United States v. EATON IV

This opinion is subject to administrative correction before final disposition.

Before de GROOT, MOSLEY, and HARRIS

Appellate Military Judges _________________________

UNITED STATES

Appellee v.

John G. EATON IV

Sergeant (E-5), U.S. Marine Corps

Appellant

No. 202600114 _________________________

Decided: 31 August 2026

Appeal from the United States Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary Military Judge:

Gable F. Hackman

Sentence adjudged 19 December 2025 by a general court-martial tried at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, consisting of a military judge sitting alone. Sentence in the Entry of Judgment: reduc- tion to E-1, confinement for 18 months, and a bad-conduct discharge.

For Appellant:

Lieutenant Commander Meggie C. Kane-Cruz, JAGC, USN United States v. Eaton IV, NMCCA No. 202600114 Opinion of the Court _________________________

This opinion does not serve as binding precedent under NMCCA Rule of Appellate Procedure 30.2(a).

_________________________

PER CURIAM:

After careful consideration of the record, submitted without assignment of error,1 we have determined that the findings are correct in law, the sentence is correct in law and fact, and no error materially prejudicial to Appellant’s sub- stantial rights occurred.2

The findings and sentence are AFFIRMED.

FOR THE COURT:

MARK K. JAMISON Clerk of Court

1 Although not raised by Appellant, we note that the convening authority failed to include a reason for denying Appellant’s deferment request. See United States v. Sloan, 35 M.J. 4, 7 (C.M.A. 1992) (holding that the convening authority’s decision on a deferral request must include the reasons upon which the action is based in order to facilitate judicial review), overruled on other grounds by United States v. Dinger, 77 M.J. 447, 453–54 (C.A.A.F. 2018); see also United States v. Riboni, 2022 CCA LEXIS 42 (N-M. Ct. Crim. App. Jan. 20, 2022); Article 57(b), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 857(b); R.C.M. 1103. Appellant has not claimed any prejudice from this error, and we find none. 2 Articles 59 & 66, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §§ 859, 866.