Tag Archives: blog

A half hour up the road from resort-lined beaches is an Army base nestled in the interior of Oahu. Though the on-base housing might not be beach front, they’ve got ready access to everything the island has to offer. Maybe living in paradise was too much pressure, but a series of decisions First Lieutenant Brinkman-Coronel may have made while wasted in Waikiki prompted the Army to prepare to administratively separate him over substance use and ended with him serving a nine year stint in the Brig.

I relied on the ACCA appellate briefing and opinion.

I referenced additional information about Operate Keiki Shield from the week of Brinkman-Coronel’s arrest.

This episode discussed substance use. If you, or someone you know is struggling with substance use, the SAMHSA National Helpline can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP and their treatment locator is available online.

This episode also contains a discussion of attempted suicide. If you are experience thoughts of self-harm, I urge you to contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. Help is also available via chat on their website.

Links to Listen:

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Youtube · Youtube Music · Amazon Music · I Heart · Audacy

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share, rate and review it wherever you listen to podcasts. I’m happy to receive constructive feedback or case suggestions at conductunbecomingpod@gmail.com. Join me over on Instagram @conductunbecoming!

Disclaimer: Conduct Unbecoming is a podcast where I get to talk about interesting crimes and cases that involve US military service members. I research, write, and produce the podcast myself… the opinions expressed are my own and, perhaps it’s obvious, Conduct Unbecoming is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department of Defense. I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I’m a practicing attorney, I don’t do direct criminal defense. This podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinion.

Stop me If you’ve seen A Few Good Men. A group of servicemembers sneak into a soldier’s bedroom in the middle of the night to do a bit of corrective action. When day breaks miles away from American shores, a mysterious death nearly gets papered over, ignored, or under investigated. But four servicemembers serving in Africa failed to learn any lessons from Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and Kevin Bacon. When they perceived social slights and felt ignored by their buddy, they took it upon themselves to correct him. 

In the process of teaching Army Staff Sergeant Logan Melgar a lesson on social graces, his friends killed him.

I relied on the NMCCA opinion and a redacted portion of the record.

I referenced information from DeDolph’s charge sheet, Matthews’ charge sheet, a court martial report regarding a resentencing, and an article from Stripes. There are a lot of salacious articles out there, so I kept it to sources I trust.

Links to Listen:

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Youtube · Youtube Music · Amazon Music · I Heart · Audacy

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share, rate and review it wherever you listen to podcasts. I’m happy to receive constructive feedback or case suggestions at conductunbecomingpod@gmail.com. Join me over on Instagram @conductunbecoming!

Disclaimer: Conduct Unbecoming is a podcast where I get to talk about interesting crimes and cases that involve US military service members. I research, write, and produce the podcast myself… the opinions expressed are my own and, perhaps it’s obvious, Conduct Unbecoming is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department of Defense. I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I’m a practicing attorney, I don’t do direct criminal defense. This podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinion.

I’ve left mission-driven non-profit jobs twice. It was really emotionally taxing to leave jobs that I really believed in once upon a time–I was so committed to the mission in both instances, and had been so full of hope that I would make a difference when I started. My experiences, naturally, shaped my beliefs around mission-driven work, and I’ve concluded that people don’t leave mission-driven work because they no longer believe in the mission. People leave mission-driven work because they no longer believe in the organization. 

But I’ve left these jobs voluntarily and haven’t experienced being removed from mission-driven work against my will. For Brandon Walters, being forced out of his mission-driven work following a psychiatric disorder diagnosis was simply untenable. So, he hatched a plan to try and make his Air Force colleagues regret letting him go.

I relied on the Fifth Circuit opinions. (2003, 2007, 2009)

I referenced information from My Plain View (1)(2), Wikipedia, UPI.com, War on the Rocks, and The Free Library. More information about the hand transplant is available. (1)(2)(3)(4)

Links to Listen:

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Youtube · Youtube Music · Amazon Music · I Heart · Audacy

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share, rate and review it wherever you listen to podcasts. I’m happy to receive constructive feedback or case suggestions at conductunbecomingpod@gmail.com. Join me over on Instagram @conductunbecoming!

Disclaimer: Conduct Unbecoming is a podcast where I get to talk about interesting crimes and cases that involve US military service members. I research, write, and produce the podcast myself… the opinions expressed are my own and, perhaps it’s obvious, Conduct Unbecoming is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department of Defense. I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I’m a practicing attorney, I don’t do direct criminal defense. This podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinion.

If you are old enough to remember the foibles of a certain President around the turn of the millennia, you’re likely familiar with the phrase, “it’s not the crime, it’s the cover up.” For Corporal Laurean, stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, this was undoubtedly true.  Laurean likely committed either sexual assault or adultery… but his coverup made him a murderer.

I relied on the North Carolina appellate opinion.

I referenced information from the Supreme Court of North Carolina, Murderpedia, WRAL (1)(2), ABC, CBS, YouTube (1)(2), Leatherneck.com, CNN, and Modbee.com.

This episode involved discussion of sexual assault. There are a number of resources available for survivors and victim of sexual assault, including the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). They offer a free, confidential national sexual assault hotline at 800-656-HOPE as well as an online chat option.

Links to Listen:

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Youtube · Youtube Music · Amazon Music · I Heart · Audacy

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share, rate and review it wherever you listen to podcasts. I’m happy to receive constructive feedback or case suggestions at conductunbecomingpod@gmail.com. Join me over on Instagram @conductunbecoming!

Disclaimer: Conduct Unbecoming is a podcast where I get to talk about interesting crimes and cases that involve US military service members. I research, write, and produce the podcast myself… the opinions expressed are my own and, perhaps it’s obvious, Conduct Unbecoming is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department of Defense. I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I’m a practicing attorney, I don’t do direct criminal defense. This podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinion.