United States v. Ortiz

Opinion of the Court

EVERETT, Chief Judge:

On January 22, March 21, and April 2 and 16, 1979, Specialist Ortiz was tried by a military judge sitting as a special court-martial at Schweinfurt, Germany. Contrary to his pleas, he was convicted of possessing heroin, in violation of Article 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 934. The military judge sentenced him to a bad-conduct discharge, confinement at hard labor for 3 months, forfeiture of $250 pay per month for 6 months, and reduction to the lowest enlisted grade. The convening authority approved the sentence.

On February 12,…