Fort Barfoot Article 120b Child Sexual Abuse Defense Lawyer

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Understanding Article 120b Charges at Fort Barfoot, Virginia

Facing an Article 120b allegation at Fort Barfoot can be overwhelming and isolating. These cases move quickly, involve sensitive facts, and carry severe consequences that can affect freedom, rank, and future opportunities. Fort Barfoot, near Blackstone, Virginia, serves Soldiers from across the region, and accusations often involve CID interviews, digital evidence, and high command visibility. You have rights, including the right to remain silent and to consult counsel, before answering questions or consenting to searches. Early, informed decisions can shape the trajectory of your case. With focused military defense, you can protect your record, challenge assumptions, and ensure investigators and prosecutors meet their burden under the UCMJ.

The path forward begins with a clear strategy. Do not discuss the allegation with peers, leaders, or on social media. Decline interviews until you have counsel. Preserve messages, photos, phone logs, and potential witness information. Note dates, locations, and any exculpatory facts while memories are fresh. At Fort Barfoot, where units train and deploy on tight timelines, a prompt legal response helps counter hurried conclusions and preserves key evidence. UCMJ Defense Lawyers, led by Waddington and Gonzalez, provide court-martial defense worldwide and regularly assist Soldiers across Virginia. If you are contacted by CID or your command about Article 120b, call 800-921-8607 to discuss immediate steps tailored to your situation and mission requirements.

Why Focused Military Defense Matters in Article 120b Cases

Article 120b cases can pivot on nuanced facts, age determinations, and the credibility of statements. A targeted military defense protects your rights from the first contact with CID through trial. The benefits include early evidence preservation, disciplined communication with command, strategic engagement at the Article 32 hearing, and thorough challenges to forensic and interview techniques. At Fort Barfoot, unit tempo and training schedules can pressure decisions; a steady advocate ensures the government meets its burden. Effective defense can lead to declinations, charge reductions, or acquittals. It also helps mitigate collateral consequences such as adverse evaluations, duty limitations, and social fallout that can linger long after the case concludes.

UCMJ Defense Lawyers Serving Fort Barfoot Soldiers

UCMJ Defense Lawyers, led by Waddington and Gonzalez, defend service members in court-martial and administrative actions across the globe. The firm has tried complex sexual offense cases involving digital forensics, forensic interviews, and contested witness credibility. For Soldiers stationed at or training through Fort Barfoot in Blackstone, Virginia, our team understands unit dynamics, training cycles, and how high-visibility allegations impact careers. We coordinate promptly with clients to manage CID contacts, preserve communications, and build a defense grounded in facts and law. Our courtroom approach emphasizes rigorous motions practice, targeted cross-examination, and clear presentation of reasonable doubt to members, grounded in the military justice system’s requirements.

Guide to Defending Article 120b Allegations

Article 120b addresses sexual abuse of a child, including sexual acts, sexual contact, and certain lewd conduct involving minors. The government must prove age, intent, and jurisdiction, but age thresholds can create strict liability exposure. Defenses can include mistaken belief as to age, lack of intent, or unreliability of statements and methods used in interviews. Many cases hinge on digital evidence, context, and timelines. A defense roadmap should examine phone extractions, message metadata, location data, and inconsistencies across statements and forensic reports. At Fort Barfoot, where Soldiers train intensively, duty schedules and alibi witnesses often provide helpful detail when properly gathered and presented early.

Know and assert your rights. Under Article 31(b), you are not required to answer questions. Request a lawyer before any CID or command interview, and do not consent to searches without legal advice. Preserve phones, accounts, and cloud backups, and avoid deleting anything. Identify potential witnesses who observed relevant events or messages. Consider the impact of protective orders, duty restrictions, and social media. A defense plan should sequence actions from initial contact through Article 32 to trial, focusing on discovery, motions to suppress, impeachment of unreliable testimony, and presenting an alternative narrative supported by objective evidence. Timely counsel helps ensure the process respects your rights and the government’s burden.

