Revenge of the Ex-Wives
U.S. v. Air Force E-8 – Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
Original Allegations: Article 120 Rape/Sexual Assault – Four Alleged Victims
Max Punishment: LIFE in prison, Dishonorable Discharge, Sex offender registration, Loss of Retirement
Result: NOT GUILTY OF ALL CHARGES
Sentence: NONE
Discharge: NONE
Location/Branch/Rank: Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, NE/Air Force/E-8
Court Martial Case Summary:
Our client, a 24-year veteran on the verge of retirement, found himself targeted by Air Force OSI for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman he dated. This charge was later dropped, but OSI’s hunt was far from over. They reached out to his ex-wives, past girlfriends, and any other women they could find, trying to build a case against him.
They told these women that our client was a rapist, asking for their help to “get the rapist off the street.” This tactic, seen before by CID, NCIS, OSI, and CGIS, aimed to create more victims to strengthen their case. OSI repeatedly called his ex-wives, spreading lies to convince them to testify. As a result, multiple women were listed as sexual assault victims. Some women, recalling consensual late-night sex or encounters after a night at the bar, were convinced by OSI that it was rape.
Mr. Waddington was the second civilian defense lawyer on the case, hired after the client was told he had no chance of winning. The client then released his initial civilian lawyer and ADC.
When Mr. Waddington and his ADC co-counsel took over the case, they faced an uphill battle. Little by little, the alleged victims started dropping out of the case. By the time they reached the trial, all but two “victims” had dropped out.
At trial, the accused fought all charges before an officer panel. The defense presented testimony from the accused and forensic psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Younggren, who explained how memory is fragile and can be easily contaminated by improper OSI interviews. On cross-examination, the defense skillfully dismantled the testimony of the alleged victims, piece by piece.
The jury deliberated for over four hours before acquitting our client of all charges. The defense team celebrated their victory with a delicious dinner at The Boiler Room in the Omaha, NE, Market District.
Result: NOT GUILTY OF ALL CHARGES
Aftermath: Instead of facing life in prison, our client, Mr. Waddington, and the defense team enjoyed a well-deserved meal at The Boiler Room, savoring their hard-fought victory.
For anyone accused of military rape or sexual assault, contacting an experienced Article 120 lawyer is crucial.
