Just damn...

Best friend growing up, love him with all my heart. Dream life. I was in his ($200,000) wedding, he was to be in mine next month (NOT a 200k wedding lol). Both our parents treated us as their own kids, etc.

He had it all...great family, graduated from a splendid high school and then an honorable college...achieved his (our) dream in the Navy and made chief at 9 years. Wonderful wife, home, and kid.

He is facing life in prison without parole this week. The little I know, just from being involved in the court system, he is fucked no matter what. General discharge, BEST case scenario. Most likely much worse. Much worse.

I'm not going to post the details, and ask that those that Google it and figure it out don't either. It's not a hard find. I just need to vent... EDITED: I realize that is not a realistic request if I want to ask any questions. He has been charged with rape, sexual offense, assault, and other things. Let's please just leave his name out of our postings.

I WAS THE FUCKUP. I was the one that got in legal trouble, kicked out of the same high school, flunked out of the same college, had a kid out of wedlock, shitty marriage, divorced, and destroyed in the aftermath. Never would have dreamed this.

I marry the most wonderful woman in the world next month. I swear, I will keep my dick in my pants no matter fucking what. No way in hell is any pussy worth losing everything. Beyond the point that I'll be swearing an oath before all my friends (and the Lord, for those inclined) to do so, I have suffered entirely too much and made it way too far through some real Hell to get to this point to let my dick fuck it up.

I love my friend despite his transgressions. If he is guilty, I do not condone his behavior, however I hope that he salvages something out of this and his wife can forgive him and he retains his family, if nothing else.

Damnit.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: chongosuerte,

quote:

He is facing life in prison without parole

Man, that sucks. Sorry to hear about it.

Sorry to hear that. Some women are strong enough and give a second chance but even then there may be animosity. Others want blood.

I have watched others at work cheat all the time and women are as bad as men. Seems at times, there are not many loyal people left in the world'

41

Well, at least you presented it in a dignified manner .

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:
Well, at least you presented it in a dignified manner .

Do you have a problem, dude?

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:
Well, at least you presented it in a dignified manner .

Do you have a problem, dude?

He's okay.

The charges are unquestionably undignified. Even in the light most favorable to him, the situation is undignified. Whether he was being facetious or not is immaterial. He is accurate.

If it is the story I read, it may not be as dire...it seems like there are two definite sides that need to be weighed.

Of course, if I could predict the future...well, I wouldn't be here now.

I hope for the best and just outcome for all involved.

quote:

Originally posted by bcereuss:
If it is the story I read, it may not be as dire...it seems like there are two definite sides that need to be weighed.

Of course, if I could predict the future...well, I wouldn't be here now.

I hope for the best and just outcome for all involved.

There certainly are two sides to this story, I'm sure it's the same. However, I do not see an ending that allows him to keep his current position, though I don't know how a military court martial works, I expect he has admitted to enough to have him removed from his rating, and likely discharged.

Perhaps our military members (or prior JAGs) could comment. What type of convictions lead to what kind of discharges?

Perhaps you've been the better man all along... I don't yet know you in person, but by all accounts around here you are an honorable man, good friend, excellent cop, and more. Maybe it's of little consolation, here and now, but it seemed appropriate to say.

I hope you don't mind.

In any case, I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

Life without parole, boy that just doesn't sound like an option to me.

I don't know anything about the inner workings of the military, but life without parole for sticking your dick somewhere it don't belong? That sounds like a very harsh punishment for something like that.

Yikes.

Sorry to hear this, Chongo.

quote:

Originally posted by exx1976:
I don't know anything about the inner workings of the military, but life without parole for sticking your dick somewhere it don't belong? That sounds like a very harsh punishment for something like that.

Yikes.

Sorry to hear this, Chongo.

That's what started the situation. Obviously, he is being tried for multiple severe charges. There are mitigating details, which will likely help. However, it is clear that something improper happened, based on his own admission, and I fear that it is enough to end his career, likely with a dishonorable discharge, potentially with prison time.

I hope, with all my heart, that I am wrong.

The situation is F'd up all around for sure.

From what I read, seems very much a "he said/she said" situation with little physical evidence to substantiate the most serious claims.

If that is the case, it seems life without parole would be extremely excessive when other current or recent cases that came up during my googling reported 12-18 year sentences for crimes such as child pornography and sexual abuse of a child.

