AF missile officer sentence for "thug life" fair?

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 19:58:42 -0500

A Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, missileer whom the Air Force said was the leader of a violent street gang that arranged for the exchange of money for sex with underage girls, distributed drugs and gave alcohol to teenagers was sentenced in December to 25 years in prison and a dismissal, the Air Force said Friday.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/crime/2015/02/02/minot-air-force-base-missileer-leon-brown-sentenced-25-years/22753751/

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Feb 2 at 2015 8:11 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 20:11:22 -0500

I'm surprised it is not more. Underage girls, drugs, underage alcohol distribution while a service member? If he did it in uniform we should just shoot him out back.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Feb 2 at 2015 8:58 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 20:58:47 -0500

Ummmmmmmmmmm...... wow. I don't have the words.

Response by SSG Jason Hyatt made Feb 2 at 2015 9:59 PM

SSG Jason Hyatt — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 21:59:24 -0500

Considering I grew up in Minot ND this actually does not surprise me. The base does have a long seedy past with alcohol, drugs and sec scandals.

Response by SSG Leonard J W. made Feb 3 at 2015 12:39 AM

SSG Leonard J W. — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 00:39:43 -0500

I thought officers were supposed to be scholars and gentlemen - not pimps and hustlers! I'm truly glad that this delinquent was the exception rather than the example!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2015 7:13 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 07:13:06 -0500

Heck yeah it's fair, and it should serve as a due warning to all other service members, if you do that in our Air Force, you will be handled appropriately. Now I personally think that if it had been an enlisted person the sentence would have been a bit more harsh (30-35 years), but that is just what I think. We need to get these bad apples out while we have a chance. He had access to highly classified information, that thank goodness didn't get into the wrong hands.

Response by SSG Jim Husselman made Feb 3 at 2015 7:55 AM

SSG Jim Husselman — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 07:55:49 -0500

Absolutely should have been turned over to CID and tried in military court! He should have gotten more than 25yrs. Being a father of two grown young ladies if this guy or any fellow service member were to behave like that with them I would go ballistic and seek maximum legal recourse and possibly depending on what exactly happened considering the alcohol involved may have activated the presue in extreme prejudice mode(had either girl been violated).

Sorry Now back to professional Soldier mode:
After being stationed at FT. Bragg when the skinheads killed the couple at the carwash because they were black I would think our Military COC would have started seeking out and discharging or charging anyone in uniform that chose to try to live the gang and or gangster lifestyle! We as service members are the tip of the spear not the crap on a heel! We are to present and behave in a professional/ respectable manor as we represent the greatest nation/military on the planet. When folks look at us they should have an immediate feeling of safety, security and pride! Look at the cost that has been paid for this great country by us and for us and anyone in the Military Service should be humbled and proud to dress and behave properly if nothing else as a sign of respect for those who went before us and paid the ultimate price for our freedoms!! Yes he should have gotten more time and should be an example to others who put on our uniform and behave questionably. Sorry my post is so long but I have been all over the world as a service member and have seen folks happy to see us because they now feel safe and I have also seen where they hated us mostly because a small few go to other places and act like animals and make our military as a whole look bad. So enough rant from me for now just an old Soldiers feelings on the matter.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2015 8:36 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:36:00 -0500

Since the charges were proven beyond a reasonable doubt, I think this cat should face a whole pile of prison time. This truly is a reprehensible set of charges. I have no sympathy for him. None.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2015 9:07 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 09:07:38 -0500

"You see, a pimp's love is very different than the love of squares".

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Feb 3 at 2015 9:47 AM

MSG Floyd Williams — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 09:47:49 -0500

The dummy contributed to ruining young lives instead of being part of the solution to child sex trafficking, drugs, and alcohol, greed is a terrible thing that time should have been double.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Feb 3 at 2015 6:24 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 18:24:38 -0500

Is the sentence fair? Let's see:
- Don't know the specific charges but your post shows: prostitution of underage girls, alcohol to teenagers, drug dealer. The post provides no clue as to the number of counts charged but let's assume one count for each charge listed.
- I assume the officer receive a fair court martial and was found guilty of at least three counts.
- Manual for Courts-Martial United States (2012 edition).
o Prostitution. Violation Art 134 (pandering and prostitution), Art 120c (Other sexual misconduct). Max punishment pandering dishonorable discharge, forfeiture all pay/allowance, confinement 5 years.
o Alcohol to teenagers. Depends upon what the charge was. Hard to look up the specific offense with just this title.
o Drug dealing. Same as above.
- Sentence: 25 years prison and dismissal. If the officer was guilty of just five counts of pandering (ie five girls which is probable) then the 25 years is justified based upon this alone if the judge ordered the sentences to be carried out consequitively rather than simultaneous.
Bottom Line: without more information I can only assume the officer received the sentence that he/she deserved.