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ISCR Case 06-00672.a1 — CASE

ISCR Case 06-00672.a1denied

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 06-00672.a1

deniedJul 3, 2007· Hon. Jean E. Smallin· appeal

Summary

An applicant, represented by counsel, was denied a trustworthiness designation based on concerns under Guideline E (Personal Conduct), Guideline F (Financial Considerations), and Guideline J (Criminal Conduct). The denial stemmed primarily from the deliberate omission of debts on a government form.

The judge found the applicant's omission to be intentional, rejecting the claim of an honest mistake as unpersuasive. This deliberate act led to adverse findings under Guidelines E and J, specifically citing Disqualifying Conditions AG ¶ 15 and AG ¶ 17.

While Mitigating Condition AG ¶ 20 was considered, it did not outweigh the judge's conclusion that the omission was a deliberate act rather than a mere oversight. Consequently, the applicant's request for a trustworthiness designation was denied.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant deliberately omitted debts on a government form, which was found to be intentional.
The applicant's explanation of an honest mistake was not persuasive to the judge.
The judge concluded that the applicant's omission was not a mere oversight but a deliberate act.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 15raisedPersonal Conduct
AG ¶ 17raisedCriminal Conduct

Mitigating

AG ¶ 20appliedFinancial Considerations

Key Rule Quoted

“The presence of some mitigating evidence does not alone compel the Judge to make a favorable trustworthiness determination.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedFeb 23, 2006
Answer filed—
Hearing heldDec 11, 2006
Decision dateJul 3, 2007

Cite For

Deliberate Omission of Debts as a Basis for Trustworthiness Denial
Insufficient Evidence of Honest Mistake Under Personal Conduct
Weighing of Mitigating Evidence Against Disqualifying Conduct

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

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 F; Guideline E; Guideline J DIGEST: The Judge considered applicant’s explanation for his failure to disclose pertinent information on a government form in light of the record as a whole and concluded there was a sufficient basis to find that the omission was deliberate. Adverse decision affirmed. CASENO: 06-00672.a1 DATE: 07/03/2007 DATE: July 3, 2007 In Re: ---------- SSN: ------- Applicant for Trustworthiness Designation ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ADP Case No. 06-00672

APPEAL BOARD DECISION

APPEARANCES

FOR GOVERNMENT James B. Norman, Esq., Chief Department Counsel FOR APPLICANT Van Kirk McCombs, II, Esq. The Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) declined to grant Applicant a trustworthiness designation. On February 23, 2006, DOHA issued a statement of reasons (SOR) advising Applicant of the basis for that decision—trustworthiness concerns raised under Guideline F (Financial Considerations), Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline J (Criminal Conduct) of Department of Defense Directive 5220.6 (Jan. 2, 1992, as amended) (Directive). Applicant The Judge found in favor of Applicant under Guideline F. That favorable formal finding is not at issue on appeal. Applicant’s Brief at 3-4. requested a hearing. On December 11, 2006, after the hearing, Administrative Judge Paul J. Mason, denied Applicant’s request for a trustworthiness designation. Applicant submitted a timely appeal pursuant to the Directive ¶¶ E3.1.28 and E3.1.30. Applicant raised the following issues on appeal: whether the Judge erred in concluding Applicant’s falsification of his Standard Form 85P was deliberate and intentional; and whether the Judge’s adverse trustworthiness determination is arbitrary, capricious or contrary to law. Applicant argues that he did not deliberately and intentionally falsify his Standard Form 85P by failing to disclose two debts that had been outstanding for over 180 days. It is Applicant’s contention that the omission of the information in question was due to an honest mistake and was at most careless. In support of that contention, Applicant states that he did not know that there were outstanding debts that were over 180 days past due, and that he made no inquiries concerning his debts and did not have access to any credit reports at the time. Applicant’s argument does not demonstrate error on the part of the Judge. The Judge had the opportunity to consider Applicant’s explanation for why he failed to disclose the information in question. The Judge was not bound, as a matter of law, to accept or reject Applicant’s explanation. The Judge considered Applicant’s explanation in light of the record evidence as a whole, and concluded there was a sufficient basis to find that Applicant’s omission was deliberate and intentional. See, e.g., ISCR Case No. 05-06602 at 3 (App. Bd. Feb. 6, 2007). On this record, the Judge’s finding of deliberate falsification is sustainable. See Directive ¶ E3.1.32.1. Applicant has not demonstrated that the Judge’s conclusion in that regard is arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law. The application of disqualifying and mitigating conditions and whole person factors does not turn simply on a finding that one or more of them apply to the particular facts of a case. See, e.g., ISCR Case No. 01-14740 at 7 (App. Bd. Jan.15, 2003). Thus, the presence of some mitigating evidence does not alone compel the Judge to make a favorable trustworthiness determination. 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. An applicant’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. 02-01181 at 3-4 (App. Bd. Jan. 30, 2004). In this case, the Judge reasonably weighed the mitigating evidence against the seriousness of the disqualifying conduct, and considered the possible application of relevant mitigating conditions. The Judge found in Applicant’s favor under one of the Guidelines. However, the Judge reasonably explained why there was insufficient mitigating evidence to overcome all of the government’s trustworthiness concerns. The Board does not review a case de novo. The favorable evidence cited by the Applicant is not sufficient to demonstrate the Judge’s overall decision is arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law. See, e.g., ADP Case No. 06-08653 at 2 (App. Bd. May 14, 2007). Given the record that was before him, the Judge’s ultimate unfavorable trustworthiness determination under Guidelines E and J is sustainable.

ORDER

The decision of the Judge denying Applicant a trustworthiness designation is AFFIRMED. Signed: Michael D. Hipple Michael D. Hipple Administrative Judge Member, Appeal Board Signed: Jean E. Smallin Jean E. Smallin Administrative Judge Member, Appeal Board Signed: William S. Fields William S. Fields Administrative Judge Member, Appeal Board