A CID investigation at Fort Carson begins inside one of the most concentrated military communities in the United States. Colorado Springs hosts Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and NORAD. A soldier facing allegations here faces not only the Army’s criminal investigation process but a legal environment where multiple commands, agencies, and jurisdictions operate within the same metropolitan area.
Fort Carson is home to the 4th Infantry Division, two Stryker brigade combat teams, an armored brigade combat team, a combat aviation brigade, division artillery, a sustainment brigade, the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), the 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade, and the 71st Ordnance Group. Established in 1942 after Pearl Harbor, when the city of Colorado Springs donated the land to the War Department, Fort Carson covers roughly 137,000 acres south of the city. The Office of Special Trial Counsel now controls charging decisions for covered offenses at Fort Carson, independent of the 4th Infantry Division chain of command.
Joseph L. Jordan is a former Army JAG prosecutor who served at Fort Hood, Texas, and with the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea. He has defended soldiers at Fort Carson, including but not limited to a sexual assault acquittal, a drug charge that resulted in no charges filed, and a GOMOR eradicated for a lieutenant colonel.
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If You Are Under Investigation at Fort Carson
Fort Carson does not operate in isolation. The Colorado Springs area is home to five major defense installations and a large population of active duty service members, veterans, and DOD civilians. That density creates legal dynamics specific to this region.
Off-post jurisdiction overlap. Soldiers living off post in Colorado Springs, Fountain, Security-Widefield, or Pueblo may be subject to both UCMJ jurisdiction and Colorado state criminal jurisdiction for off-post conduct. When an allegation involves off-post behavior, the question of which jurisdiction prosecutes, or whether both do, is a threshold legal issue. An attorney who understands how military and Colorado state jurisdiction interact can address this overlap before it compounds your exposure.
Multi-installation dynamics. Fort Carson soldiers interact with personnel from other installations in the area. Allegations can involve witnesses, complainants, or evidence connected to Peterson, Schriever, or the Air Force Academy. Cross-installation investigations involve coordination between CID and other agencies, which can complicate evidence collection and chain of custody.
10th Special Forces Group and clearance sensitivity. The 10th SFG (Airborne) is headquartered at Fort Carson. Soldiers in special operations positions hold security clearances that enter review the moment an allegation surfaces. For SOF personnel, a clearance suspension does not just affect the current assignment. It can end the career field entirely. A separation board or Board of Inquiry can proceed on the underlying conduct regardless of the criminal case outcome.
Charges Commonly Prosecuted at Fort Carson
Sexual assault under Article 120 is the charge that generates the most severe prosecution at Fort Carson. A military sexual assault defense attorney who understands the local prosecution environment is essential. Joseph L. Jordan secured a sexual assault acquittal for a soldier stationed here. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Other charges regularly prosecuted include drug offenses under Article 112a (Colorado’s legal marijuana framework does not protect soldiers under the UCMJ; positive urinalysis cases remain aggressively prosecuted regardless of state law), assault and domestic violence under Articles 128 and 128b, larceny and fraud, AWOL under Article 86, fraternization, and conduct unbecoming. Jordan also resolved a drug offense at Fort Carson that resulted in no charges filed and secured the eradication of a GOMOR for a lieutenant colonel.
Administrative Consequences at Fort Carson
An allegation triggers administrative consequences that operate on their own timeline. Security clearance review under continuous evaluation. Promotion flag. Duty assignment restriction. Military Protective Order. Even a full acquittal at trial does not prevent command from pursuing administrative separation on the same allegations under a lower evidentiary threshold. A Board of Inquiry applies a preponderance of evidence standard. Nonjudicial punishment under Article 15 can be imposed for lesser offenses.
For soldiers in the 10th SFG or the 4th SFAB, a clearance suspension or adverse administrative action can remove them from their career field permanently. For officers facing a GOMOR, the difference between filing in the performance fiche and the restricted fiche can determine whether a career continues past the next promotion board.
Civilian Counsel at Fort Carson
The TDS office at Fort Carson serves the entire 4th Infantry Division, the 10th SFG, and the installation’s tenant units. That caseload reflects the size and diversity of the Fort Carson population. TDS attorneys rotate on Army timelines and manage multiple cases simultaneously.
A civilian court-martial lawyer provides continuity, independence from the command structure, and focused attention from investigation through resolution. You have the right to retain civilian counsel alongside your assigned military defense team. In a case where SOF clearance, officer career progression, or a serious criminal charge is at stake, that independence matters.
Joseph L. Jordan: Defense for Fort Carson Soldiers
Joseph L. Jordan tried courts-martial as a JAG prosecutor before turning to defense. He has handled cases at Fort Carson and installations across the country and around the world.
His results at Fort Carson include but are not limited to a sexual assault acquittal, a drug offense resolved with no charges filed for an E-6, and a GOMOR eradicated for a lieutenant colonel. Across all installations:
- 1,000+ clients represented
- 250+ trials to verdict
- Licensed in Arkansas
- Cases reported by Fox News, ABC News, Anderson Cooper, and The Wall Street Journal
View his case results.
Free consultation. Confidential. No obligation. Call or text (888) 643-6254.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The UCMJ prohibits the use of controlled substances regardless of state law. A soldier who uses marijuana in Colorado, even off post, can be prosecuted under Article 112a and face a positive urinalysis charge that results in separation or court-martial.
If you are under investigation, facing charges, or anticipating action at Fort Carson, contact Joseph L. Jordan before making any statement. Call or text (888) 643-6254. Free. Confidential. No obligation.
Related Army Installations
- Fort Hood in Texas
- Fort Riley in Kansas
- Fort Bliss in Texas
- Fort Drum in New York
- Fort Bragg in North Carolina