United States v. Guy William Verbeek

Verbeek was convicted of violating 50 U.S.C. App. § 462 in that he knowingly failed to submit to induction into the armed forces. We affirm.

Verbeek registered for the draft in August of 1964. At .that time he was classified 1-A. In October of 1965 he was ordered to report for a physical examination. On October 13, 1965 he requested the form for filing as a conscientious objector (S.S.S. 150), executed it, and returned it to his board on October 22, 1965. Verbeek based his claim on a religious history that included .time spent as a Seventh Day Adventist, and subsequently as a student of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

On November 4, 1965 Verbeek’s application was reviewed by his local board, which determined to maintain his 1-A classification. Verbeek appealed this classification, and under the procedure then in effect was investigated by the F.B.I. and was given an appearance before a Department of Justice hearing officer. (50 U.S.C. App. § 456(j), 62 Stat. 609 , ch. 625, § 6.) On the basis of this interview the hearing officer concluded that Verbeek was not sincere in claiming to be a conscientious objector. A resumé of the interview was sent to the draft appeals board and to…