CASE · Clearance Adjudication Search EngineCASE

Loading case…

ISCR Case 18-00050.a1 — CASE

ISCR Case 18-00050.a1denied

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 18-00050.a1

Jul 26, 2019· Hon. Michael Y. Ra'anan· appeal

Summary

A married applicant with a child was denied a security clearance under Guidelines D (Sexual Behavior) and E (Personal Conduct) due to allegations of possessing child pornography. The denial stemmed from the applicant's arrest for felony possession of child pornography after police executed a search warrant at his home.

Evidence presented included a police deposition indicating the applicant downloaded images depicting child sexual abuse. The applicant denied the allegations and argued there was insufficient evidence to support the claims.

However, the appeal board found the applicant's arguments unpersuasive. They determined there was substantial evidence, including the circumstances of the arrest, to support the allegations. Consequently, the denial of the security clearance was affirmed.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG DraisedSexual Behavior
AG EraisedPersonal Conduct

Key Rule Quoted

“The general standard is that a clearance may be granted only when ‘clearly consistent with the interests of the national security.’”
— Department of the Navy v. Egan, 484 U.S. 518, 528 (1988)

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedMar 5, 2018
Answer filed—
Hearing heldMay 9, 2019
Decision dateJul 26, 2019Appeal decision affirmed.

Cite For

Substantial Evidence Required to Support Allegations of Child Pornography Under Guideline D
Insufficient Evidence Arguments May Be Unpersuasive in Light of Substantial Evidence
The Importance of National Security in Clearance Decisions

Editorial summary generated for research. Not legal advice; not a prediction. Verify against the full decision before relying on any quoted language.

Appeal at a glance· Full written decision

Affirmed

The appeal involved a denial of a security clearance based on allegations of possession of child pornography. The Applicant argued that the Judge's decision was arbitrary and capricious, but the Board affirmed the decision, finding substantial evidence supporting the adverse ruling.

Appealed bythe applicant

Applicant representationPro se (self-represented)

Judge belowPamela C. Benson — denied the clearance

Decided ona hearing

Guidelines belowGuideline DGuideline E

What the Board reviewed

Decision arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law — raised by the applicantRejected
Applicant contends that the Judge's adverse decision was arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law.

Why the Board ruled this way

The Board found that the Judge's decision was supported by substantial evidence and articulated a satisfactory explanation for the adverse decision. The Applicant's arguments were not persuasive, and the evidence established security concerns under Guidelines D and E.

Standard of review applied

Harmful-error gatekeeperSubstantial-evidence reviewArbitrary-and-capricious reviewProcedural complianceNo de-novo re-decisionNo new evidence on appealDeference to the judge’s credibility calls

Appeal Board panel

Michael Ra’anan — Chair
James E. Moody
James F. Duffy

Descriptive structured reading of this decided, public Appeal Board decision — what the case says, not a prediction or advice.

Full decision

The complete, official text — footnotes and signatures included — is in the original PDF.

Decision text, by section

DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS

APPEAL

SYNOPSIS

KEYWORD: Guideline D; Guideline E DIGEST: In his appeal brief, Applicant continues to deny he viewed or possessed illegal pornography. He essentially contends that there was insufficient evidence in the record to prove the SOR allegations that he possessed child pornography. We do not find his argument persuasive. Adverse decision affirmed. CASENO: 18-00050.a1 DATE: 07/26/2019 DATE: July 26, 2019 ) In Re: ) ) ------------------------ ) ISCR Case No. 18-00050

) ) Applicant for Security Clearance ) )

