Archives for December 2015

With the increased media and congressional attention on alleged military sex crimes, more and more military members are facing false accusations of sexual assault and other sex offenses. When you are facing such accusations, you need to avoid a conviction whenever possible because of the severity of some of the penalties for these convictions. Prison time – While sentencing for sex offenses in the military can vary widely, confinement in a military prison is almost always part of the sentence. Spending time in prison is always a frightening prospect. Your freedom is taken from you and you’re penned-in with strangers who have also been convicted of serious offenses. In addition to being separated from society, you might become alienated from your spouse, children, and other […]

Allegations of attempted murder are among the most serious accusations a member of the United States military can face. People who are convicted of attempted murder generally face extremely serious penalties, including dishonorable discharge and imprisonment. For this reason, it is critical for anyone accused of attempted murder to retain a military attorney familiar with the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and defending military members accused of serious crimes. Three of the more common defenses an attorney may be able to raise in a military attempted murder case are detailed below. Alibi An alibi defense involves showing that the defendant was at another location at the time that the crime was committed. While this may seem like a relatively simple defense to asset, it […]

When military members are accused of a crime, the stakes are extremely high. For this reason, it is important for those facing a criminal case to retain the best attorney they can. Here are some questions to ask your lawyer in order to help you determine whether you lawyer will be able to adequately represent you. What is your background in military criminal defense? The body of law that applies to military criminal proceedings, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), is significantly different from the law that applies to the civilian population. In many cases, even experienced lawyers who have practiced for years in the civilian world may know little more about the UCMJ other than the fact that it exists. As a result, […]

The United States Military pours limitless resources into allegations of sexual assault1. Whether or not these allegations are true, these kinds of cases tend to make the news and can cause a significant public relations issue for the Armed Forces. For this reason, these kinds of cases are often aggressively investigated and prosecuted, sometimes resulting in devastating consequences for innocent servicemen and women. For this reason, it is extremely important for anyone in the military accused of sexual assault to call an attorney immediately. Some of the ways a military defense lawyer can help you are detailed below. Reason #1.  An attorney will ensure that you do not or say anything to incriminate yourself When you are accused of sexual assault, you can be interrogated […]

A conviction in a military court for a criminal offense can have a severe impact on your civilian life, not just your military career. A military conviction can make it difficult to obtain civilian employment A service member who is convicted of a crime will usually be discharged from the military, either as a punishment at the court-martial or as an administrative consequence afterward. Potential employers typically ask veterans about their characterization of service, and many employers run background checks, and a less then honorable discharge will usually hurt your chances of obtaining employment. A military conviction can hurt your reputation While military personnel records are generally considered private information, they are often accessible by the public through the Freedom of Information Act.1 In addition, […]