What Is a Controlled Call in a Military Sexual Assault Investigation? Pre-text Calls Explained
A controlled call is one of the most dangerous tools used by CID, NCIS, OSI, and CGIS in sexual assault investigations under Article 120. It is a recorded phone call or text exchange between the accuser and the accused, secretly directed by investigators, with the goal of getting you to apologize, explain, or react emotionally in a way they can present as evidence of guilt. This page explains exactly how controlled calls work, why they are so risky, and how Gonzalez & Waddington protects service members when investigators attempt to use this powerful tactic.
Short Answer
A controlled call is a trap. Investigators coach the accuser to contact you while agents listen, record, and direct the conversation behind the scenes. Their goal is to get you to say anything that can be twisted into an admission, apology, or inconsistency. You should never participate in a controlled call, and you should never speak with the accuser once an allegation is made. The safest response is silence and immediate legal representation by an experienced civilian military defense lawyer.
Aggressive Military Defense Lawyers: Gonzalez & Waddington
Watch the military defense lawyers at Gonzalez & Waddington break down how they defend service members worldwide against UCMJ allegations, CID/NCIS/OSI investigations, court-martials, Article 120 cases, administrative separations, and GOMORs. If you’re under investigation or facing charges, this video explains what your rights are and how experienced civilian military counsel can make the difference.
How Controlled Calls Work in the Military
Investigators Script and Direct the Entire Exchange
Controlled calls are not spontaneous conversations. Agents sit with the accuser and coach them on exactly what to say, when to say it, and how to phrase questions designed to provoke a damaging response. They may also stop the call mid-conversation to give new instructions. Meanwhile, you have no idea the conversation is being monitored, recorded, and manipulated.
The Goal Is to Make You Feel Guilty or Confused
The accuser is often instructed to sound emotional, disappointed, or confused to trigger your instinct to comfort, apologize, or explain. Even innocent statements like “I’m sorry you feel that way” or “I never wanted anything bad to happen” can be portrayed as admissions of wrongdoing. Investigators are trained to reframe ordinary emotional responses as incriminating evidence.
They Target Normal Human Reactions
Controlled calls are effective because they exploit natural tendencies. Innocent people often try to smooth things over, avoid conflict, or reassure someone they once cared about. Investigators weaponize these instincts. A polite response becomes “an apology.” A confused response becomes “acknowledgment.” A desire to calm someone becomes “consciousness of guilt.”
Text Message Controlled Calls Are Even More Misleading
Investigators frequently use text-based controlled calls. Because texts lack tone and nuance, they are even easier for prosecutors to misrepresent. One-word replies, emojis, attempts to end the conversation, or ambiguous statements can be taken out of context and used as evidence at trial.
Why Controlled Calls Are So Dangerous
You Do Not Know You Are Being Recorded
Controlled calls are recorded without your knowledge. You cannot control the tone, pacing, or content. Anything you say becomes part of the investigation and is later analyzed line by line. You cannot take back or clarify what you say. The accuser, under investigator direction, has full control over the flow and emotional tone of the conversation.
You Cannot See How Investigators Rewrite the Conversation
Agents create reports summarizing what they believe happened during the call. These summaries are often selective, incomplete, or biased. Investigators may highlight parts that appear incriminating while omitting context that shows your innocence. Without a strong defense team to challenge these summaries, they can become some of the prosecution’s most persuasive evidence.
They Are Designed to Produce “Admissions” Even When You Admit Nothing
In many cases defended by Gonzalez & Waddington, the accused never said anything incriminating. However, investigators still interpreted polite responses as apologies, silence as guilt, or confusion as acknowledgment. The military justice system frequently relies on these misinterpretations, and prosecutors often present them to the panel as “admissions” that never actually occurred.
The Government Uses Controlled Calls to Avoid Real Evidence
Controlled calls allow investigators to create a narrative without forensic proof, eyewitness accounts, or physical evidence. When real evidence is weak, controlled calls become a shortcut to appear as if the accused confessed. Without proper defense, this tactic can turn a weak case into a strong one.
