UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT

SUNRISE S. HARMONY,                          Appellant,
aka STEPHEN SEMPLE, pro se,

versus

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Appellee.

COPY OF THE DECISION OF THE DISTRICT COURT, ISSUES ON APPEAL FROM CONVICTION IN THE DISTRICT COURT, AND REPORT CERTIFYING THAT ALL NECESSARY TRANSCRIPTS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED, AND NOTICE OF RELATED CASES

(A) INTRODUCTION

Appellant intends to brief issues in support of the theory that the judgment of the court below was founded on a misapplication of law, which resulted in appellant's factually deficient conviction. Finally, appellant questions the constitutionality of the sentence imposed.

It appears the appeal was docketed in this court on March 3, 1988, and Ms. Carmen A. Gooding directed appellant to file:

1. A copy of the Decision of the District Court.

2. Statement of Issues to be Raised on Appeal.

3. Certification that all transcripts have been ordered.

On March 4, 1988, while your appellant suffered incarceration at the pleasure of the U.S. Attorney -- pursuant to Order of Judge Charles R. Richey (the court below) -- your appellant's papers were seized by the hands of U.S. Marshals. Among those papers were unmailed motions addressed to the court below requesting the instant "necessary transcripts."

Notwithstanding repeated requests for return of his papers (e.g. Exhibit 1, attached hereto), those documents did not revert to your appellant's possession until after his release from



incarceration at the pleasure of the U.S. Attorney.

Appellant states that the deprivation of his papers on March 4, 1988 has added to his burden in pressing this appeal. Inter alia, page 5.

(B) COPY OF THE DECISION OF THE DISTRICT COURT

Exhibit 2 is pages 132-137 of the trial transcript. Appellant is unaware that a separate order was filed.

(C) ISSUES ON APPEAL

1. FACTUAL

(I) Whether the facts of this case constitute a violation of the regulations; i.e. whether the "camping" regulation actually prohibits "camping" or does it also sweep within its ambit the involuntary act of "sleeping."

(II) Whether appellant's animus allows the requisite actus reus which any moderately civilized nation would demand before imposing criminal sanctions on its citizenry for engaging in the process of democracy as codified in the First, Fourth, and Ninth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States.

(III) Whether and to what extent a regulatory agency may exercise "aesthetic concern" as justification for enforcing a regulatory provision which has the effect of causing appellant's incarceration, exile, or additional sanctions of questionable constitutional stature as a direct result of appellant's sincerely held religious belief "that the most beneficial way for (appellant) to live is as Jesus(, the Christ) did because then (appellant) would be able to affect the world in the most positive and helpful way."

(IV) Whether the facts developed at trial do not merit

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reconsideration of this Court's reversal (filed September 22, 1987) of Judge Charles R. Richey's initial decision to dismiss the charges in this case on the grounds of the free exercise clause of the First Amendment.

2. RELIGIOUS EXERCISE

(V) Whether there is a Conflict between appellant's exercise of religion under the First Amendment and the "camping" regulation.

(VI) Whether the premise ... "united for right we will stand; divided we will fall" ... is followed in the system of law which holds sway in the United States of America, or whether there is no law, at least with respect to appellant, thus enabling the United States Government, and particularly the U.S. Park Police, Department Of Interior and National Park Service, to enforce a scheme of "Government Or Administrative Policy" which caused appellant to fall into social division (criminal prosecution), and promoted the disunity of right understanding by intentionally obfuscating the term "camping," and whether the Government and the people of this country should.

(VII) Whether there is a conflict between the "camping" regulation and religious exercise which denies appellant's right under the Ninth Amendment to remain harmlessly in a public park.

(VIII) Whether there is a conflict between the application of the "camping" regulation and appellant's right under the Fourth Amendment to be free from unreasonable search and seizure.

(IX) Whether there is a conflict between appellant's religious exercise and the application of the "camping" regulation and appellant's right under the Fourteenth Amendment to

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equal protection under the law.

