Bilecki Law Group in the News

Reporters have covered courts martial Tim Bilecki tried in Korea, Japan, Hawaii, Georgia and England. This page lists that coverage case by case, including reports on the same cases that do not name him. Each item links to the original report. The reporting and the headlines are the outlets’ own. Outcomes vary from case to case; the reports describe them as they stood at the time.

Air Force court martial at RAF Lakenheath, England (2026)

• The Guardian, 25 June 2026: ‘Degrading’: why did a US fighter pilot avoid British trial after strangling a woman in England? (names Tim Bilecki)
• Socialist Worker, 25 June 2026: British state let US soldier get away with sexual abuse (names Tim Bilecki)
• NewsHub.co.uk, 25 June 2026: US Military Court Martial Raises Questions About Jurisdiction in Sexual Assault Case (names Tim Bilecki)
• The Guardian, 25 June 2026: How the US bypasses British courts to try its military over crimes in the UK
• The Guardian, 26 June 2026: Bizarre questions and an all-male ‘jury’: woman strangled by US pilot in Britain tells of airbase trial
• The Guardian / Today in Focus, 26 June 2026: British woman strangled in UK: why did US military try her case? – podcast (podcast)
• The Guardian, 26 June 2026: US control of case of pilot who strangled woman in UK ‘concerning’, says No 10
• BBC News via licensed AOL copy, 26 June 2026: US airman’s kill count used in court, says victim (licensed copy)
• Press Association via The Standard, 26 June 2026: Downing Street concerned after US pilot avoids UK trial for strangling woman
• Eastern Daily Press, 26 June 2026: Probe into how RAF Lakenheath airman who strangled woman avoided British court
• International Business Times UK, 26 June 2026: How US Troops Accused of Crimes in Britain, Including Sexual Assault, Can Avoid UK Courts: What Is the 1951 NATO Status of Forces Agreement?
• Morning Star, 26 June 2026: MoJ to examine case of British woman strangled by US fighter pilot, justice minister says
• The Guardian / Comment is free, 27 June 2026: I’ve fought for victims’ rights for decades. Sarah Steele’s story has stunned me
• The Guardian / Editorial, 28 June 2026: The Guardian view on US military justice in Britain: a disturbing assault case should raise the alarm
• The Guardian, 29 June 2026: Cambridgeshire police face questions over sexual assault case tried by US military
• The Guardian, 30 June 2026: David Lammy to ask US about case of woman strangled by US fighter in UK
• BBC News via licensed AOL copy, 1 July 2026: ‘Concerning’ airman case to be raised with US (licensed copy)
• East Anglian Daily Times, 2 July 2026: David Lammy raises case of Lakenheath pilot who avoided trial with US government
• The Week UK, 8 July 2026: Why US military personnel are avoiding British justice
• The Canary, 8 July 2026: US troops avoiding justice: give American military bases the boot
• Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire, 17 July 2026: British woman tried on an American base (names Tim Bilecki)
• The Guardian, 30 July 2026: UK government reviews why police ceding criminal cases to US military

Air Force court martial in the United Kingdom (2023)

• Stars and Stripes, 3 June 2023: Air Force master sergeant found guilty on charges of child pornography, child sexual abuse (names Tim Bilecki)

Navy officer trial in Japan (2017)

• Stars and Stripes, 26 May 2017: Navy officer cleared of attempted teen sexual assault charges by military jury (names Tim Bilecki)

NCIS sting prosecutions on Okinawa (2017)

• The Japan Times, 22 February 2017: Pedophile sting ops roil U.S. forces on Okinawa (names Tim Bilecki; may require a subscription)
• QAB NEWS Headline / Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting, 23 February 2017: 2年間に性犯罪で米軍人38有罪 (“38 U.S. military personnel convicted of sex crimes over two years”)

Navy senior chief trial in Japan (2016)

• Stars and Stripes, 16 May 2016: Jury convicts Navy senior chief in Japan of sexual assault (names Tim Bilecki)

Army officer case at Camp Zama, Japan (2013)

• Stars and Stripes, 6 September 2013: Defense files motion to dismiss case against Camp Zama officer (names Tim Bilecki)

Marine Corps hazing trial in Hawaii (2012)