APPEAL BOARD DECISION

APPEARANCES

FOR GOVERNMENT James B. Norman, Esq., Chief Department Counsel FOR APPLICANT Pro se The Department of Defense (DoD) declined to grant Applicant a security clearance. On March 5, 2018, DoD issued a statement of reasons (SOR) advising Applicant of the basis for that decision–security concerns raised under Guideline D (Sexual Behavior) and Guideline E (Personal Conduct) of Department of Defense Directive 5220.6 (Jan. 2, 1992, as amended) (Directive). Department Counsel requested a hearing. On May 9, 2019, after the hearing, Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) Administrative Judge Pamela C. Benson denied Applicant’s request for a security clearance. Applicant appealed pursuant to Directive ¶¶ E3.1.28 and E3.1.30. Applicant raised the following issue on appeal: whether the Judge’s adverse decision was arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law. The Judge found in favor of Applicant on one Guideline E allegation that has not been raised an as issue on appeal and is not discussed further below. Consistent with the following, we affirm the Judge’s adverse decision. The Judge’s Findings of Fact Applicant is married and has a child. He has previously worked for defense contractors and held a security clearance for a number of years. In 2015, he was arrested on a felony charge of possession of child pornography. His bond was set at $250,000. He remained in jail for three weeks until he was able to make bail. He admits being arrested and admits looking at pornography on his computer but denies ever intentionally or accidentally looking at pornographic images of minors. Before his attorneys were able to review the evidence against him, the district attorney (DA) offered to dismiss the charge conditioned upon him participating in a pretrial intervention program that included his attendance at weekly meetings of the state’s sex offender group treatment program for two years and his payment of court costs. Applicant accepted the offer and the charges were dismissed. He completed the sex offender treatment program in a year and a half. He denied receiving a diagnosis during the treatment program or being required to register as a sex offender. At the hearing, Applicant indicated that, on the day of his arrest, the police arrived at his house with a search warrant. They confiscated his home computer and other items. He also stated that he accepted the DA’s offer because he wanted the matter over as quickly as possible and did not have the financial resources to fight the charge. He acknowledged that the DA did not dismiss the charge outright and that it could have been refiled if he did not meet the conditions of the pretrial intervention program. The Judge’s Analysis “Applicant has continued to deny that the material confiscated by the police involved child pornography, despite the fact he was arrested after the police executed a search warrant at his home.” Decision at 7. The Judge found Applicant’s denials of viewing child pornography to be unpersuasive. Moreover, there is no evidence to support his contention that the authorities did not have grounds to pursue criminal charges against him. While he completed a year-and-a-half of treatment program and informed his wife and current employer about the circumstance of his arrest, those factors are not enough for a favorable finding.

DISCUSSION

In his appeal brief, Applicant continues to deny he viewed or possessed illegal pornography. He essentially contends that there was insufficient evidence in the record to prove the SOR allegations that he possessed child pornography. We do not find his argument persuasive. First, Applicant was arrested at his home after the police executed a search warrant during which they seized his computer and other items. He was charged with felony possession of child pornography, placed in jail on a $250,000 bond, and remained there for three weeks until he could make bail. Second, Applicant admits he viewed pornography on his computer. Third, at the hearing, Department Counsel offered into evidence Government Exhibit 3 that included a deposition signed by a police officer (but not sworn) that reflects Applicant “downloaded several images and videos depicting child sexual abuse” at a particular time in November 2015 and also included an unsigned Warrant Affidavit for Applicant’s arrest that includes a probable cause statement using similar language. Fourth, it is fair to say that the executed search warrant would have been supported by a probable cause determination, i.e., a reasonable basis for believing that evidence of a crime would be found in the place to be searched. See, e.g., ISCR Case No. 17-00541at 2 (App. Bd. Feb. 28, 2018) and ISCR Case No. 08-08831 at 4 (Jan. 4, 2011). Fifth, Applicant accepted the DA’s offer to dismiss the charge contingent upon him participating in a two-year sex offender treatment program and paying the court costs. Sixth, there is nothing in the record to suggest any irregularity in the processing of the case in question. See, e.g., U.S. v. Wilson, 169 F.3d 418, 425 (7th Cir. 1999); Honeycutt v. Ward, 612 F.2d 36, 41 (2d Cir. 1979) (There is a strong presumption of regularity in state judicial proceedings). Viewed in its entirety, the record contains substantial evidence to establish security concerns under Guidelines D and E for the SOR allegations involving Applicant’s possession of child pornography. See, e.g., ISCR Case No. 16-04094 at 2 (App. Bd. Apr. 20, 2018). In his brief, Applicant presents other arguments that lack merit. For example, he highlights in his arguments his positive character evidence, including his professional accomplishments, his past record of protecting classified information, and his service to the community. We note the presence of some mitigating evidence does not alone compel the Judge to make a favorable security clearance decision. As the trier of fact, the Judge has to weigh the evidence as a whole and decide whether the favorable evidence outweighs the unfavorable evidence, or vice versa. A party’s disagreement with the Judge’s weighing of the evidence, or an ability to argue for a different interpretation of the evidence, is not sufficient to demonstrate the Judge weighed the evidence or reached conclusions in a manner that is arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law. See, e.g., ISCR Case No. 15-08684 at 2 (App. Bd. Nov. 22, 2017). The Judge examined the relevant evidence and articulated a satisfactory explanation for the decision. The decision is sustainable on this record. “The general standard is that a clearance may be granted only when ‘clearly consistent with the interests of the national security.’” Department of the Navy v. Egan, 484 U.S. 518, 528 (1988). See also Directive, Encl. 2, App. A ¶ 2(b): “Any doubt concerning personnel being considered for national security eligibility will be resolved in favor of the national security.”

ORDER

The Decision is AFFIRMED. Signed: Michael Ra’anan Michael Ra’anan Administrative Judge Chairperson, Appeal Board Signed: James E. Moody James E. Moody Administrative Judge Member, Appeal Board Signed: James F. Duffy James F. Duffy Administrative Judge Member, Appeal Board