We specialize in military court-martial defense. A sexual assault allegation can lead to an investigation with serious consequences for a service member’s career and future. Whether a crime occurred depends on the evidence and the applicable law; an accusation does not itself establish guilt. The practical advice is straightforward: if consent is uncertain, stop. Do […]
Sexual Assault Policy Written by: Ben Gold & Tim Bilecki. On November 1st, the Military Times released an article regarding the DoD’s new Safe-to-Report Policy, which grants potential survivors of sexual assault immunity from minor prosecutions when reporting the alleged assault. There is a great deal to unpack but if we are to pursue truth, […]
Soldiers and their families stationed at Fort Hood, TX should be concerned over recent finding of an investigation into the Criminal Investigation Command (CID) detachment at the base that has shown serious problems surrounding the Army’s management of CID units and personnel. The fact-finding investigation looked at resourcing, policies and procedures of the 6th Military […]
It is a little known fact: only some military retirees remain subject to the UCMJ after leaving service. Enlisted Sailors and Marines who complete 20-29 years of active duty actually transfer to the Fleet Reserve or the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve instead of the Regular Retired List. Officers, Reservists, and other branches simply retire after […]
In the months since the discovery of the dismembered and burned remains of U.S. Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen, a Fort Hood soldier who disappeared on April 22, the case has captured the attention of celebrities, lawmakers, and other public figures, and has drawn outrage from women in the military and Latinos. In July, Ryan D. […]
This article discusses the October 2020 DAC-IPAD review of adult penetrative sexual-offense investigations closed in fiscal year 2017. It describes that historical study, not current charging procedures. The report found generally reasonable initial disposition decisions but identified cases referred for trial without sufficient admissible evidence to obtain and sustain a conviction. Command decisions The committee […]
Drunk Sex and Consent | Article 120 The military often teaches that a service member can’t consent to having sex after they have been drinking, which is not an accurate summation of the law. Some SHARP / SAPR training even puts out that if you have just one drink, you can’t consent to sex. This […]
Defending Someone Who Confessed to Crimes False confessions are not only real, but they are also common. Many defense attorneys fear the confession. Many defense attorneys see a confession and use it as an excuse to run to the prosecutor, beg for a deal, and accept the first one offered. While confession cases are some […]
If you are new to the world of digital forensics, you may come across the term “forensic image.” What exactly is a forensic image? A forensic image is a bit for bit copy of the source device and is stored in a forensic image format. A forensic image allows you to conduct your investigation on an exact […]