US Navy Releases Special, General Courts-Martial Cases

The Navy released Aug. 16 the following report with the results of Special and General Courts-Martial assembled within the United States Navy in July 2013. The cases are separated by the Navy Region in which they were tried.

Naval District Washington
Special Court-Martial
* At a Special Court-Martial in Washington D.C., an E-6 was tried for derelictions of duty, making a false official statement, and making a false claim against the government. On 12 July 2013, the panel of members returned a verdict of not guilty.

Navy Region Mid-Atlantic
General Court-Martial
* At a General Court-Martial in Norfolk, Virginia, ET3 Judge Weging, USN pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. On 18 July 2013 a military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Dishonorable Discharge, reduction in rate to paygrade E-1 and confinement for 18 months.

Special Court-Martials
* At a Special Court-Martial in Norfolk, Virginia, QMSN Sean Hensley, USN pleaded guilty to violation of a general order and housebreaking. On 24 July 2013 a military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge, reduction in rate to paygrade E-1 and confinement for 125 days.

* At a Special Court-Martial in Groton, Connecticut, ET3 Brandon Simpson, USN pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and drug possession, introduction and use. On 30 July 2013 a military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge, reduction in rate to paygrade E-1 and confinement for 9 months.

Navy Region Southeast 
Special Court-Martial
* At a Special Court-Martial in Pensacola, Florida, BU2 Gary Preston, USN was tried for assaults consummated by a battery. A panel of members returned a verdict of not guilty to one specification of assault consummated by a battery and guilty on the remaining specifications of assault consummated by a battery. On 3 July 2013 the panel of members sentenced him to reduction in rank to paygrade E-4, 30 days confinement, and 30 days hard labor without confinement.

* At a Special Court-Martial in Jacksonville, Florida, EMFR Quinton Ford, USN pleaded guilty to insubordinate conduct and communicating a threat. On 26 July 2013 a military judge sentenced him to forfeit $500 per month for 2 months and confinement for 60 days.

* At a Special Court-Martial in Mayport, Florida, an E-6 was tried for wrongful use of a controlled substance. On 31 July 2013, a panel of members returned a verdict of not guilty.

Navy Region Northwest
General Court-Martial
* At a General Court-Martial in Bremerton, Washington, EM1 Robert Glaser, USN was tried for destruction of property, assault consummated by a battery, aggravated assault, child endangerment and disorderly conduct. A panel of members returned a verdict of not guilty of destruction of property, assault consummated by a battery, child endangerment and disorderly conduct and a verdict of guilty to simple assault as the lesser included offense of aggravated assault and disorderly conduct. On 25 July 2013 the panel of members sentenced him to reduction in rank to paygrade E-5, confinement for 60 days and restriction for 15 days.

* At a General Court-Martial in Everett, Washington, EM2 Felix Gonzalez, USN pleaded guilty to rape, aggravated assault, assault consummated by a battery, assault consummated by a battery upon a child, animal cruelty in violation of the Washington Revised Code assimilated under the Federal Assimilative Crimes Act, and communicating a threat. On 18 July 2013 a military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Dishonorable Discharge, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1, forfeit all pay and allowances and confinement for 40 years.

Navy Region Southwest 
General Court-Martial
* At a General Court-Martial in San Diego, California, an E-4 was tried for rape, sodomy and adultery. On 22 July 2013, the panel of members returned a verdict of not guilty.

* At a General Court-Martial in San Diego, California, ITC Shawn Moorefield, USN pleaded guilty to rape of a child, aggravated sexual abuse of a child, indecent liberty with a child, aggravated sexual assault of a child, abusive sexual contact with a child, sodomy with a child under the age of 12, sodomy with a child under the age of 16, production of child pornography, receiving images of child pornography, encouraging minors to engage in sexual acts, adultery, and possessing child pornography. On 25 July 2013 a military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Dishonorable Discharge, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1, forfeit all pay and allowances and confinement for 29 years and 6 months.

Special Court-Martial
* At a Special Court-Martial in San Diego, California, AD2 Bryce McLeod, USN pleaded guilty to stealing military property and unlawful entry. On 9 July 2013 a panel of members sentenced him to reduction in rank to paygrade E-3 and confinement for 15 days.

* At a Special Court-Martial in San Diego, California, AD2 Jason Carathers, USN was tried for stealing military property and unlawful entry. A panel of members returned a verdict of not guilty of stealing military property and guilty of unlawful entry. On 12 July 2013, the panel of members sentenced him to reduction in rank to paygrade E-4 and restriction for 45 days.

* At a Special Court-Martial in San Diego, California, IC3 Terry Caldwell, USN pleaded guilty to drug use. On 23 July 2013 a military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge and confinement for 105 days.

* At a Special Court-Martial in San Diego, California, AN Donnell Epps, USN pleaded guilty to unauthorized absence and drug use. He was tried for missing movement. A panel of members returned a verdict of not guilty of missing one movement and guilty of missing three other movements. On 31 July 2013 the panel of members sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1, forfeit $934 pay per month for 5 months and confinement for 157 days.

Navy Region Hawaii
Special Court-Martial
* At a Special Court-Martial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, FTSN Arsenio White, USN pleaded guilty to assault consummated by a battery. On 25 July 2013 a military judge sentenced him to reduction in rank to paygrade E-2 and confinement for 50 days.

Navy Region Japan
General Court-Martial
* At a General Court-Martial in Yokosuka, Japan, HMC John Averell, USN, was tried for sexual assault, sexual harassment, fraternization and adultery. A military judge convicted HMC Averell, in accordance with his pleas, of fraternization and adultery. A panel of members with enlisted representation convicted HMC Averell, contrary to his plea, of sexual assault, and acquitted HMC Averell of sexual harassment. On 29 July 2013, the panel of members sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge, reduction in rate to paygrade E-1 and confinement for 90 days.

Special Court-Martial

* At a Special Court-Martial on Guam, MA3 Davon Johnson, USN pleaded guilty to assaults consummated by a battery. On 1 July 2013 a military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge, reduction in rate to paygrade E-1, confinement for 7 months and a $2,500 fine.

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Press Release, August 19, 2013; Image: Navy