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Prepared, proven, and relentless advocacy for Airmen facing UCMJ investigations, Article 15 action, administrative separation, court-martial charges, and sexual misconduct allegations near Sumter, South Carolina.

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If you are under investigation at Shaw AFB — do not speak to investigators, CID, or OSI without a defense attorney present.

Shaw Air Force Base · Sumter, SC

What You're Up Against at Shaw

Shaw AFB is home to the 20th Fighter Wing, the largest F-16 combat wing in the Air Force, and one of the most active military justice environments in the Carolinas. Investigations here move fast. The moment command opens a case, the clock starts, and every decision you make before you have a defense attorney can be used against you.

Since the Military Justice Improvement Act and the creation of the Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC) in 2023, serious charges, including sexual assault, rape, and domestic violence, are now prosecuted independently of base command. That means the local commander no longer controls whether your case goes to court-martial. A dedicated team of prosecutors does. They pursue these cases aggressively, and they have experience doing it.

Your JAG-appointed defense counsel is good, but they carry a heavy caseload, have limited investigative resources, and answer to the same chain of command that is investigating you. An experienced military defense attorney changes that dynamic entirely.

Know Your Rights

Under Investigation? Do This Now.

Invoke your right to remain silent immediately — Article 31b, UCMJ protects you
Do not consent to searches of your phone, barracks room, or vehicle
Do not discuss the allegations with fellow airmen, supervisors, or anyone in your chain of command
Preserve every text message, email, and record that may be relevant
Do not post anything about your situation on social media
Contact a military defense attorney before your next conversation with investigators

Practice Areas

How a Case Moves at Shaw AFB

Understanding the process helps you move faster. Every stage below is a decision point. The earlier you have a defense attorney, the more options you have.

01 Report or Complaint

A complaint is filed through command, SARC, OSI, or an IG hotline. This triggers an investigation. You may not know you're under investigation until OSI contacts you.

02 OSI / AFOSI Investigation

Air Force OSI leads criminal investigations. They gather statements, pull records, and build a case file. Anything you say to OSI even casually is recorded and can be used against you.

02 OSI / AFOSI Investigation

Air Force OSI leads criminal investigations. They gather statements, pull records, and build a case file. Anything you say to OSI even casually is recorded and can be used against you.

03 Referral to OSTC or Command

For serious offenses (Art. 120, 128b, 130), OSI refers the case to the OSTC, which decides independently whether to prosecute, accept a plea, or refer for NJP. For lesser offenses, command retains authority.

Court-Martial or Disposition

Cases proceed to special or general court-martial, are resolved through a pre-trial agreement (plea), or are dismissed. Your fate is largely determined by the preparation done before this moment not during it.

Cases proceed to special or general court-martial, are resolved through a pre-trial agreement (plea), or are dismissed. Your fate is largely determined by the preparation done before this moment — not during it.

Article 120, UCMJ

Sexual Assault Charges at Shaw: What Article 120 Actually Means

Article 120 of the UCMJ covers rape, sexual assault, aggravated sexual contact, and abusive sexual contact. At Shaw, these charges are brought almost exclusively by the OSTC, not the base commander, which means the prosecution team is specialized, experienced, and motivated by mission, not command politics.

A conviction for rape under Article 120 carries a mandatory minimum of life imprisonment. Sexual assault carries up to 30 years. Every conviction triggers automatic sex offender registration, a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge, and permanent loss of all VA benefits. There is no version of an Article 120 conviction that doesn’t end a military career.

False or exaggerated allegations do happen. Consent disputes happen. And in the military, a complaint alone is enough to trigger a full criminal investigation, before any evidence is verified. The burden is on you to build a defense, and that defense has to start before OSI builds a file.

If you've been notified that you are the subject of a sexual misconduct investigation at Shaw — even informally by your first sergeant or supervisor — contact a civilian defense attorney today. You have Article 31b rights. Use them.

Potential Consequences

Article 120 — What's at Stake

Life imprisonment (rape conviction)
Up to 30 years confinement (sexual assault)
Dishonorable or Bad Conduct Discharge
Federal sex offender registration — permanent
Loss of all VA benefits
Forfeiture of all pay and allowances
Reduction to E-1

These maximums apply under the UCMJ. Actual sentences vary based on the specific charge, specifications, and mitigating factors presented at sentencing.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hire a civilian lawyer even if I already have a JAG attorney?