What Article 120b Prohibits and How Cases Are Built

Article 120b prohibits sexual acts or sexual contact with a child, and certain indecent communications or exposures involving minors. The statute considers age, conduct, intent, and whether force, threats, or grooming occurred. Prosecutors frequently rely on recorded interviews, digital communications, and testimony from medical or forensic personnel. Defense counsel scrutinizes how interviews were conducted, whether suggestive techniques influenced memory, and whether digital evidence is complete and reliable. In many cases, timelines, training schedules, and third-party observations help clarify disputed events. Soldiers at Fort Barfoot should understand that silence is a lawful choice, and that a robust defense challenges assumptions, requests full discovery, and holds the government to each element.

Core Elements and the Military Justice Process

Key elements often include the alleged victim’s age, the nature of the act, the accused’s intent, and jurisdiction under the UCMJ. Investigations typically start with CID interviews, data preservation, and search authorizations. If charges are preferred, an Article 32 hearing evaluates probable cause before referral to a general court-martial. Throughout, defense counsel may file motions to suppress statements, exclude unreliable evidence, and compel discovery. At Fort Barfoot, unit demands can compress timelines, making early legal coordination essential. Effective defense weaves together objective data, credible witnesses, and legal challenges to weaken the government’s narrative and ensure that decision-makers receive a full, fair, and accurate picture.

Key Terms in Article 120b Military Defense

Understanding the vocabulary of Article 120b helps Soldiers navigate each stage of the case. Concepts like sexual act versus sexual contact, capacity to consent, and mistake as to age influence available defenses and how evidence is assessed. Military Rules of Evidence regulate what the panel hears, including limits on past sexual behavior and mental health records. At Fort Barfoot, CID procedures, search authorizations, and digital extraction protocols can affect what evidence is collected and how it is interpreted. These terms guide strategic decisions about interviews, discovery requests, motions, and witness examinations, and they help ensure the defense remains focused on elements the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt.

Article 120b (Child Sexual Abuse)

Article 120b criminalizes sexual acts, sexual contact, and certain indecent conduct involving minors. The government bears the burden to prove each element, including the alleged victim’s age and the accused’s intent. Some subsections carry strict age thresholds, narrowing available defenses, while others allow arguments about lack of intent, mistaken belief as to age, or fabrication. Penalties can include confinement, punitive discharge, and sex offender registration, depending on the jurisdiction. Defense teams test the reliability of interviews, the completeness of digital records, and whether investigative steps followed proper procedures. A thorough review often reveals gaps, inconsistencies, or timelines that support reasonable doubt at the Article 32 hearing and trial.

CID Investigations at Fort Barfoot

CID investigations typically begin with complaint intake, witness interviews, and evidence collection, followed by device imaging and data analysis. At Fort Barfoot near Blackstone, Virginia, investigators may coordinate with local agencies or forensic labs to examine phones, apps, and cloud accounts. Service members are not required to answer questions and may decline consent searches. The defense reviews interview methods, chain of custody, and whether collection captured all relevant context, including exculpatory messages or deleted-but-recoverable data. Early counsel helps prevent missteps, secure alibi evidence from training calendars, and ensure that any search authorization is lawfully issued and narrowly tailored to the scope of the allegation.

Age and Capacity to Consent

Capacity to consent is limited by age. Under Article 120b, the definition of a child and the specific subsection determine what the government must prove and what defenses are available. In some scenarios, the law treats age as a strict threshold, while in others, mistaken belief as to age may be relevant if it was reasonable under the circumstances. Defense counsel analyzes how age was established, whether records or statements are accurate, and whether the timeline creates doubt. Digital communications, social media profiles, and third-party observations can influence the credibility of any claimed age or capacity, and careful analysis often uncovers inconsistencies that shift the case trajectory.

