Civilian Court-Martial Lawyers:
Travel Voucher Fraud, Larceny Charges and Court-Martial Dropped for Military Officer Defended by Attorney Richard V. Stevens
Recently, a military officer facing court-martial charges/allegations of larceny and, generally, claims associated with alleged travel voucher fraud, had the charges and court-martial the officer faced dropped by the government. The accused military member was defended by military law attorney Richard V. Stevens (Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, P.C.).
At the time of the alleged misconduct, this reservist officer was mobilized on active duty orders. Originally, the accused officer faced three charges and 9 specifications in which the government claimed he stole money by receiving monetary benefits he wasn’t entitled to while activated on mobilization orders. It was immediately clear the government didn’t understand the Joint Federal Travel Regulation (JFTR), but it took considerable effort and time to make them understand their mistakes. On the eve of the pretrial Article 32 hearing, the case was postponed and ultimately it was dropped when those responsible for authoring the JFTR issued an authoritative memo informing the government they were wrong.
Recently, a military officer facing court-martial charges/allegations of larceny and, generally, claims associated with alleged travel voucher fraud, had the charges and court-martial the officer faced dropped by the government. The accused military member was defended by military law attorney Richard V. Stevens (Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, P.C.).
At the time of the alleged misconduct, this reservist officer was mobilized on active duty orders. Originally, the accused officer faced three charges and 9 specifications in which the government claimed he stole money by receiving monetary benefits he wasn’t entitled to while activated on mobilization orders. It was immediately clear the government didn’t understand the Joint Federal Travel Regulation (JFTR), but it took considerable effort and time to make them understand their mistakes. On the eve of the pretrial Article 32 hearing, the case was postponed and ultimately it was dropped when those responsible for authoring the JFTR issued an authoritative memo informing the government they were wrong.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for military attorneys and law enforcement to fail to understand the JFTR. In this case, however, the government chose not to check with the appropriate finance authorities before preferring court-martial charges that lacked any merit.
This alleged travel voucher fraud case for a reservist mobilized on active duty orders comes on the heels of two other such military court-martial cases defended by attorney Richard V. Stevens that also didn’t result in conviction. Here are excerpts from a previous blog post briefly describing those cases:
A senior NCO facing court-martial allegations of travel voucher fraud stemming from a period of active duty mobilization had his court-martial case dropped after the Article 32 hearing was litigated, and on the eve of trial. The government chose to address the case administratively instead of take the case to trial as previously planned.
A field grade officer facing court-martial allegations of travel voucher fraud stemming from a period of active duty mobilization had his court-martial case dropped after the Article 32 hearing was litigated, and on the eve of trial. The government chose to address the case administratively instead of take the case to trial as previously planned.
A field grade officer facing court-martial allegations of travel voucher fraud stemming from a period of active duty mobilization had his court-martial case dropped after the Article 32 hearing was litigated, and on the eve of trial. The government chose to address the case administratively instead of take the case to trial as previously planned.
Those two previous court-martial cases also involved initial larceny and travel voucher fraud allegations stemming from the government’s failure to understand the JFTR. While these military cases were successfully defended against, it is important to understand that every case has different facts, and success in previous cases does not guarantee success in any particular future case. No military lawyer or civilian defense lawyer, including those who specialize in military law, can guarantee the outcome of any military trial. For more information on the military justice system, please see our other blog posts.
By: Attorney Richard V. Stevens
Civilian criminal defense lawyer and military defense lawyer
Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, PC
http://www.militaryadvocate.com
Blog postscript: Attorney Frank Spinner and I (attorney Richard Stevens) are former active duty military lawyers (JAG). Our perspectives and advice, therefore, are based upon our experience as military defense lawyers and as civilian criminal defense lawyers practicing exclusively in the area of military law. This blog addresses issues in military law, military justice, military discipline, military defense, court-martial practice, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and other military and/or legal topics. Nothing posted in this blog should be substituted for legal advice in any particular case. If you seek legal advice for a particular case, please contact The Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens & The Law Office of Frank J. Spinner for a free consultation. Military defense law offices are located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Military defense law practices are worldwide.
By: Attorney Richard V. Stevens
Civilian criminal defense lawyer and military defense lawyer
Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, PC
http://www.militaryadvocate.com
Blog postscript: Attorney Frank Spinner and I (attorney Richard Stevens) are former active duty military lawyers (JAG). Our perspectives and advice, therefore, are based upon our experience as military defense lawyers and as civilian criminal defense lawyers practicing exclusively in the area of military law. This blog addresses issues in military law, military justice, military discipline, military defense, court-martial practice, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and other military and/or legal topics. Nothing posted in this blog should be substituted for legal advice in any particular case. If you seek legal advice for a particular case, please contact The Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens & The Law Office of Frank J. Spinner for a free consultation. Military defense law offices are located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Military defense law practices are worldwide.
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