Yes. You have the right to retain civilian counsel at any stage of a UCMJ proceeding — before or after a JAG is assigned. If you hire civilian counsel, your JAG can remain on the case as associate counsel if you choose. Most clients benefit from having both.

What is Article 31b and why does it matter?

Article 31b of the UCMJ is the military equivalent of Miranda rights. It requires that you be informed of your right to remain silent before any custodial interrogation. Unlike civilian law, Article 31b also applies when your superior officer questions you — not just law enforcement. If investigators or your chain of command asks questions about an alleged offense, you can and should invoke Article 31b before saying anything. "I am invoking my right to remain silent and want to speak to an attorney" is always the right answer.

What is the OSTC and how does it change my case?

The Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC) was created in 2023 to remove prosecutorial authority over serious sexual misconduct cases from base commanders. For charges under Articles 120, 120b, 120c, 117a, 128b, and 130, the OSTC — not the base commander at Shaw — decides whether to charge, how to charge, and whether to accept a plea. The OSTC's attorneys handle only these cases. They are experienced and aggressive. Your defense needs to match that level of preparation.

Should I accept an Article 15 or demand a court-martial?

It depends entirely on the strength of the evidence and the specific charges. Accepting NJP is not a conviction, but it stays in your record and can affect your career permanently. If the government's case is weak, demanding a court-martial — where you have full due process rights, the right to confront witnesses, and a higher burden of proof — may be the better move. This is not a decision to make without legal advice. Call us before you decide.

My security clearance is under review because of the investigation. What do I do?

A security clearance suspension runs parallel to — and sometimes faster than — a criminal investigation. The SOR (Statement of Reasons) gives you an opportunity to respond before a final determination is made. At Shaw, where clearance is tied directly to your ability to perform your mission, losing your clearance often means losing your billet before a criminal case is even resolved. We handle both the criminal defense and the clearance response simultaneously, so nothing falls through the cracks.

Can the charges be dropped before trial?

Yes — and it happens more often when defense counsel is active early. The Article 32 preliminary hearing exists in part to test the government's evidence. A skilled civilian attorney can challenge witness credibility, expose inconsistencies, and create a record that makes prosecution harder. Cases are also disposed through pre-trial agreements. Dismissal is always the goal; we exhaust every avenue before trial begins.

Prepared. Proven. Relentless.

Prepared, proven, and relentless advocacy for Airmen facing UCMJ investigations, Article 15 action, administrative separation, court-martial charges, and sexual misconduct allegations near Sumter, South Carolina.

Shields Up.

If you are under investigation at Shaw AFB — do not speak to investigators, CID, or OSI without a defense attorney present.

Shaw Air Force Base · Sumter, SC

What You're Up Against at Shaw

Know Your Rights

Under Investigation? Do This Now.

Practice Areas

Court Martial Defense

Military Law

Religious Discrimination

Veterans Law

Professional Licensing

Federal Employment

Security Clearance

Military Justice Process

How a Case Moves at Shaw AFB

Understanding the process helps you move faster. Every stage below is a decision point. The earlier you have a defense attorney, the more options you have.

01

Report or Complaint

A complaint is filed through command, SARC, OSI, or an IG hotline. This triggers an investigation. You may not know you're under investigation until OSI contacts you.

02

OSI / AFOSI Investigation

Air Force OSI leads criminal investigations. They gather statements, pull records, and build a case file. Anything you say to OSI even casually is recorded and can be used against you.

02

OSI / AFOSI Investigation

Air Force OSI leads criminal investigations. They gather statements, pull records, and build a case file. Anything you say to OSI even casually is recorded and can be used against you.

03

Referral to OSTC or Command

For serious offenses (Art. 120, 128b, 130), OSI refers the case to the OSTC, which decides independently whether to prosecute, accept a plea, or refer for NJP. For lesser offenses, command retains authority.

Court-Martial or Disposition

Cases proceed to special or general court-martial, are resolved through a pre-trial agreement (plea), or are dismissed. Your fate is largely determined by the preparation done before this moment not during it.

Article 120, UCMJ

Sexual Assault Charges at Shaw: What Article 120 Actually Means

Potential Consequences

Article 120 — What's at Stake

These maximums apply under the UCMJ. Actual sentences vary based on the specific charge, specifications, and mitigating factors presented at sentencing.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. You have the right to retain civilian counsel at any stage of a UCMJ proceeding — before or after a JAG is assigned. If you hire civilian counsel, your JAG can remain on the case as associate counsel if you choose. Most clients benefit from having both.

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