MRE 412 and 513 Protections

Military Rules of Evidence 412 and 513 limit the use of alleged victim sexual behavior evidence and mental health records. These rules protect privacy, but they also permit narrowly tailored exceptions when fairness requires disclosure. Defense counsel may seek in camera review where appropriate, supported by specific facts and legal argument. The goal is to balance dignity and relevance while ensuring the panel receives critical, admissible information tied to credibility, bias, or alternative explanations. Strategic motion practice respects these protections while advancing a meaningful defense. At Fort Barfoot, disciplined adherence to motion deadlines and well-supported requests can significantly influence admissibility rulings and trial outcomes.

Limited Representation vs Comprehensive Court-Martial Defense

Service members typically choose between targeted, limited-scope assistance and a full defense package through trial. Limited representation can focus on pre-charge counseling, evidence preservation, and negotiations aimed at preventing preferral. Comprehensive defense adds a robust Article 32 strategy, motion practice, panel selection, and courtroom advocacy. The right fit depends on timing, risk, and evidentiary posture. At Fort Barfoot, where command decisions can move quickly, early limited assistance may stop momentum. Once charges are preferred, a comprehensive approach becomes vital to challenge the government’s theory, confront unreliable evidence, and present a coherent defense narrative supported by documents, timelines, witnesses, and rigorous cross-examination.

When Limited Representation May Be Sufficient:

Pre-Charge Investigation With Weak or Incomplete Evidence

If the matter is still in inquiry status and evidence appears thin, limited-scope counsel can be efficient and effective. The focus is on advising you to decline interviews, preserving favorable texts and timelines, and quietly providing exculpatory material to the command or legal advisors. At Fort Barfoot, unit schedules can complicate witness availability; early coordination to identify alibi witnesses and training conflicts may discourage preferral. Careful engagement avoids unnecessary escalation, protects your rights, and lays a strong foundation in case the matter advances. Limited representation in this phase often centers on measured communication, preservation notices, and targeted submissions that highlight reasonable doubt without inviting overbroad discovery.

Administrative Inquiry With Path to Informal Resolution

In some situations, the command considers administrative options such as counseling, a commander’s inquiry, or adverse paperwork rather than preferral. Limited assistance can help frame the facts, mitigate concerns, and highlight corrective actions or misunderstandings. Counsel may prepare written statements, witness proffers, and documentation demonstrating compliance with orders and training requirements. For Fort Barfoot Soldiers, aligning submissions with mission demands and duty records can reassure leaders without conceding guilt. The aim is to close the matter at the lowest level while reserving the right to mount a full defense if circumstances change. This measured approach can protect careers and prevent unnecessary escalation to a court-martial.

When a Comprehensive Defense Approach Is Necessary:

Preferred or Referred Article 120b Charges With Confinement Risk

Once charges are preferred or referred, the stakes demand a comprehensive defense. This includes a structured investigation plan, motions to suppress flawed interviews or searches, impeachment of unreliable witnesses, and strategic preparation for the Article 32 hearing and trial. The defense must shape the narrative with timelines, objective data, and credible witnesses while anticipating government themes. At Fort Barfoot, the visibility of Article 120b allegations can influence command climate, making a disciplined courtroom plan essential. A full-spectrum approach ensures every admissible tool is used to test the government’s proof, protect your rights, and challenge guilt beyond a reasonable doubt before panel members.

Complex Digital Evidence and Forensic Testimony

Cases involving device extractions, cloud backups, and app-specific metadata require coordinated litigation. The defense must analyze chain of custody, scope of search authorizations, and whether context was omitted. Forensic professionals and technical witnesses may influence how messages, timestamps, and geo-location are interpreted. A comprehensive defense team coordinates subpoenas, discovery, and admissibility challenges while preparing clear presentations for the panel. At Fort Barfoot, where training areas and movement records can inform timelines, the ability to integrate duty rosters and location data is vital. Thorough preparation transforms complex data into understandable, persuasive evidence that supports reasonable doubt and counters the government’s narrative.

