A Navy Petty Officer Third Class was involved in an online sting operation akin to “To Catch a Predator.” He engaged in a conversation with an undercover NCIS agent who posed as a minor seeking sexual encounters. This interaction led to criminal charges being preferred against the Petty Officer.
Initially, he was offered a plea deal of two years’ confinement. Opting to challenge the charges, he retained UCMJ lawyer Tim Bilecki. Bilecki’s team prepared for trial with a defense strategy focused on entrapment and a mistake of fact regarding the age of the supposed minor. As the trial approached, however, Bilecki successfully negotiated a significantly more favorable pretrial agreement for the Petty Officer, drastically reducing the potential confinement time.
The Petty Officer served six months of confinement, eighteen months less than the initial two-year offer.
Prior results do not predict future outcomes.