The following reports the results of Special and General Courts-Martial tried and completed within the United States Navy in February 2018. The cases are listed by the Navy Region in which they were tried.

Naval District Washington

General Court-Martial

* At a General Court-Martial in Washington, D.C., Lt. Brad Respondek, USN, pled guilty pursuant to a pretrial agreement to possessing child pornography. On 27 February 2018, the military judge sentenced him to be dismissed from the United States Navy and confinement for five months. The pretrial agreement had no effect on the sentence.

Special Courts-Martial

* None.


Navy Region Mid-Atlantic

General Court-Martial

* At a General Court-Martial in Norfolk, Virginia, Petty Officer Second Class Robert F. Striker, USN, pled guilty pursuant to a pretrial agreement to sexual assault of a child. On 14 February 2018, the military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Dishonorable Discharge, and confinement for 14 months. The pretrial agreement had no effect on the sentence.

* At a General Court-Martial in Great Lakes, Illinois, Petty Officer Third Class Lewis Parker, Jr., USN pled guilty pursuant to a pretrial agreement to one specification of willful disobedience of a superior commissioned officer, one specification of possession of drug paraphernalia, three specifications of wrongful use of a controlled substance, one specification of wrongful distribution of a controlled substance, one specification of wrongful possession of a controlled substance, one specification of assault consummated by a battery, and one specification of communicating a threat. On 27 February 2018, the military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Dishonorable Discharge, to forfeit all pay and allowances, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1, and confinement for two years. Pursuant to the pretrial agreement, all confinement greater than 14 months is to be suspended. Forfeitures will be deferred and waived for six months. The suspended punishment may be served if the Service Member violates the terms of the pretrial agreement.

Special Court-Martial

* At a Special Court-Martial in Norfolk, Virginia, Fireman William D. Heath, USN, pled guilty pursuant to a pretrial agreement to one specification of failure to obey a lawful order (breaking restriction) and two specifications of wrongful use of a controlled substance. On 2 February 2018, the military judge sentenced him to confinement for 90 days. The pretrial agreement had no effect on the sentence. The pretrial agreement contained a waiver of the accused's administrative separation board.

* At a Special Court-Martial in Norfolk, Virginia, Airman Ahmed A. Megeed, USN, pled guilty pursuant to a pretrial agreement to one specification of unauthorized absence and seven specifications of wrongful use of a controlled substance. On 12 February 2018, the military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1, and confinement for 185 days. Pursuant to the pretrial agreement, all confinement greater than time served (171 days) is to be suspended. The Bad Conduct Discharge is to be suspended pending administrative separation. The suspended punishment may be served if the Service Member violates the terms of the pretrial agreement. The pretrial agreement contained a waiver of the accused's administrative separation board.

* At a Special Court-Martial in Great Lakes, Illinois, Airman Kevin T. Bunting, USN, pled guilty pursuant to a pretrial agreement to sexual harassment. On 1 February 2018, the military judge sentenced him to forfeit $500 per month for six months, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1, and to perform hard labor without confinement for 90 days. The pretrial agreement had no effect on his sentence. The pretrial agreement contained a waiver of the accused's administrative separation board.

* At a Special Court-Martial in Great Lakes, Illinois, SeamanRyan F. Francis, USN, pled guilty pursuant to a pretrial agreement to possession of child pornography. On 13 February 2018, the military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge, to forfeit $1000 per month for nine months, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1, and confinement for nine months. The pretrial agreement had no effect on his sentence.

Navy Region Southeast

General Courts-Martial

* At a General Court-Martial in Pensacola, Florida, Airman Grayson S. Blanton, USN, pled guilty pursuant to a pretrial agreement to attempting to commit sexual abuse of a child involving indecent communication. On 12 February 2018, the military judge sentenced him to a reprimand, to be discharged with a Dishonorable Discharge, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1, and confinement for 15 months. The pretrial agreement had no effect on his sentence.