Benefits of a Comprehensive Article 120b Defense

A comprehensive defense aligns investigation, motions, and trial strategy from day one. This coordination preserves favorable evidence, anticipates government themes, and deploys legal challenges at the right time. It also ensures witnesses are prepared, timelines are verified, and discovery gaps are documented with requests that compel production. At Fort Barfoot, where schedules are tight and personnel rotate, a unified plan reduces surprises and keeps the case on your terms. The result is improved leverage for negotiations, stronger performance at the Article 32 hearing, and a clearer, more credible defense story for the panel. Consistency across phases builds confidence and enhances outcomes.

Comprehensive representation also helps manage collateral risks. Adverse actions, protective orders, and social fallout can impact duty status and morale. A holistic plan addresses command communication, social media risks, and no-contact orders while advancing your legal objectives. By coordinating mitigation materials, character evidence, and rehabilitative efforts where appropriate, the defense can influence charging decisions and potential sentencing. For Soldiers in Blackstone, Virginia, this approach respects mission requirements and personal wellbeing. It keeps attention on the government’s burden and your right to a fair process, improving the chances of charge reductions, dismissals, or acquittals, and safeguarding your future beyond the courtroom.

Early Evidence Preservation and Defense Investigation

Preserving texts, call logs, location data, and witness statements early prevents loss of context that frequently drives outcomes in Article 120b cases. A defense-led investigation checks assumptions, verifies timelines against training records, and seeks third-party corroboration the government may overlook. At Fort Barfoot, ranges, classrooms, and duty rosters often supply objective anchors for disputed events. Proactive subpoenas and preservation letters can secure data from platforms before it disappears. As the case progresses, this foundation supports targeted motions and cross-examination, allowing the panel to see inconsistencies clearly. Early action also strengthens negotiation leverage by demonstrating the defense’s readiness to test the government’s case.

Strategic Litigation From Article 32 Through Trial

A strategic litigation plan leverages the Article 32 hearing to challenge probable cause, lock in witness testimony, and preview cross-examination themes. Motions practice seeks to exclude unreliable statements and narrow the government’s case to admissible, relevant evidence. At trial, a coherent theory of defense—built on verified timelines and objective data—keeps the panel focused on reasonable doubt. For Fort Barfoot Soldiers, this approach also helps manage command expectations and media attention. By sequencing witness examinations, tailoring voir dire, and presenting persuasive visuals for complex digital issues, the defense maximizes clarity and credibility, increasing the likelihood of favorable rulings and verdicts.

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Defense Pro Tips for Fort Barfoot Soldiers

Invoke Your Article 31(b) Rights Immediately

If CID or a commander asks to speak with you, calmly state that you elect to remain silent and want a lawyer. Do not explain, debate, or try to clear things up on the spot. Decline consent to search your devices or living space until you receive legal advice. Request written orders and keep copies. Note the names of investigators and any witnesses. At Fort Barfoot, where training and duty can add stress, a clear, respectful assertion of rights protects you and preserves defenses. Contact UCMJ Defense Lawyers at 800-921-8607 so your next steps align with the law and your long-term interests.

Preserve Phones, Messages, and Timeline Evidence

Do not delete texts, photos, or social media activity. Back up devices and cloud accounts. Take screenshots with visible dates and user identifiers. List potential witnesses, including Soldiers who can verify duty status, movement, or training at Fort Barfoot ranges and facilities. Save receipts, gate logs, and duty rosters when possible. Share nothing about the case online or by group chat. Early preservation strengthens motions, cross-examination, and negotiation leverage. Many Article 120b disputes turn on context; preserving the full picture prevents misleading interpretations. Provide your lawyer with a secure, organized packet so the defense can act quickly and effectively during the investigative phase.

