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Courts-martial results: one aquitted, one convicted

  • Published
  • 20th Fighter Wing Legal Office
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The Office of the Staff Judge Advocate is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases against Air Force members suspected of violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and applicable civilian criminal codes. Air Force members accused of crimes can elect to plead guilty or not guilty and, in general and special courts-martial, may choose between being tried by a jury composed of officer members, officer and enlisted members or a military judge alone.

Nearly all trials are open to the public.

For information about Shaw's court schedule and location, contact the legal office at 895-1560.

In a special court-martial conducted Dec. 12-14, Airman 1st Class Tashira Hight, 55th Fighter Squadron, was acquitted by a panel of officer and enlisted members of malingering, false official statement and failure to obey an order.

In another special court-martial Dec. 20, Airman 1st Class Robert Cole II, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was convicted of violating Air Force Instruction 33-129, Communications and Information, Transmission of Information Via the Internet, by wrongfully displaying pornography on a government computer, and of violating Article 134, being disorderly, by wrongfully engaging in indecent activity while in the Community Activity Center computer room.

Airman Cole pled guilty to accessing pornographic images on the government computer approximately three to four times a week.

Airman Cole pled guilty before a military judge sitting alone without a panel of court members.

After accepting the guilty plea on both charges, the military judge sentenced Airman Cole to three months confinement, three months hard labor without confinement, reduction in rank to Airman basic, a reprimand, forfeiture of $823 of his pay per month for three months and a fine of $800.

If he fails to pay the fine, Airman Cole will receive an additional three months confinement.

The federal conviction may adversely impact the ability of Airman Cole to secure civilian employment with any federal agency, state agencies, all law enforcement or any other organization that conducts background investigations on potential employees. His conviction and sentence is subject to review by the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals and the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.