Following an extremely successful command tour, a disgruntled subordinate initiated an EEO investigation against our client. While the EEO claims were ultimately determined to be unsubstantiated, the investigation uncovered evidence that our client became excessively intoxicated during a junior officer's "wetting down," groped/fondled females at the bar, and led to his removal from the bar, urinating on the sidewalk, and failure to pay his taxi fare. Our client was further charged with coercing his Chiefs Mess and Executive Officer into not reporting his behavior to the chain of command. In addition, our client had a previous DUI 11 years earlier. As a result, he received a 2nd "Alcohol Incident," which requires mandatory discharge processing in the Coast Guard. At his subsequent Board of Inquiry, we demonstrated that the allegations that our client coerced his Chiefs Mess and XO were entirely inaccurate, as were the allegations of groping and fondling females. We further mitigated many of the additional allegations against him, and presented compelling evidence of his otherwise exceptional career. Result: Despite 2 Alcohol Incidents, our client was retained in the U.S. Coast Guard and will retire honorably.

Coast Guard E-6 with over 20 years of military service was charged with 13 different specifications, including allegations of the theft of 29 different items from the Coast Guard. After an exhaustive investigation and extensive negotiations with the Coast Guard, we secured a pre-trial agreement wherein the government DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE 8 of the charges, including 23 of the 29 stolen items. Result: Our client was only reduced one pay-grade and RETIRED from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Coast Guard O-4 was competitively selected to attend a 2-year graduate degree program at a civilian university, fully funded by the Coast Guard. After less than a semester, our Client stopped attending all classes. His failure to attend class continued through the entire Spring semester before he was disenrolled from the program due to his failure to complete the required coursework. During this time, he continued to received full pay and benefits from the Coast Guard. At his subsequent General Court-Martial, our Client pleaded guilty to numerous violations of the UCMJ related to his failure to attend class for almost a year. Based upon our representation during the sentencing proceeding, however, our Client received only 60 days of confinement. More importantly, our client was RETAINED in the Coast Guard, and will continue his 14-year career towards retirement.

Coast Guard E-6 was charged with homosexually assaulting and stalking 2 subordinate petty officers on numerous occasions. He was also charged with breaking into one of the petty officer’s homes and assaulting him. While that investigation was pending, our client engaged in separate misconduct, to include shoving and cursing a warrant officer and punching another petty officer after a day of prolonged drinking. Our client was facing a dishonorable discharge, confinement for life, and would have had to register as a sex offender. At the Article 32 hearing, our aggressive cross-examination of the alleged sexual assault victims highlighted significant credibility problems. As a result, in exchange for guilty pleas to the subsequent misconduct, we convinced the command to WITHDRAW AND DISMISS WITH PREJUDICE all sex allegations. At our client’s court-martial, we litigated four remaining allegations, including housebreaking and assault. Our client was found NOT GUILTY of the remaining allegations. Based upon his guilty pleas, he was sentenced to only 30 days confinement and NO DISCHARGE.

Coast Guard E-6 committed travel voucher fraud resulting in overpayment of approximately $25,000. He was charged with over 10 different violations of the UCMJ, to include false official statement, conspiracy, and larceny, and his case was referred to court-martial. After he retained the services of JAG Defense, we were able to negotiate an alternate disposition for our client. The government agreed to WITHDRAW and DISMISS the majority of the charges, to include the larceny and conspiracy charges. Our client’s punishment was limited to a one-paygrade reduction and a $400 fine. As a result of our negotiations, our client avoided a federal conviction, a criminal record, jail time, and a punitive discharge.