Over the last few years, military commanders have been pressured to place more emphasis on sexual assault and rape. For example, in May 2013, President Obama, the Commander-in-Chief, stated, “I don’t want just more speeches or awareness programs or training but, ultimately, folks look the other way… If we find out somebody is engaging in this stuff [sexual assault], they’ve got to be held accountable – prosecuted, stripped of their positions, court-martialed, fired, dishonorably discharged. Period.”
Unlawful command influence (“UCI”) is the improper use, or perception of use, of superior authority to interfere with the court-martial process. UCI is consistently called “the mortal enemy of military justice.” The mere appearance of UCI can be as devastating to public perception about the fairness of the military’s court-martial system. While President Obama is no longer the Commander-in-Chief, the political pressure on military leaders to not only place a major emphasis on sexual assault and rape but to produce convictions for these crimes has not changed.
By simply making a complaint, and offering no other evidence in support of the complaint, a “victim” will receive a military attorney at government expense and can force the Accused service member to change units and duty locations with minimal due-process. Hearing that you have been accused of sexual assault and rape can make you feel hopeless. The repercussions alone can be overwhelming: death or life imprisonment; lifelong sex offender registration; dishonorable discharge (or dismissal in the case of officers); loss of Veterans’ benefits; and the social stigma of a federal conviction can be overwhelming.
Our team has the experience to defend your rights. The first step is to understand the facts of the case. After hearing your version of the events, our promise to you is that we will conduct a complete investigation of the facts by interviewing all of the witnesses and confront the complaining witness regarding the accusations. Our team has the experience, training, knowledge, and dedication to give you the best representation possible. The time to act is now. Call our team today, so we can get to work for you.