U.S. Army v. E-4 (MANSLAUGHTER)

Fort Drum, New York

The Client was charged with the criminal offenses of Manslaughter (Article 119) and Negligent Discharge (Article 134). The Client was accused of unlawfully killing a fellow Soldier while deployed. The fellow Soldier was the client’s best friend.

The original strategy was to try this case. The victim’s family in this case fully supported Mr. Jordan’s Client. They even testified at the Article 32 hearing, imploring the Army Prosecutors to not go forward to Courts-Martial. Of course, the prosecutors and the Convening Authority ignored such stirring testimony and the charges were referred to Courts-Martial.

Through intense discovery requests, Mr. Jordan was able to learn that not one, but several negligent discharges had occurred within the unit in question without any repercussions. To make matters worse, NO corrective actions were ever taken against the individuals who was actually responsible for pulling the trigger! Mr. Jordan also pointed out the inequity of the Government regarding unfairly charging his client when he discovered that there was yet another case – IN THE SAME UNIT- where a Captain was negligently shot in the leg by his driver while on a routine patrol; however, that driver was not put on trial. Armed with this knowledge, Mr. Jordan pushed the Army prosecutors to the negotiating table.

Result: Charges Dropped! Over the course of 4 long months Mr. Jordan was able to negotiate a deal on behalf of his Client where his Client would be administratively discharged from the Army without facing a Courts-Martial. He has no criminal record and no felony conviction.

Joseph Jordan is an accomplished, experienced Military Criminal Defense Attorney who specializes in defending ALL service members against violations of the UCMJ. He believes in and seeks out Justice for Soldiers, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, Airmen and Marines worldwide.