This Naval Officer was previously given Non-Judicial Punishment for 3 specifications of Article 92 (Sexual Harassment) and Article 133 (Conduct Unbecoming an Officer). He initially utilized the services of the free military defense lawyer and was found guilty of all charges and specifications at NJP. This was a significant finding because, as an officer, a finding of guilty for sexual harassment would almost certainly lead to a Board of Inquiry where the officer would need to show cause for retention. After being dissatisfied with the defense services provided by the Navy, the Officer retained a noted court martial defense attorney in Hawaii, Timothy Bilecki.
For this case, Bilecki immediately put a team together to fully investigate the case and determine the real reason why subordinate women on the ship were making accusations against our client. The reality was that our client was an incredibly squared-away officer who held subordinates accountable.
After our client uncovered obvious instances of gun decking, his character was attacked so that an investigation into the subordinate Sailors would not take place. Unfortunately, the command immediately “believed the victims” and removed our client from the ship.
This case was a real fight against a Navy culture that wanted to believe victims at all costs, despite the obvious motives to fabricate and the gaping holes in their stories. The case finally went before a Board of Inquiry and a panel of three officers heard the case. After a two-day hearing, our client was vindicated with a finding of no basis for misconduct.
Defending Service Members Globally
Wherever Duty Calls, Our Defense Follows
