Fort Carson, CO- Army

Fort Carson is one of the largest military installations in the western United States, home to tens of thousands of service members, their families, and many divisions and branches of the military. If you are charged with violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) at Fort Carson, CO, it is crucial to know your rights and the best options available to you for forming a defense.

Reliable Military Criminal Defense Representation for Fort Carson Clients

The US military enforces a unique set of laws and a code of conduct that applies to all service members. The UCMJ outlines the expectations for all members of the military, from proper presentation in uniform and basic conduct expectations to outlining criminal offenses that may lead to separation from the military and further penalties. If you or a family member is charged with a UCMJ violation in Fort Carson, it is crucial to have military criminal defense counsel you can trust to guide you through this challenging situation.

Benefits of Hiring a Fort Carson Military Criminal Defense Attorney

Every military member is held to a higher standard of conduct than the average civilian, but they have the same constitutional rights when charged with a crime. The UCMJ is quite strict, including many Articles that outline penalties for actions that are not considered criminal for civilians. For example, it is not illegal for a civilian to cheat on their spouse, but adultery is a punishable offense under the UCMJ. The various Articles of the UCMJ outline the expectations for all members of the military, and violations of the UCMJ carry severe penalties.

If you have been accused of violating the UCMJ in any way, it is essential to understand the importance of having legal counsel on your side. Like public defenders operating in civilian criminal court systems throughout the United States, detailed military attorneys can provide legal counsel at no charge. However, if you are able to hire private defense representation, the right Fort Carson military criminal defense attorney can offer more robust legal counsel.

Attorney Aaron Meyer is a former US Marine and Judge Advocate who has dedicated his professional legal career to defending fellow service members accused of violating the UCMJ. While the Articles of the UCMJ mirror many of the criminal statutes enforced for civilians in the United States, penalties for UCMJ violations are typically harsher than their civilian counterparts, and the judicial systems within the branches of the military move more quickly than civilian criminal courts. Therefore, if you need legal representation for your impending criminal case at Fort Carson, choosing an attorney experienced with military criminal justice procedures is essential.

Types of Military Criminal Cases at Fort Carson

The military has a multi-tiered system for addressing and resolving UCMJ violations. The severity of the offense in question and various other factors can influence the level of disciplinary action the accused faces:

• When a service member has failed to meet performance standards or committed an offense that does not necessarily qualify for prosecution, their commanding officer may issue an Article 15 as a formal reprimand of the service member. Think of Article 15 as a formal warning, and the commanding officer has the discretionary power to recommend nonjudicial punishment for the service member in question.
• Administrative separation could be on the table for any service member who has consistently failed to meet physical fitness standards, duty requirements or who has demonstrated a failure to adapt to military life. Additionally, the administrative separation process allows for the service member to argue their case to remain in the military, and a military criminal defense attorney can be a helpful asset in establishing their case.
• Special court-martial proceedings mirror civilian criminal court proceedings for misdemeanor-level offenses. The penalties for conviction through the special court-martial process typically include forfeiture of pay and allowances, demotion in rank, and more. Separation from service is also possible if a violation is severe enough.
• A general court-martial is the most serious level of judicial action a service member can face. Offenses that qualify for general court-martial are typically recognized as felonies for civilians. Penalties are similar to those assigned for special court-martial convictions but more severe. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of pay and allowances, and incarceration in a military prison are just a few examples of possible penalties.

Penalties for conviction in the military can potentially include fines and forfeiture of pay and allowances, incarceration, restitution to any victims harmed by the defendant’s actions, demotion of rank, or removal from service. While many Articles of the UCMJ mirror criminal statutes that apply to civilians, the penalties facing members of the military are much harsher and will affect convicted service members’ lives in various ways.

Attorney Aaron Meyer and his team have maintained a perfect professional record, handling all manner of criminal cases for armed forces members for many years. We know the stress and uncertainty that your case entails and that your military career may be in jeopardy. The sooner you secure legal representation from an experienced Fort Carson military criminal defense attorney, the better your chances are of reaching a positive outcome for your case.

What to Expect From Our Team

Aaron Meyer Law provides military criminal defense representation to US service members stationed across the country. Fort Carson is one of the newest and largest military bases in the continental United States, and every service member stationed at Fort Carson is expected to follow the UCMJ at all times. Unfortunately, violations do occur, and it is also possible for a service member to be wrongfully charged with a UCMJ violation they did not commit.

Whatever your unique situation may entail, Attorney Aaron Meyer will carefully examine the details of your case, help you assess the strength of the evidence and testimony stacked against you, and guide you through the process of formulating your defense. Our firm provides individualized legal representation because we know every case is different, and every client faces unique concerns in their legal proceedings.

The internal judicial system of the military moves very quickly, and you have a limited time in which to build an effective defense against the charge or charges filed against you. Do not throw away the military career you have worked so hard to build. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a Fort Carson military criminal defense attorney.