Control Communications and Follow Orders

Follow all protective and no-contact orders precisely. Do not message the complainant or mutual friends about the case. Keep communications with leadership professional and brief, and channel substantive discussions through counsel. Avoid alcohol-fueled conversations and social media posts that can be misinterpreted. Maintain your performance and attendance to show stability while the process unfolds at Fort Barfoot. If you need accommodations, request them through appropriate channels and document everything. Careful communication protects your credibility, reduces collateral issues, and prevents the government from portraying unrelated behavior as consciousness of guilt. Calm, disciplined conduct supports your legal strategy and your standing in the unit.

Reasons to Seek Article 120b Defense at Fort Barfoot

Article 120b allegations risk confinement, discharge, and long-term consequences, including potential sex offender registration depending on jurisdiction. The earlier you involve a defense team, the better your chances of preventing preferral or shaping the record before key decisions. For Soldiers training or stationed near Blackstone, Virginia, the operational pace can compress timelines, making proactive guidance essential. Counsel can protect your rights during CID contact, identify exculpatory digital evidence, and guide you through command communications. These steps often influence whether charges move forward and how they are framed. A timely, organized response supports your mission and defends your future.

Beyond legal exposure, unchecked allegations can damage reputation, relationships, and mental health. A defense team helps manage collateral issues, including orders, duty status, and media or community attention, while building the case for reasonable doubt. At Fort Barfoot, unit rotations and field time can complicate witness access and evidence preservation. Early involvement ensures supportive facts are captured before they fade. UCMJ Defense Lawyers work with Soldiers across Virginia and beyond to coordinate preservation, discovery, and strategic litigation. If you have been contacted about Article 120b, call 800-921-8607 to discuss a plan that respects your rights, the mission, and your long-term goals.

Common Situations Leading to Article 120b Allegations

Article 120b allegations often arise from digital interactions, social settings, or family disputes where age and context are misunderstood or contested. Cases may begin with a report to local authorities or directly to CID, followed by device seizures and interviews. At Fort Barfoot, training schedules, off-post activities near Blackstone, and overlapping friend groups can complicate timelines. Some matters involve third-party reports, anonymous tips, or statements that change over time. Each scenario requires careful review of messages, metadata, and interview methods. Early counsel helps prevent missteps and ensures the defense captures objective anchors—duty rosters, receipts, or location data—that often drive outcomes at Article 32 and trial.

Command Pressure After a SHARP-Related Report

Heightened sensitivity to sexual misconduct can lead to rapid administrative actions, broad orders, and immediate interviews. Soldiers may feel compelled to talk, hoping to clear the air. That impulse can backfire if statements are incomplete or misunderstood. The defense approach emphasizes asserting Article 31(b) rights, gathering corroborating data, and engaging the command professionally through counsel. At Fort Barfoot, where leaders must maintain good order, a disciplined legal response reassures the command while protecting you. By focusing on verifiable facts rather than speculation, the defense can manage command expectations, prevent premature conclusions, and preserve options if the matter advances toward preferral.

Age-Mismatch Misunderstandings From Online Communications

Many cases involve online chats, apps, or social media where profiles and ages are misrepresented. Screenshots alone rarely tell the full story. The defense examines platform logs, device extractions, and metadata to reconstruct context and timing. It also investigates whether age representations were inconsistent or fabricated. For Soldiers stationed near Blackstone, Virginia, location data and duty schedules often contradict alleged timelines. Careful analysis can reveal gaps that support mistaken belief or lack of intent. This detailed work shapes motions, negotiations, and trial themes, allowing the panel to see the difference between deceptive appearances online and the reality supported by objective evidence.

Allegations Without Forensic Support or Third-Party Corroboration

Some Article 120b allegations rest primarily on statements that shift over time without forensic confirmation or supporting witnesses. In such cases, the defense focuses on prior inconsistent statements, interview methods, and objective anchors that contradict the story. Training calendars, access logs, and civilian records can reveal conflicts that create reasonable doubt. At Fort Barfoot, rapid operations and frequent movements can help establish that alleged events were impossible or unlikely. By presenting a clear timeline, highlighting unsupported claims, and confronting credibility issues with tact, the defense can demonstrate why the government’s proof falls short and why a fair verdict demands acquittal.