(X) Whether there is a conflict between the application of the "camping" regulation as applied to appellant and the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act with respect to religious exercise, and communication of ideas.

(XI) Your pro se appellant is also investigating whether there exists any legal footing to raise the issues of:

a) Whether the application of the "camping" regulation violates the Ex Post Facto prohibition of the Constitution.

b) Whether the application of the "camping" regulation against appellant constitutes a Bill of Pains and Penalties.

3. SENTENCE

(XII) Whether the District Court erred in ignoring appellant's Motion For A New Trial, filed January 26, 1988.

(XIII) Whether the welfare of society is best served by resolving this conflict through the imposition of criminal sanctions, or by the less oppressive remedy of a permit from the Supervisor of the National Park Service.

(XIV) Whether appellant's incarceration for the activity at issue is Constitutionally compatible with the statutory authority allowing for punishment for violation of Code of Federal Regulations.

(XV) Whether there is any possible way appellant may:

(a) engage in a 24-hour, 7-day a week, peaceful, nonviolent vigil, protesting what appellant perceives as injustices and prejudices brought on by ignorance of, and lack of faith in, our Father-God's protection, and/or a value system based on the fallacy that might is right,

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instead of the true premise that right is might, all of which has compelled appellant, through

sincerely held religious beliefs in Father-God's protection, to:

(b) demonstrate a way of life, inspired by the words and deeds of Jesus, the Christ, according to appellant's own interpretations from the Bible and from his other religious studies, truth-seeking experiences, and moral principles; without having at least an insulated bag and/or blankets sufficient for keeping him warm enough to endure (sometimes) extremely cold temperatures: enough plastic to keep him dry during wet weather; literature; and other articles which might "reasonably be used during the course of a twenty-four-hour" exercise of freedom and expression of belief.

(D) REPORT AND CERTIFICATION THAT ALL NECESSARY
TRANSCRIPTS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED

A bench trial was held in this matter on November 17, 1988, and a U.S. District Court Magistrate, convicted defendant, pro se, of "camping." An appeal was taken in the District Court, and a transcript of the bench trial has been obtained.

On or about November 30, 1987 J. Oberdorfer held a hearing pursuant to the appeal from conviction and sentence.

J. Oberdorfer has held at least two additional hearings, on January 21, 1988, and May 26, 1988, with respect to the various sentences which have thus far been imposed in this case.

I declare, under penalty of perjury, that: on June 6, 1988, I filed a motion requesting all transcripts, including, but not limited to November 30, 1987, January 21, 1988, and May 26, 1988, be provided to Appellant on an expedited basis.

(E) NOTICE OF RELATED CASES

1. CRIMINAL

Appellant hereby moves this Court to note certain criminal

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appeals presently pending before the Court which, appellant believes, involve similar facts, and present identical legal questions:

a) SUNRISE v. UNITED STATES, USApp. No. 87-3065,

b) SUNRISE, ET. AL. v. UNITED STATES, USApp. No. 87-3042, c) SUNRISE, ET. AL. v. UNITED STATES, USApp. No. 87

2. CIVIL

Appellant further moves the Court to note a civil action, THOMAS v. U.S. ATTORNEY, et. al., USDC Civil No. 88-1034, raising questions of Meaningful Access To The Courts, re the seizure of your appellant's papers on March 4, 1988. Supra, page 1.

Appellant finally moves the Court to note a civil action which raise the same facts and legal questions, THOMAS v. UNITED STATES, USDC Civil. Nos. 84-3552, consolidated with 87-1820, pending in the District Court since November 21, 1984, which seeks to solve the United State's "camping problem" through definitions of the terms "casual sleep" and "storage of property." THOMAS clearly deliniates this appeal from the circumstances presented in Cox v. New Hampshire ___ . U.S. ___, and puts appellant squarely within the realm of WISCONSIN v. YODER, 406 U.S. 220.

Respectfully submitted,

Sunrlse S. Harmony,
Appellant, Pro Se
P.O. Box 27217
Washington, DC 20038
(202) 462-0757