Marine Corps Criminal Defense Lawyers

Collateral Consequences of a Military Conviction

• Loss of all veteran and government benefits
• Loss of disability and unemployment benefits
• Loss of voting rights.
• Loss of the ability to legally own or possess firearms.
• Inability to qualify for bank loans or college financial aid.
• Difficulty in obtaining meaningful employment.
• Criminal records will remain in law enforcement databases.

Military Sexual Crimes in the Army

• Rape
• Aggravated Sexual Contact
• Sexual Assault
• Abusive Sexual Contact
• Indecent Act
• Sexual Abuse of a Child under Article 120b
• Indecent exposure under Article 120c
• Child Pornography

Authority website on Marine Corps and Military Defense Lawyers

• U.S. Marine Corps Official Website: https://www.marines.mil/
• Judge Advocate General of the Navy (JAG): https://www.jag.navy.mil/
• Military Justice Resources on Military.com: https://www.military.com/benefits/military-legal-matters
• National Institute of Military Justice: https://nimj.org/
• Congressional Research Service Reports on Military Justice: https://crsreports.congress.gov/ (Search for “military justice”)

Collateral Consequences of Sex Offender Registration:

• Denied housing
• Loss of family
• Isolation
• No educational opportunities
• Unemployable
• Physical assault
• Increased homelessness
• Harassment
• Financial hardship
• Stigmatization
• The decline in mental health
• No internet access
• Deterioration of social bonds
• Loss of residency

Difference Between Civil and Military Justice Procedures

While the foundation of civil and military law finds their origins in the same place, they differ in many ways. The quest for justice is the same for both types of law, but the procedures differ.

The Marine Corps can take action against Marines accused of UCMJ offenses through the following ways:

• Administrative Action initiated by the commanding officer that can be aimed toward correcting and rehabilitating the Marines’ behavior
• Non-judicial Punishment for minor offenses through an open or closed hearing. An appeal is possible.
• Court-martial for serious offenses. Different types of court-martial are available depending on the severity of the offenses. Hiring civilian legal representation like experienced court-martial lawyers is possible.

Marine Corps Court-Martial Attorneys

Depending on how serious the accusation and offense are, the commanding officer can recommend the court-martial procedure to be followed. The types of a court-martial are:

• Summary Court-Martial: For enlisted Marines only, it consists of the disposal of minor offenses.
• Special Court-Martial: Intermediate level with a military judge alone, a panel of officers, or a mixture of officers and enlisted members.
• General Court-Martial: The highest tier court for the military that deals with serious offenses. An Article 32 investigation is conducted for charges that require a general court-martial.

The verdict given at the court-martial or nonjudicial punishment may not be acceptable to you, in which case you can always appeal the decision. For court-martials, it is recommended that you get the help of the best military defense lawyers you can afford to mount an aggressive and unrelenting defense.

Aggressive Marine Corps Military Defense Lawyers

When You Require Marine Corps Civilian Defense Attorneys

Our Marine Corps criminal defense lawyers have successfully represented and cleared American Marines stationed in the United States and worldwide. Compare our court-martial case results with other civilian criminal defense attorneys.

The experienced military criminal defense attorneys at Gonzalez & Waddington have gained a reputation for protecting Marines worldwide. If you are a Marine charged with a military crime, hiring the most aggressive military lawyers can be the difference between having your rights trampled versus winning your case or saving your career.

Our defense attorneys aggressively fight for Marines in both court-martial and administrative matters to include: Sexual assault, Aggravated Assault – Article 128, UCMJ, Murder, Drug Trafficking, Child Porn, Indecent Acts, Abusive Sexual Contact, Fraternization, Adultery, Forcible Pandering, Soliciting Commission of Offenses, General Article 134, UCMJ offense, and others. For many years our court-martial defense lawyers vigorously fought for US Marines charged with sexual offenses, rape, and various Article 120 UCMJ crimes.

Call Our Aggressive Marine Corps Criminal Defense Law Firm

Unlike many court-martial defense lawyers or your assigned military defense counsel, accepting a plea is not something we often do. When our court-martial defense law firms take an accused service member, our court-martial counsel compels the military to present the evidence and prove their case. We take almost every charge to a jury trial and fight the allegations before a military jury.

Our military defense lawyers keep lighter caseloads than the average appointed defense counsel so that we can concentrate on every client separately. Our Marine Corps criminal defense lawyers will not outsource your case to a random lawyer, and we will not intimidate you into pleading guilty at the eleventh hour. Our criminal defense lawyers have successfully contested trials and administrative separation boards in the United States and worldwide.

Marine Corps Civilian Military Defense Lawyers

Partner Alexandra Gonzбlez-Waddington, has defended hundreds of US Military service members charged with Article 120 crimes and has aggressively worked on some of the most famous war crime cases from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Alexandra co-authored three of the top legal guides on cross-examination, Pattern Cross-Examination for Sexual Assault Cases: A Trial Strategy & Resource Guide, Pattern Cross-Examination for DNA and Biological Evidence, and Pattern Cross-Examination of Expert Witnesses, published by NACDL. These books are used by criminal defense practitioners in the United States and worldwide. In addition, Mrs. Waddington was one of the first defense lawyers to serve as a Public Defender for the Augusta Judicial Circuit.

Our firm’s other founding attorney, Michael Waddington, graduated from Temple Law in Philadelphia, PA, and is a current member of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, one of the most prestigious legal organizations made up of some of the most accomplished defense attorneys in the United States.

