JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
The Joint Base San Antonio Judge Advocate General completed three Air Force courts-martial during the month of October. The results of a court-martial are not final until the clemency and/or appeals process is completed.
All courts-martial are open to the public and a list of upcoming courts-martial can be found at the United States Air Force Judge Advocate Generals website at http://www.afjag.af.mil/About-Us/Docket.
U.S. vs. Staff Sgt. KP, 35th Intelligence Squadron, JBSA-Lackland: KP was tried by a special court-martial consisting of a military judge sitting alone from Oct. 4-7 at JBSA-Lackland. The military judge found KP guilty of two specifications of assault in violation of Article 128 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and one specification of child endangerment in violation of Article 134, UCMJ. The military judge sentenced KP to 45 days hard labor without confinement and a reduction to senior airman.
U.S. vs. Senior Airman GS, 59th Medical Support Squadron, JBSA-Lackland: Senior Airman GS was tried by special court-martial consisting of a military judge sitting alone Oct. 18 at JBSA-Lackland. Pursuant to his own pleas, GS was found guilty of two specifications of disobeying a lawful order in violation of Article 92, UCMJ, as well as one specification of wrongful use of marijuana and one specification of wrongful use of cocaine, both in violation of Article 112a, UCMJ. The military judge sentenced GS to 14 days confinement, a reduction to E-1 and a bad conduct discharge.
U.S. v Staff Sgt. TPE, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, JBSA-Randolph: TPE was tried by a special court-martial consisting of a military judge sitting alone Oct. 25 at JBSA-Randolph. Pursuant to his own pleas, TPE was found guilty of one specification of wrongful appropriation in violation of Article 121, UCMJ, and three specifications of assault, in violation of Article 128, UCMJ. The military judge sentenced TPE to 4 months confinement, a reduction to E-1 and a bad conduct discharge.
During the month of October and November, JBSA Air Force commanders administered 41 non-judicial punishment actions under Article 15 of the UCMJ.
The punishments imposed reflect the commander’s determination of an appropriate punishment after considering the circumstances of the offense and the offender’s record. Officers may not be reduced in rank as a punishment. A suspended punishment does not take effect unless the offender engages in additional misconduct or fails to satisfy the conditions of the suspension. The suspension period usually lasts for six months unless a lesser amount is specified.
Administrative discharge may also be an option for commanders after the conclusion of an Article 15, depending on the circumstances. The following are some of the non-judicial punishment actions that closed out in October and November. Decisions regarding discharge are not included.
Assault consummated by battery, simple assault: A second lieutenant struck another person with his hands and then followed that person around with an unloaded firearm. The member’s punishment consisted of forfeiture of $1,200 pay for two months and a reprimand. On appeal, the member’s forfeiture of $1,200 per month for one month was suspended until Jan. 25, 2017.
Failure to go, violate other general order: A technical sergeant, without authority, failed to go at the time prescribed to her appointed place of duty. Additionally, she failed to use LeaveWeb as required to absent herself from her place of duty. The member received a suspended reduction to the grade of staff sergeant and a reprimand.
Dereliction of duty, willful: An airman first class in technical training consumed alcohol while on charge of quarters duty and attempted to give an alcoholic beverage to another Airman under the age of 21. The member received a suspended reduction to the grade of airman, restriction to base for 30 days, 30 days extra duty and a reprimand.
Conspiracy to commit larceny: An airman first class in technical training was apprehended by Security Forces at the Base Exchange for conspiracy to commit larceny after being observed in the BX working with another person to place a pair of headphones in a backpack. The member received a reduction in grade to Airman Basic (suspended below airman) and a reprimand.
Dereliction of duty, willful: An airman basic in technical training was caught with testing material written on his hand while taking a block test. The member received 20 days restriction to base, suspended forfeiture of $724 pay per month for one month and a reprimand.
Adultery, violate other general order: A senior airman, while still married, was involved in an unprofessional, adulterous relationship with an officer in her unit. The member also violated a no-contact order by continuing to communicate with the officer after being ordered not to. The member received a reduction in grade to airman first class and a reprimand.
Larceny, suffering military property: An airman first class stole medical supplies from a military treatment facility and conducted a minor surgical procedure on himself. After the member performed the procedure, he discarded the medical waste in an unauthorized trash receptacle. The member received a suspended reduction in grade to airman and a reprimand.
False official statement: A staff sergeant altered a previous official physical training score sheet to make it look like a current status. The member then presented the altered score sheet to the unit fitness program manager as a current fitness score sheet. The member received a reduction in grade to senior airman and a reprimand.
Going From Place of Duty: An airman basic in basic training failed to report to a mandatory detail as required, then departed from the installation by jumping a perimeter fence. He was later apprehended at a local motel. The member received forfeiture of $724 pay per month for one month and a reprimand.