United States v. Nathaniel A. Casillas — CAAF (argued May 20, 2026)
The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces reviews two prosecutions over different child-pornography files on the same iPhone. The Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals set aside Casillas's second possession conviction on double-jeopardy grounds but left his second viewing conviction intact. The government says files acquired on different dates are separate offenses. Casillas says the phone was the unit of prosecution—the thing that counts as one offense—so a second trial for possession or viewing on it was barred. Because the Air Force Judge Advocate General certified the questions, the government argues first.
United States v. Nathaniel A. Casillas (No. 26-0096/AF) — United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, argued May 20, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.armfor.uscourts.gov/newcaaf/CourtAudio13/20260520B.mp3
Hearing calendar and counsel — CAAF:https://www.armfor.uscourts.gov/newcaaf/calendar/202605.htm
United States' brief on the certified issues — CAAF filing:https://www.armfor.uscourts.gov/newcaaf/briefs/2025Term/Casillas260096AppellantBrief.pdf
United States' reply brief — CAAF filing:https://www.armfor.uscourts.gov/newcaaf/briefs/2025Term/Casillas260096AppellantReplyBrief.pdf
Casillas's answer brief — CAAF filing:https://www.armfor.uscourts.gov/newcaaf/briefs/2025Term/Casillas260096AppelleeBrief.pdf
Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals opinion:https://afcca.law.af.mil/afcca_opinions/cp/casillas_-_40551_u_2479433.pdf
Certificate for review — CAAF Daily Journal:https://www.armfor.uscourts.gov/newcaaf/journal/2026Jrnl/2026Jan.htm
Oral-argument entry — CAAF Daily Journal:https://www.armfor.uscourts.gov/newcaaf/journal/2026Jrnl/2026May.htm
- 0:00Introduction
- 1:11Major Vanessa Bairos
- 19:16Major Frederick J. Johnson