Military Defense Lawyer (Former JAG Attorney)
News:
Recently, two military members who each faced a general court-martial (GCM) in which they were accused of sexual assault and physical assault were found not guilty of those allegations (UCMJ Article 120 & Article 128). The accused military members were defended by military law attorney Richard V. Stevens (Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, P.C.).
In the first case, the enlisted military client was accused of sexually and physically assaulting a female military member after a party in which they both consumed alcohol. During the litigated general court-martial trial, the defense raised the inconsistent versions of the complainant’s story, problems with the testimony of other government witnesses, called our own witnesses and presented our own evidence, raised the complainant’s motives to fabricate, and delivered a comprehensive closing argument. The client was found not guilty of all charges.
Three days after that military trial concluded, Attorney Stevens traveled to a different military base to prepare for and litigate another general court-martial trial.
In the second case, the enlisted noncommissioned officer (NCO) was also accused of sexually and physically assaulting a female military member after a party in which they both consumed alcohol. During the litigated general court-martial trial, the defense raised the inconsistent versions of the complainant’s story, lies the complainant told in motion hearings and on the stand, problems with the testimony of other government witnesses, cross-examined the government’s expert witness, called our own witnesses and presented our own evidence, raised the complainant’s motives to fabricate, and delivered a comprehensive closing argument. This client was also found not guilty of all charges.
Back-to-back trials and acquittals are unusual, but, despite the environment in the military justice system regarding these issues, the accused clients were still acquitted and had their records cleared. Had there been a conviction regarding these sexual assault and physical assault allegations, the clients would have faced the end of their military careers and the possibility of many years in prison, as well as sex offender registration requirements. Thankfully, these military clients were not convicted and were cleared to continue their military careers.
While these serious sexual assault allegations in these military court-martial cases were successfully defended, 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 or case.
In addition to the sexual assault allegations in these cases, Attorney Richard V. Stevens has defended many, many other allegations of rape and sexual assault and physical assault within the military justice system over the course of decades. He has been practicing military law since 1995. For more information about the military justice system, particularly cases alleging rape and sexual assault in the military, see:
https://militaryadvocate.com/practice-areas/sex-crimes/
We offer free consultations for a case you may be involved in. Just call us.
Thank you.
Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, P.C.
Civilian criminal defense lawyer and military
defense lawyer
Blog postscript: I (attorney Richard V. Stevens) am a former active duty military lawyer (JAG). My perspectives and advice, therefore, are based upon my experience as military defense lawyer and as a civilian criminal defense lawyer practicing exclusively in the area of military law and military justice. 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 for a free consultation. These military defense law offices are located in the Washington DC, Northern Virginia, Maryland, National Capital Region (NCR), but the military defense representation is worldwide – when necessary, the attorneys travel to wherever the client is stationed around the world.
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