CIVILIAN COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER: MILITARY OFFICER REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEY RICHARD V. STEVENS HAS SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE DROPPED (UCMJ ARTICLE 120)

Military Defense Lawyer (Former JAG Attorney) News:

Recently, a military officer defended by attorney Richard V. Stevens (Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, P.C.) had the sexual assault case he faced dropped by the military just before court-martial charges were to be preferred against him (UCMJ Article 120).

The military client was accused of, and investigated for, allegedly having sex with a military acquaintance who the client met at an event.  The defense denied the entirety of that claim.  The complaining witness was intoxicated and acting in a bizarre manner during the evening, as verified by the other witnesses who were present.  The day after the alleged event, the complainant did not act as if anything was wrong, but then her father picked her up and was unhappy about how the situation appeared.  Later, the complainant claimed she had been sexually assaulted by the client.  However, her claim made no sense in a variety of crucial ways and the defense was prepared to dispute her entire story. 

When the DNA evidence came back, it not only failed to corroborate the complaining witness’s claims against the client, but it introduced a new scenario and individual into the case.  The complaining witness demanded immunity, but still wanted to press forward with her claims against the client.  The client’s commander would not prefer charges, so the military found a commander above him to prefer the court-martial charges.  The defense was notified of preferral of court-martial charges and began preparing for an Article 32 hearing, including identifying witnesses who would refute the complainant’s story.  The complainant, presumably knowing that her credibility was damaged because of the observations of the other witnesses and her own behavior that night, changed her mind and elected not to participate in the case.  The military then dropped the case before court-martial charges were preferred. 

Had there been a court-martial trial and sex crime conviction in this case, the client could have been sentenced to a punitive discharge, a lengthy term of confinement in prison and, in addition, he would have been required to register as a sex offender.  Thankfully, the case was dropped and he was spared this risk of devastation to his future. 

While this military court-martial and sexual assault case was 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. 

For more information about the military justice system, particularly cases alleging rape and/or sexual assault in violation of UCMJ Article 120, type "rape" or "sexual assault" into the search bar above the blog posts and see:

https://militaryadvocate.com/military-offenses/sex-crimes/

We offer free consultations for a case you may be involved in.  Just call us. 

Thank you. 

By:  Attorney Richard V. Stevens

Civilian criminal defense lawyer and military defense lawyer

Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, P.C.

https://militaryadvocate.com/

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.

CIVILIAN COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER: FIELD GRADE MILITARY OFFICER REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEY RICHARD V. STEVENS HAS DRUG CASE DROPPED (UCMJ ARTICLE 112a)

Military Defense Lawyer (Former JAG Attorney) News:

Recently, a field grade military officer defended by attorney Richard V. Stevens (Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, P.C.) had the drug case he faced dropped by the military after charges were referred to trial by general court-martial (UCMJ Article 112a).

The military client was accused of distributing illegal recreational drugs, and related misconduct.  Court-martial charges were preferred against the client and proceeded through the referral process, and the case was scheduled for trial.  The defense served notice of motions, addressing several significant legal issues.  The defense also submitted an offer for an administrative resolution instead of proceeding to a criminal trial.  Ultimately, the defense offer was approved and the court-martial case was dropped in favor of an administrative disposition.    

While this military court-martial case was 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. 

For more information about the military justice system, particularly cases alleging involvement in illegal drugs in violation of UCMJ Article 112a, see:

https://militaryadvocate.com/military-offenses/drug-crimes/

We offer free consultations for a case you may be involved in.  Just call us. 

Thank you. 

By:  Attorney Richard V. Stevens

Civilian criminal defense lawyer and military defense lawyer

Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, P.C.

https://militaryadvocate.com/

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.

CIVILIAN COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER: JUNIOR ENLISTED MILITARY MEMBER REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEY RICHARD V. STEVENS HAS SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE DROPPED (UCMJ ARTICLE 120)

Military Defense Lawyer (Former JAG Attorney) News:

Recently, a junior enlisted military member defended by attorney Richard V. Stevens (Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, P.C.) had the rape and sexual assault case he faced dropped by the military before court-martial charges were preferred (UCMJ Article 120).

The military client was accused of, and investigated for, having sex with a civilian acquaintance that he met online who claimed she did not consent.  The complaining witness provided chat communications to the military investigators to prove that she had met the client on the night in question, but she conveniently did not turn over to investigators the other chat communications with the client after the visit, in which she told the client how much she enjoyed it, and that she wanted to do it again later that week.  Only after being ignored by the client for the next month did she come forward claiming she was raped by him.  Based on the surrounding circumstances, the client was initially placed into pretrial confinement.  Defense counsel opposed the pretrial confinement and made a submission on the client’s behalf, including the chat communications that the complainant did not turn over.  Considering that submission, the accused client was released from pretrial confinement and the case was dropped right before court-martial charges were supposed to be preferred against the client.  He was cleared of the claim.    

Had there been a court-martial trial and sex crime conviction in this case, the client could have been sentenced to a punitive discharge, a lengthy term of confinement in prison and, in addition, he would have been required to register as a sex offender.  Thankfully, after exposing the complainant’s lies, the case was dropped and the client was spared this risk of devastation to his future. 

While this military court-martial and sexual assault case was 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. 

For more information about the military justice system, particularly cases alleging rape and/or sexual assault in violation of UCMJ Article 120, type "rape" or "sexual assault" into the search bar above the blog posts and see:

https://militaryadvocate.com/military-offenses/sex-crimes/

We offer free consultations for a case you may be involved in.  Just call us. 

Thank you. 

By:  Attorney Richard V. Stevens

Civilian criminal defense lawyer and military defense lawyer

Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, P.C.

https://militaryadvocate.com/

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.