An Air Force NCO accused of making false official statements in violation of Article 107 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and Larceny in violation of Article 121 of the UCMJ was acquitted by a court-martial panel composed of ninr officers at Travis Air Force Base last week. The Air Force alleged that the SSgt intentionally lied about the status and location of his dependent son in order to steal over $100,000.00 in BAH entitlements. Beginning with his opening statement Civilian Defense Attorney Davis Younts asserted that the government’s theory was flawed and based on faulty assumptions. During cross examination of the government’s expert witness and the lead AFOSI investigator for the case it was revealed that no representative of the prosecution had spoken to several key witnesses or considered the possibility that the SSgt was giving improper guidance by Air Force finance personnel. SSgt Mathews was fully acquitted of all charges after a four day trial.
