court-martial conviction can follow you far beyond the military courtroom. A federal felony conviction—and especially a sex offense conviction—can severely restrict where you can travel, where you can stay, and how freely you can move. This Gonzalez & Waddington tutorial is educational, not legal advice. If you have a live investigation or court-martial, call 1-800-921-8607.
Quick answers
Should I talk to CID, NCIS, or OSI after watching this?
Do not make a statement or consent to a phone search. Invoke Article 31(b) and call counsel. Gonzalez & Waddington: 1-800-921-8607.
Is this video legal advice?
No. It is educational. Facts and commands vary. For advice about your case, speak with a lawyer.
Watch on YouTube. Questions about a case: call 1-800-921-8607 or text 954-799-4019.
Educational information only. Not legal advice. Using this briefing does not create an attorney-client relationship. Facts, commands, and outcomes vary. For advice about your case, speak with a lawyer.
Video transcript
Transcript of the video “Court-Martial Conviction: How It Destroys Your Right to Travel,” with Michael Waddington of Gonzalez & Waddington.
Read the full transcript of this video
So let me talk about travel restrictions. Many people in the military love to travel. But with a federal felony conviction, and especially a sex offense conviction, you’re going to find that many countries, especially ones you want to go to, do not allow you to enter. If they find out that you entered the country with a conviction, you can be put in jail. So international travel becomes complicated.
And with a sex offense conviction, any travel becomes complicated, because you have to check in anytime you go anyplace different. So if you go to Orlando, in many cases you’re going to have to register with the local government, often after three days. If you’re on the ground for three days, in many states you have to register with local law enforcement and get permission from your original jurisdiction. So being a truck driver, for example, becomes very difficult with certain convictions.
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