Meet Your Defense Team

Michael S. Waddington

Criminal Defense Lawyer

PARTNER

Michael Waddington is a best‐selling author and criminal defense attorney who represents military personnel in courts worldwide—both after charges are filed and during pre‐charge investigations—specializing in serious offenses such as war crimes, sex crimes, violent crimes, and white‐collar cases. Drawing on his rigorous discipline from Brazilian Jiu‐Jitsu, he trains both civilian and military defense lawyers in advanced cross‐examination techniques, a skillset detailed in his three popular books on the subject. His expertise is regularly sought by major media outlets—ranging from CNN and 60 Minutes to the BBC and ABC’s “Nightline”—and he has even contributed to episodes of the Golden Globe–winning series “The Good Wife.” Michael instructs both civilian and military criminal defense attorneys on the art of effectively cross-examining and discrediting adversarial witnesses. Drawing from his three best-selling books on cross-examination and years of experience confronting numerous cunning and aggressive prosecution witnesses.

Alexandra González-Waddington

Criminal Defense Lawyer

PARTNER

Alexandra González is a founding partner of González & Waddington Law Firm, practicing in Florida, Georgia, and military courts worldwide, where she has defended hundreds of clients charged with violent crimes, sexual assault, and white-collar offenses since 2003. She has led high-profile military sexual assault and war-crimes cases stemming from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts and is regularly featured by major outlets such as 60 Minutes, ABC’s Nightline, Rolling Stone, the BBC, Fox News, and CNN. As one of the first Public Defenders for Georgia’s Augusta Judicial Circuit, she handled a broad spectrum of cases—including rape, larceny, violent crimes, and domestic violence—and she holds a J.D. from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, where she completed the nationally ranked Integrated Trial Advocacy Program. A Georgia-registered mediator, she continues to shape the practice of military and civilian defense through her courtroom work and advocacy.

Battle-Tested Results

Recent Case Results

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U.S. v. Navy O-2 – Norfolk, Virginia – Pre-Charge Defense Allegations: Rape, Conspiracy, Indecent Acts, Fraternization, Adultery, Conduct Unbecoming Max Punishment: Life in prison, Dismissal,

Facebook Exposé Shuts Down Fake Rape Allegation in Japan

U.S. v. Marine E-6 – Iwakuni Air Base, Japan – Article 32 Hearings Allegations: Rape, Aggravated Sexual Assault, Adultery, Fraternization, Violation of an Order Max

Army Officer Beats Aggravated Assault & Conduct Unbecoming Charges

U.S. v. Army O-1 – Fort Bragg, NC / Tried at Fort McNair, Washington D.C. – General Court-Martial Allegations: Aggravated Assault with Means Likely to

Navy Sailor’s Sex Assault Case Tossed After UCI Bombshell

U.S. v. Navy E-6 – Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia – General Court-Martial Allegations: Article 120 Sexual Assault Max Punishment: 40+ years confinement, Dishonorable Discharge, Sex

Cleared of Rape Charges in Wild Multi-Victim Court-Martial Drama

U.S. v. Army E-6 – Fort Polk, LA – General Court-Martial Allegations: Article 120 Rape, Sexual Assault x4, Article 128 Assault, Total of 14 allegations

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U.S. v. Army E-6 – Fort Bragg, North Carolina – General Court-Martial Allegations: Article 120 Sexual Assault, Article 128 Assault Consummated by Battery, Conduct Unbecoming

Make a False Rape Allegation & Win Soldier of the Year

U.S. v. Army CW2 – Fort Gordon, GA

Allegations: RAPE, Fraternization, Adultery
Max Punishment: LIFE, Dismissal, Sex Offender Registration
Result: ALL CHARGES DISMISSED
Discharge: RETIRED WITH AN HONORABLE
Location/Branch/Rank: Fort Gordon – Augusta, GA/Army/CW2