• Associated Press via Fox News, 30 January 2012: Marine sentenced to 30 days in hazing case (names Tim Bilecki)
• Associated Press via Fox News, 6 February 2012: Marine sergeant accused of hazing goes to trial (names Tim Bilecki)
• Associated Press via Fox News, 6 February 2012: Marine hazing trial delayed after charges expanded (names Tim Bilecki)
• Associated Press via Fox News, 7 February 2012: Hazing court martial begins for Marine sergeant (names Tim Bilecki)
• Associated Press via Fox News, 9 February 2012: Marine sergeant not guilty in hazing case (names Tim Bilecki)

Army Reserve murder trial in Georgia (2010 and 2011)

• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 23 June 2010: Army reservist faces murder charge in Fort Gillem shooting
• U.S. Army, 16 July 2010: Valmont to remain in confinement pending trial
• Associated Press via Fox News, 30 August 2010: Lawyer: Soldier was fasting and in a near-trance when he shot supervisor to death in Ga.
• Associated Press via Bryan County News, 28 July 2011: Murder trial moved to Fort Stewart
• WTOC, 28 July 2011: Army Reservist facing court-martial, murder charge
• Eater Atlanta, 28 July 2011: Crash Diets Are Murder
• The Macon Telegraph / Associated Press, 29 July 2011: Ga. soldier gets life without parole in slaying he claimed was triggered by crash diet (names Tim Bilecki)
• Associated Press via Corrections1, 29 July 2011: Jury convicts soldier who said diet made him kill
• Fort Stewart Frontline / Fort Stewart Public Affairs, 4 August 2011: Reserve Soldier sentenced to life without parole (archived copy)

Spice prosecutions on Okinawa (2010)

• Stars and Stripes, 28 February 2010: Revised policy issued on Okinawa clarifying ban on Spice (names Tim Bilecki)

Command sergeant major case in Korea (2009)

• Stars and Stripes, 18 December 2009: Command sergeant major pleads guilty after sexual contact with subordinate (names Tim Bilecki)

Attempted murder trial in South Korea (2009)

• Stars and Stripes, 3 July 2009: Soldier acquitted of attempted murder in S. Korea brawl (names Tim Bilecki)

Army specialist case on Okinawa (2008 and 2009)

• Stars and Stripes, 27 April 2008: Okinawa police call for Kadena soldier to be charged with rape of Filipina
• Stars and Stripes, 18 May 2008: Rape charges against soldier dropped
• Stars and Stripes, 23 May 2008: Church members to rally for rape accuser
• Stars and Stripes, 22 June 2008: Alleged Okinawa rape victim’s mother appeals to Philippine government for support
• Stars and Stripes, 19 July 2008: Philippine activists on Okinawa to back woman’s rape claim
• Stars and Stripes, 21 July 2008: Backers of rape accuser wanted Japan to prosecute
• Pinoy Weekly via Barangay RP archive reproduction, 24 July 2008: Misyon sa Okinawa: DFA nagpabaya sa kaso ni Hazel
• Bulatlat, 26 July 2008: Rape, Human Trafficking, Gov’t Neglect – the Travails of Okinawa Rape Victim Hazel
• Stars and Stripes, 30 July 2008: Rape charges against Kadena soldier advance
• GMA News Online, 1 August 2008: (Update) DFA names US soldier in alleged rape of Pinay in Okinawa
• INQUIRER.net via contemporaneous author-blog reproduction, 1 August 2008: Court martial set for US soldier charged w/ Pinay’s rape in Okinawa (archived copy)
• The Philippine Star, 2 August 2008: US serviceman charged for raping OFW
• Stars and Stripes, 4 October 2008: Kadena servicemembers Article 32 begins with revelations
• Stars and Stripes, 8 October 2008: Hearing over, Hopstock awaits word on trial (names Tim Bilecki)
• Stars and Stripes, 28 November 2008: Hopstock rape trial scheduled for February
• Stars and Stripes, 26 February 2009: Rape case against GI dismissed
• Bulatlat, 28 February 2009: Court Martial Rape Case vs US Soldier Dismissed
• GMA News Online, 2 March 2009: Cops, protesters clash near US Embassy - report
• Pinoy Weekly, 3 March 2009: Kababaihan vs militar ng US
• Bulatlat, 7 March 2009: More Than Rape of Two Filipino Women
• Bulatlat, 7 March 2009: Enough Reasons for Women’s Outrage
• Japan Update, March 2009: Rape charges dropped; alleged victim, supporters claim injustice (archived copy)

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. If you are under investigation or facing charges, call us at 813-669-3500. See also our guide to choosing a civilian court martial lawyer.