military – Page 3 – Conduct Unbecoming

057 US v. Tarin

Back in my sorority days, I often served as one of the sober sisters for events. The task was pretty simple–keeping an eye on my sisters. Sometimes it involved passing flip flops to whoever thought stilettos were danceable or a plastic bag to those who looked green around the gills on the bus ride back. We had a few sober sisters at each event, including the President, Vice President of Social Standards, volunteers, and sometimes those that required close monitoring at the previous event–sort of a take a penny leave a penny situation. But sober sisters knew they were agreeing to when they stepped aboard the bus. For people who join the military and serve as military police, the potential for doing good work is infinite. But sometimes… they’re tasked with acting as a sober sis, a babysitter for drunk people. And they certainly don’t deserve to get punched in the nose for it.

I relied heavily on the NMCCA opinion, and referenced additional material from TJAGLCS and III MEF.

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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.

056 US v. Fat Leonard

People who were stationed in Okinawa sometime before the internet became commonplace waggle their eyebrows at you when you say you lived there. The island had a Bacchanalian reputation, known for its promise of misanthropic adventures. The appetite for easy sex, alcohol fueled parties, and cheap experiences that garnered Okinawa’s 1990s reputation didn’t go anywhere, and a rotund defense contractor that understood how to meet that appetite knew he could leverage it to make millions.

I relied heavily on the Rolling Stones article and referred to information from Wikipedia, Harvard Business School, Corruption Tracker, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, NY Times, CBS (1)(2), KPBS, The Guardian, and the BBC.

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055 US v. Praefke

Every so often, I get it in my head that I need to find some hyper specific item that I know I own. The downside to living in two countries and two states in the last three years is that I can visualize the item exactly where it was in Japan or Virginia, but draw a blank for our current home. There are a few stages of looking for the object. First, I look to where items of a similar type are stored. Second, I pester my spouse and ask where it might be. Third, I start to wonder if maybe it got lost in the move, any move, and begin researching replacement if it’s something I do actually conclude I need. The fourth stage, if I reach it, is ordering a replacement. As soon as the shipping confirmation comes through, the little door in my brain safeguarding the location of said item unlocks, and as I drift off to sleep a week after I began looking for it, I remember where I’ve seen it.

That’s a system that works for me, a person that loses tangible objects. But when it’s a whole prisoner in the brig that goes missing during mealtime, it turns out there aren’t any late night realizations about where he’s located.

As promised, I’m including the link to the NCIS Wanted Page here at the top of the show notes. I also referenced articles from: Stripes, NCIS (1)(2), The News Tribune, Navy Times, WPTV, Miami Herald, Local 10, Whidbey News Times (1)(2), Seattle Times, and a strange thread on Glock Talk.

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https://open.spotify.com/episode/6QfSlaEiJUV4dG77NAidot?si=b425b5f0e52e480a

054 MI v. Hassel

You’ve made it through the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Perhaps your season went well, there were no fights about politics, and you got to see the people you love and care for most. Perhaps your season was the exact opposite, and you’re relieved to be past Christmas and New Years, retreating from family gatherings for the foreseeable future. Wherever your holiday fell along that spectrum, if everyone made it out alive, you had a much better holiday than the Hassel family in 2018.

My primary resource in this case is the Michigan Court of Appeals opinion, as well as a few other resources from the Michigan courts. (1)(2)(3)

I also referenced details from WSBT, WNDU (1)(2), YouTube, Gazette.com, NBC News, Fox 17, M Live, AP News, WXII, ABC News (1)(2)(3), ABC 57, Army Times, WZZM, AETV, and information about battered partner syndrome.

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053 AZ v. Gooch

Four hundred years ago, the religious climate in England was tense. When colonists began moving to America, it was under the promise that they could practice their religion freely. I wish there was a deeper commitment to maintaining separation between church and state now. But the dismay I feel when I hear about mandating religious practice in public spaces apparently pales in comparison to the dismay Airman First Class Gooch felt at people quietly exercising their faith nearly 400 miles away from him.

My primary resource in this case is the Arizona Court of Appeal Opinion.

I also referenced details from Wikipedia, the Air Force Times(1)(2)(3), KNAU (1)(2), the New York Post, Fox 10, OSI and AETV.

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052 US v. Cassaberry-Folks

Single servicemembers that deploy from duty stations stateside often put their belongings in some kind of storage. It’s a dicey proposition because some storage facilities are terrible. Cars present their own special challenge and dead batteries are common. When a friend of ours was out of the country for six months, I was great at starting the car up for the first few months, but my streak soon fell apart. I got the battery replaced and I was able to drop the car off for him a few hours before he returned so he could get home without that hassle. Staff Sergeant Cassaberry-Folks was given a similar opportunity to care for a member of his community. When he handed the keys over, it wasn’t to the airman he was assisting, it was to someone he fraudulently sold the car to.

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. young woman, abandoning her body in a suitcase.

My primary resource in this case is the AFCCA opinion.

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