Clarksville Military Criminal Defense Attorneys

Serving Members of the U.S. Military in Montgomery County and the Surrounding Areas

U.S. service members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and other military institutions to a higher standard and must adhere to more laws compared to civilians. Not only does a conviction result in serious criminal penalties like confinement and a fine, but also forfeiture of pay, loss of rank, or even the end of a career.

If you are in the U.S. military and facing criminal allegations in Montgomery County, let Jeff Grimes & Associates, PLLC can provide effective and personalized legal solutions to service members facing court martials and other adverse legal actions. With over 40 years of experience, our Clarksville military criminal defense lawyers can protect your rights, freedom, and future throughout the legal process.

Call us today at (931) 398-5308 and schedule a confidential consultation.

United States Court-Martial Trials

Court-martial trials are held when a military member violates the punitive articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). According to military law, an Article 32 investigation will be conducted to gather evidence of the alleged offense and determine if there is probable cause a crime was committed.

Common examples of military crimes, which could be handled in a general court-martial, include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Assault

• Theft

• DUI

• Drug Crimes

• Conduct unbecoming of an officer

• Failure to follow an order

• Communicating a threat

• Indecent language

• Indecent exposure

• Conspiracy

• Accessory after the fact

• Child pornography

• Rape and sexual assault

• Manslaughter

• Murder

A military judge, who is either Commander, Captain, Colonel, or Lieutenant Colonel (depending on the military branch) will preside of the trial, which is prosecuted by an active duty JAG attorney and often hold the rank of Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, or Captain.

The defendant has a right to a counsel of the choice, whether it’s using a JAG attorney (who acts like a public defender) or hiring a private lawyer. He/she also has a right to choose trial before panel members (I.e. a military jury) or by only the military judge. A general officer or admiral choose the panel members, rather than randomly selected like civilian court trials.

If convicted, punishment includes confinement, a fine, reduction of rank, forfeiture of pay, and/or a punitive discharge. When it comes to enlisted members, there are two types of punitive discharge: bad conduct discharge (BCD) and dishonorable discharge. For officers, they may be dismissed from the military, which is like a dishonorable discharge.

Ready to Protect Your Rights & Freedom Today

A conviction in military court can lead to serious repercussions to your personal life and professional reputation, which is why you need an experienced criminal defense attorney to help you get the best possible outcome in your case. Not only do we handle court-martial trials, but we also handle appeals and adverse administration actions. Do not hesitate to let us help you immediately.

Contact us today to learn about your legal options.