Bilecki Prepares Defense to Okinawa Larceny Charges; All Charges Dismissed

Bilecki Prepares Defense to Okinawa Larceny Charges; All Charges Dismissed

December 2024

Kadena Air Base, Okinawa

Army Staff Sergeant – E-6

Allegations: UCMJ Article 121 Larceny of Military Property of a Value Greater Than $1,000 (2 specifications)

Facts

An Army Staff Sergeant assigned to an Air Defense Artillery unit at Kadena AB was facing preferred Article 121 larceny charges on two specifications spanning two duty stations: an alleged larceny window at Camp Casey, South Korea, and a separate alleged larceny window at Kadena AB / Torii Station, Okinawa. The aggregate alleged loss exceeded $1,000 on each specification. Maximum exposure on a referred Article 121 larceny conviction at general court-martial: years of confinement, a punitive discharge, federal felony record, and the financial liability that runs alongside any contested larceny conviction.

The Government's case was a CID Report of Investigation that catalogued alleged property losses across our client's two prior duty stations and built a timeline that covered nearly four and a half years of conduct between the two charged windows.

Our client retained Bilecki at the CID investigation stage, before any preferral.

Tim Bilecki took on both the CID investigation and any administrative action arising from it. In October 2024, while the case was still under investigation, the defense requested discovery. That was about six weeks before charges were preferred in November. Bilecki also addressed the alleged larcenies with trial counsel before the charging decision.

Charges were preferred to a special court-martial convening authority. An Article 32 preliminary hearing officer was appointed. The Article 32 hearing was set up at the Okinawa Law Center.

The Government withdrew and dismissed all charges and specifications.

Result: All charges withdrawn and dismissed. Retained on active duty.

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FAQ

Q: When did Bilecki begin work on the larceny allegations?
He represented our client during the CID investigation and sought discovery before the November preferral. The allegations covered property at two duty stations over several years. Bilecki addressed them with trial counsel while preparing to defend the charges and any related administrative action.

Q: Did the case go to trial?
No. An Article 32 hearing was arranged at the Okinawa Law Center, but the government withdrew and dismissed all charges before the hearing. Our client was retained on active duty.