Cheating Marine Officer Calls Rape

U.S. v. Marine O-3 – Marine Forces Reserve, Naval Support Activity, New Orleans, LA Allegations: Article 120 Rape/Sexual Assault Max Punishment: Life in prison, Dismissal, Sex offender registration

Take Command of Your Defense

If you or a loved one faces an Article 120b allegation at Fort Barfoot, you do not have to navigate it alone. UCMJ Defense Lawyers provide confidential guidance from the first phone call, helping you invoke rights, preserve evidence, and plan your defense. We coordinate around training and mission requirements in Blackstone, Virginia, and beyond, ensuring your legal strategy fits your life and career. Call 800-921-8607 to discuss next steps, timelines, and options. The sooner we engage, the more leverage we have to shape outcomes, protect your record, and pursue the strongest path forward under the UCMJ.

Why Service Members Choose UCMJ Defense Lawyers for Article 120b Defense

UCMJ Defense Lawyers, led by Waddington and Gonzalez, has earned a reputation for defending service members in high-stakes courts-martial worldwide. The team brings disciplined preparation, aggressive motion practice, and persuasive trial advocacy to Article 120b cases. For Soldiers at Fort Barfoot, we understand how unit tempo, command climate, and community dynamics in Blackstone, Virginia, can impact decisions. We coordinate early to secure digital evidence, locate witnesses, and build timelines grounded in objective data. Our goal is to protect your rights, hold the government to its burden, and present a clear, credible defense story that supports reasonable doubt.

From the first consult through trial, we focus on preparation, transparency, and teamwork. You will understand the plan, your choices, and the risks and benefits at every stage. We tailor strategies to your goals—whether seeking to avoid preferral, aiming for dismissal at Article 32, or preparing for trial. Our approach respects your mission, your privacy, and your future beyond the courtroom. If you have been contacted by CID or your command about Article 120b, call 800-921-8607. A prompt, organized response can change the trajectory of your case and put you in the best position to move forward.

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UCMJ Survival Guide

UCMJ Survival Guide: The Complete Military Justice Manual for Service Members & Families: Whether you’re facing an investigation, court-martial, Article 15 (NJP), or administrative separation, UCMJ Survival Guide is your essential resource for navigating the military justice system. Written by two of the most experienced and respected military defense lawyers in the field—Michael and Alexandra Waddington—this comprehensive guide delivers clear, actionable strategies to protect your career, reputation, and future. Michael and Alexandra are among the top military defense lawyers and recognized as some of the most experienced sexual assault defense attorneys in the country. They have successfully defended service members in high-profile Article 120 UCMJ sexual assault cases, complex court-martials, and administrative separation proceedings across all branches of the U.S. military.

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Worldwide Military Defense Experience

Defending Service Members Across Every Theater and Installation

The González & Waddington Law Firm’s global reach sets them apart from regional military defense attorneys. With active cases spanning from Fort Bragg to forward operating bases in combat zones, from Norfolk Naval Station to remote Air Force installations, their practice truly encompasses the worldwide nature of modern military service.

Specialized Expertise in Serious Military Offenses

War Crimes, Sexual Assault, Violent Crimes, and White-Collar Defense

The most serious charges under the UCMJ require the most experienced defense attorneys. The González & Waddington Law Firm has built its reputation by successfully defending service members against the gravest allegations—cases where the stakes couldn’t be higher and the margin for error is virtually nonexistent.

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Featured on CNN, 60 Minutes, BBC, and Major News Outlets

The legal expertise of Michael Waddington and Alexandra González-Waddington has garnered attention from the world’s most prestigious media outlets, a testament to their standing as leading authorities in military criminal defense. This media recognition reflects not only their legal acumen but also their ability to handle high-stakes cases under intense public scrutiny.

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