to lie to a civilian cashier at the Officers’ Club who is inquiring about his account. To resolve that question — which we answer in the affirmative — it becomes necessary to analyze the law of false official statements under Article 107, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 907.

Factual Setting

Lieutenant Goldsmith was found guilty, upon mixed pleas, of writing five bad checks with the intent to deceive1 and making a false official statement, violations of Articles 123a and 107, UCMJ,…