* At a General Court-Martial in Pensacola, Florida, Petty Officer Second Class Jonathan T. Thomas, USN, pled guilty pursuant to a pretrial agreement to assault with an unloaded firearm and engaging in a sexual act for money. On 12 February 2018, the military judge sentenced him to reduction in rank to paygrade E-1 and confinement for 151 days. The pretrial agreement had no effect on his sentence. The pretrial agreement contained a waiver of the accused's administrative separation board.

Special Courts-Martial

* At a Special Court-Martial in Jacksonville, Florida, Petty Officer Third Class Bradley J. Jenner, USN, pled guilty pursuant to a pretrial agreement to wrongful possession of a controlled substance and assault consummated by a battery. On 23 February 2018, the military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1, and confinement for 75 days. Pursuant to the pretrial agreement, the Bad Conduct Discharge is to be disapproved. The pretrial agreement contained a waiver of the accused's administrative separation board.

* At a Special Court-Martial in Pensacola, Florida, Seaman Nicolas G. Escobar, USN, pled guilty pursuant to a pretrial agreement to assault consummated by a battery and communicating inappropriate and unprofessional language to a patient. On 26 February 2018, the military judge sentenced him to forfeit $1000 per month for three months, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1, and confinement for three months. Pursuant to the pretrial agreement, the adjudged forfeitures are to be deferred until convening authority's action and then disapproved upon convening authority's action. The pretrial agreement contained a waiver of the accused's administrative separation board.

* At a Special Court-Martial in Mayport, Florida, Petty Officer Second Class Remo M. Gay II, USN, pled guilty pursuant to a pretrial agreement to two specifications of assault consummated by a battery. On 27 February 2018, the military judge sentenced him to forfeit $1000 per month for two months, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1, and confinement for 45 days. Pursuant to the pretrial agreement, the adjudged confinement and discharge will be disapproved. The pretrial agreement contained a waiver of the accused's administrative separation board.


Navy Region Northwest

General Court-Martial

* At a General Court-Martial in Bremerton, Washington, Petty Officer Third Class Zaccariah D. McCulloch, USN, was tried for two specifications of murder and assault consummated by a battery upon a child. On 16 February 2018, the panel of members returned a verdict of guilty to involuntary manslaughter of a child and sentenced him to confinement for two years and ninemonths.

* At a General Court-Martial in Oak Harbor, Washington, an E-4 was tried for rape. On 28 February 2018, the panel of members returned a verdict of not guilty.

Special Court-Martial

* None.


Navy Region Southwest

General Court-Martial

* None.

Special Court-Martial

* At a Special Court-Martial in San Diego, California, Petty Officer Third Class Zachary D. M. Schauf, USN, pled guilty pursuant to a pretrial agreement to one specification of assault consummated by a battery and one specification of possession of anime depicting child pornography. On 21 February 2018, the military judge sentenced him to reduction in rank to paygrade E-3, a fine of $1000 and confinement for 120 days. Pursuant to the pretrial agreement, forfeitures will be deferred and then suspended for six months, reduction in rank will be deferred and then suspended for six months. The pretrial agreement contained a waiver of the accused's administrative separation board.


Navy Region Hawaii

General Court-Martial

* None.

Special Court-Martial

* None.

Navy Region Japan

General Court-Martial

* At a General Court-Martial in Yokosuka, Japan, a Seaman was tried for sexual assault and abusive sexual contact. On 28 February 2018, a panel of members returned a verdict of not guilty.

Special Court-Martial

* None.

Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia

General Court-Martial

* At a General Court-Martial in Stuttgart, Germany, Petty Officer First Class Brian Lohr, USNR, was tried for indecent visual recording, patronizing prostitutes, and assault consummated by a battery. On 1 March 2018, the panel of members returned a verdict of guilty of indecent visual recording, patronizing prostitutes, and assault consummated by a battery, and sentenced him to be discharged with a Dishonorable Discharge, to forfeit all pay and allowances, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1, and confinement for six months.

Special Court-Martial

* None.