United States v. Cothern

Opinion of the Court

Homer Ferguson, Judge:

Despite his plea to the contrary, Ralph Estell Cothern, a seaman apprentice in the United States Navy, was tried and convicted of desertion and failure to obey a lawful order, in violation of Articles 85 and 92, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 USC §§ 885 and 892, respectively. He was sentenced to be discharged from the service with a bad-conduct discharge, to forfeit all pay and allowances, to be confined at hard labor for one year and six months, and to be reduced to the grade of seaman recruit. The convening authority, after providing that…