How Gonzalez & Waddington Defends Clients Targeted with Controlled Calls
We Stop Controlled Calls Before They Happen
The moment you hire Gonzalez & Waddington, investigators are prohibited from directing the accuser to contact you. This alone prevents one of the most damaging forms of evidence from ever being created. Our fast intervention is one of the strongest protections you have during a sexual assault investigation.
We Analyze Controlled Call Recordings and Expose Manipulation
When controlled calls have already occurred, our firm breaks down the audio or text line by line. We identify coaching cues, emotional manipulation, leading questions, and investigator scripting. By revealing how the accuser was guided, we undermine the credibility of the “admissions” the government claims to have extracted.
We Use Behavioral Psychology to Counter False “Admissions”
Most so-called admissions in controlled calls are not admissions at all—they are emotional responses produced by confusion, fear, or empathy. We explain these psychological factors to the panel, showing that normal human reactions do not equal guilt. This approach has helped our clients win acquittals in cases that seemed damaging on the surface.
We Demonstrate How Investigators Misrepresent Conversations
Investigators often take ambiguous statements and portray them as confessions. They may remove context, change tone, or leave out parts of the conversation that favor the accused. Gonzalez & Waddington forces the government to provide the full recording, exposes inaccuracies in their summaries, and highlights every omission or exaggeration to dismantle the prosecution’s case.
What Happens During a Controlled Call
| What Investigators Do | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| Coach the accuser on what to say | The conversation is scripted to trap you. |
| Record everything without your knowledge | Your tone, pauses, and reactions will be used against you. |
| Guide the accuser mid-conversation | You cannot see when the accuser is being coached. |
| Ask emotionally charged questions | They want you to apologize, comfort, or deny in a way they can twist. |
| Rewrite the conversation in reports | Investigators reduce your words to a biased summary that looks incriminating. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Controlled Calls
Does the Accuser Have to Tell Me the Call Is Being Recorded?
No. The accuser is not required to warn you. Controlled calls are designed to catch you off guard and provoke emotional reactions that investigators will later use against you.
Can I Refuse to Participate in a Controlled Call?
Yes. Controlled calls are entirely voluntary. You cannot be punished for refusing to speak to the accuser. Gonzalez & Waddington always advises clients to avoid any communication with the accuser during an investigation.
What If I Already Spoke to the Accuser?
If a controlled call has already happened, contact a defense lawyer immediately. The sooner we review the recording or transcript, the sooner we can expose manipulation or misrepresentation and begin neutralizing the damage.
Are Controlled Calls Admissible at Trial?
Yes. The government often uses them as key evidence. However, our firm has successfully challenged controlled calls by showing how investigators coached the accuser or misinterpreted statements. With the right defense, controlled calls can backfire against the prosecution.
Can Investigators Fake or Alter Parts of the Call?
Investigators rarely alter audio, but their written summaries often distort tone, context, or meaning. Gonzalez & Waddington demands full recordings and exposes every discrepancy between the recording and the report.
What Should I Do If the Accuser Tries to Contact Me?
Do not respond. Do not call back. Do not text. Contact a defense lawyer immediately. Any response you give can be twisted into damaging evidence. Our firm steps in to stop further attempts and protect your rights.
The Bottom Line on Controlled Calls
Controlled calls are not fair conversations—they are engineered traps designed to create incriminating statements that investigators can use in Article 120 cases. Innocent service members are often caught off guard, responding out of fear, confusion, empathy, or pressure. Gonzalez & Waddington has defended service members in hundreds of cases involving controlled calls and knows exactly how investigators manipulate these conversations and misrepresent them in reports and in court. If you receive contact from an accuser or suspect a controlled call is being set up, do not engage. Contact a military defense law firm immediately to protect your rights and build a strong defense.