I learned through first hand experience the importance of "don't stick your dick in crazy" and "no matter how good she looks, someone, somewhere, is tired of putting up with her shit".

As another mentioned, core issue seems to be judgement and loyalty. Going to be an expensive lesson for sure.

A wise man once said... "i'll never cheat on my wife. I'm too much in love with half my money"

quote:

Originally posted by chongosuerte:
What type of convictions lead to what kind of discharges?

Here is the entire Manual for Courts-Martial (aka the "maroon harpoon") if you want to read up on the topic. http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/mcm.pdf

Information on sentencing/punishments is in Chapter X. Each offense carries a wide range of penalties if there is a conviction. With maximum punishments described under the portion for each punitive article of the UCMJ.

Under the most recent version (linked) that I found for the MCM, and assuming the article I found accurately described the charges, the current MCM doesn't have the normal information for maximum punishment, but a Dishonorable Discharge would be a possible punishment as far as I know from my previous experience.

However, that is also true for the least serious charged punitive UCMJ article the news story described.

Generally with regard to discharges as part of the punishment after conviction, ". . . a dishonorable discharge should be reserved for those who should be separated under conditions of dishonor, after having been convicted of offenses usually recognized in civilian jurisdictions as felonies, or of offenses of a military nature requiring severe punishment . . ."

Technically though, no discharge is required as part of the punishment, if there is a conviction.

quote:

Originally posted by DMF:

quote:

Originally posted by chongosuerte:
What type of convictions lead to what kind of discharges?

Here is the entire Manual for Courts-Martial (aka the "maroon harpoon") if you want to read up on the topic. http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/mcm.pdf

Information on sentencing/punishments is in Chapter X. Each offense carries a wide range of penalties if there is a conviction. With maximum punishments described under the portion for each punitive article of the UCMJ.

Under the most recent version (linked) that I found for the MCM, and assuming the article I found accurately described the charges, the current MCM doesn't have the normal information for maximum punishment, but a Dishonorable Discharge would be a possible punishment as far as I know from my previous experience.

However, that is also true for the least serious charged punitive UCMJ article the news story described.

Generally with regard to discharges as part of the punishment after conviction, ". . . a dishonorable discharge should be reserved for those who should be separated under conditions of dishonor, after having been convicted of offenses usually recognized in civilian jurisdictions as felonies, or of offenses of a military nature requiring severe punishment . . ."

Technically though, no discharge is required as part of the punishment, if there is a conviction.

I expect a conviction on some of the less serious charges, due to admission of at least simple assault, based on my experience in civilian trials. Again, I hope I'm wrong.

He asked me what I believe now was a veiled question a few weeks ago, in retrospect I think he was maybe debating a plea, but based on my answer (and I'm sure more qualified legal advice) he decided to roll the dice for misdemeanor type convictions, if any. Obviously he has not shared this build up with me, and I can't blame him. I've sent him and his wife my best wishes, but there's not much else I can do at this point, being nearly 3 hundred miles away.

If I had to guess, I'd say he's fucked. His career is over, he'll likely serve some time, but if his lawyers are worth a crap, he won't do life.

It all hinges on the judge who...is a woman. Good luck with that.

As I've said to many women for many years, keep your knees together and this kind of shit won't happen. As I've said to many men for many years, keep it in your pants and this kind of shit won't happen.

He made his bed...

A friend of mine cheated constantly on his wife, who knew it was going on, but just sat back and took it until he got a woman pregnant, and she finally had enough. No Court Martial, just paying child support for the kid until he's 79 years old! His wife has filed, he's out of the house, in an apartment and two of his three older kids aren't even talking to him. Keep it in your pants!

quote:

Originally posted by chongosuerte:

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:
Well, at least you presented it in a dignified manner .

Do you have a problem, dude?

He's okay.

The charges are unquestionably undignified. Even in the light most favorable to him, the situation is undignified. Whether he was being facetious or not is immaterial. He is accurate.

Sorry to bring that into the thread. My initial reading of his post I took as sarcasm which may be unfounded.

In any case, what a terrible situation. Hoping for the best possible outcome.

Although I'm admitted to the USCAAF, a co-worker of mine actually plays a JAG attorney on the weekends. I'll ask him what he makes of the situation (based on the incomplete info available, of course). I know he's represented some soldiers in very sticky situations - maybe there's hope for something less than the worst.

-Rob