Also, a few of Michael Waddington’s cases were made into documentary films, such as “Killings at the Canal,” a CNN documentary special that unveils what caused the murders of Iraqi terrorists by Army soldiers. He also commonly instructs criminal counsel on trial strategy. Marines need hard-hitting civilian defense lawyers to represent them at their court-martial or ADSEP hearing. If you are accused of a military offense, contact our military criminal defense counsel immediately.

Your Rights Under Article 31 of UCMJ

Like civilians, Marines also have Constitutional rights available to protect them if they are suspected or accused of a military crime. You should know and exercise your Article 31 and Constitutional rights to the maximum. Do not assume the military command or NCIS investigators are going the right thing. Often, they cut corners and assume the accused is guilty without thoroughly investigating the crime and the alleged victim. They believe all victims, even fake victims, and rush to judgment. In the end, the accused suffers. Sometimes, Marine prosecutors push false accusations to a court-martial when there is little to no evidence to support the charges.

You have the right to remain silent. While it may be difficult not to make any statements or respond to questions being asked, it is in your best interests not to say anything unless you have a qualified Marine Corps criminal defense attorney by your side. You also have the right to hire the best civilian military defense attorney possible.

You may feel confused about your next steps, and having an experienced court-martial attorney can make you feel at ease. Find guidance and professional counseling by hiring the best court-martial defense attorneys available.

Military Justice When You Are Accused or Suspected of Committing an Offense

When you face a court-martial, you can use a skilled military defense lawyer to help you fight the charges. A civilian-military lawyer can appeal the results if you have already been convicted at a court-martial. In this case, the appeal would go to the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals. In other cases, the Marine Corps could decide to end your career early and separate you at an Administrative Separation Board.

Common Military Offenses

Marines can be charged with civil and military offenses, but the proceedings are usually only done through court-martials. The most common offenses under UCMJ that Marines can be accused of are:

• Desertion and AWOL: Under Articles 85 and 86, Marines can be accused of leaving active duty without intention of returning to their post.
• Disobeying an Order: Under Articles 90 to 94, Marines can be punished for not fulfilling their superior’s orders or acting cruelly towards their subordinates or colleagues.
• Sexual Harassment: Under Article 93, individuals could also be accused of sexual harassment or assault. It is best to hire experienced military sexual assault lawyers to help you fight this offense.
• Drug Offenses: You could be dealing with a Drug Offense if a routine drug test or urinary sample shows drug use. It can leave a lasting impression on your record if not properly dealt with in time.
• Domestic Abuse: You could be issued a Military Protective Order if you have been accused of domestic abuse. It bans you from contacting the alleged victim in any way.

Let Our Marine Corps Criminal Defense Lawyers Protect You

Whether you stand accused of military sexual assault or theft, or any other offense, a court-martial conviction can permanently tarnish your record and have lasting consequences for you and your family’s future. You can learn more about Military Justice through the Gonzalez & Waddington YouTube channel.

Many offenses may result in administrative separations, confinement, fines, dishonorable discharge, or even worse. However, when you take action in time and hire a team of lawyers to help you through the process, it can take away the stress and uncertainty that comes along with such situations.

Trust the military attorneys at Gonzalez & Waddington to provide you with the best defense possible. We have years of experience winning court-martial cases. So you don’t have to worry about being in the dark when you choose to be represented by our team of experienced Marine Corps Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Call 1-800-921-8607 for a consultation.

Punishments if convicted at various levels of military courts-martials.

Summary court-martial maximum sentence:

• One month confinement
• Hard labor without confinement for 45 days,
  Restriction for two months
• Forfeiture of two-thirds of 1 month’s pay.
• Enlisted members above E-4 may not be sentenced to confinement, hard labor without confinement, or reduced pay grade beyond one pay grade.

Special court-martial maximum sentence:

• Bad Conduct Discharge (enlisted)
• Forfeiture of two-thirds pay
• Confinement for twelve months
• Reduction to the grade of E-1
• A fine
• A reprimand
• Hard about without confinement
• Restriction
• If convicted of certain sexual offenses, the service member has to register as a sex offender.

General court-martial maximum sentence:

• Dishonorable discharge (enlisted)
• Dismissal (officers)
• A Dishonorable Discharge or Dismissal is mandatory for certain sexual offenses.
• Total Forfeiture of all pay and allowances
• Confinement for life without eligibility for parole
• Death
• Reduction to the grade of E-1
• A fine
• A reprimand
• Hard about without confinement
• Restriction
• If convicted of certain sexual offenses, the service member has to register as a sex offender.

Our Marine Corps court-martial defense attorneys defend Marines at the following Marine Corps bases worldwide:

Arizona

• Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, AZ

California

• Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA
• Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center 29 Palms, CA
• Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, CA
• Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, CA
• Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, CA

Georgia

• Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, GA

Hawaii

• Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay

North Carolina

• Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC
• Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC
• Marine Corps Air Station New River, NC

South Carolina

• Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, SC
• MCRD Parris Island, SC

Virginia

• Henderson Hall, VA
• Quantico, VA

Other Marine Corps Installations where we defend Marines:

• Blount Island Command, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany
• Butler Marine Base
• Camp Foster
• Camp Fuji
• Camp Kinser
• Camp Lemonnier
• Camp Lester
• Camp Marine Corps McTureous
• Camp Schwab
• Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling
• Joint Base Balad
• Joint Base Charleston
• Joint Base Langley–Eustis
• Joint Base Lewis-McChord Marine Corps
• Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
• Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall
• Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
• Joint Base San Antonio
• Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story
• Joint Region Marianas
• Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twenty Nine Palms
• Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
• Marine Corps Detachment Fort Knox
• Marine Corps Detachment Fort Benning
• Marine Corps Detachment Goodfellow AFB