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Erica Clair:
What you're saying here is quite presumptuous. The JAG Service has never supported, and will never support, any criminal activity whatsoever!

Yes, Afghanistan was a grave mistake, but even worse was abandoning these people entirely to the insane Taliban. We at the JAG Service had several high-ranking officers and politicians under investigation for "war crimes," but each time we were prevented from conducting further investigations by order of the highest authority.

But I understand your point and agree with you on many points. Unfortunately, that's all I can do—and not even officially.

Are you interested in becoming a uniformed attorney?
Practice law, support the Navy, and serve our nation ashore and at sea.

Navy Lawyer — Not sure about where to go to find information on our website? Here's a list of the top questions asked. Just click the link to follow.

NCIS NEWS - Thursday, August 3, 2023

Two U.S. Navy Servicemembers Arrested for Transmitting Military Information to the People’s Republic of China

In two separate cases in the Southern and Central Districts of California, two U.S. Navy servicemembers were arrested for transmitting sensitive military information to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

“These individuals stand accused of violating the commitments they made to protect the United States and betraying the public trust, to the benefit of the PRC government,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to use every tool in our arsenal to counter threats from China and to deter those who aid them in breaking our laws and threatening our national security.”

“These arrests are a reminder of the relentless, aggressive efforts of the People’s Republic of China to undermine our democracy and threaten those who defend it,” said Assistant Director Suzanne Turner of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “The PRC compromised enlisted personnel to secure sensitive military information that could seriously jeopardize U.S. national security. The FBI and our partners remain vigilant in our determination to combat espionage, and encourage past and present government officials to report any suspicious interactions with suspected foreign intelligence officers.”

1.) United States v. Jinchao Wei, Southern District of California

A U.S. Navy sailor, Jinchao Wei, aka Patrick Wei, was arrested yesterday on espionage charges as he arrived for work at Naval Base San Diego, the homeport of the Pacific Fleet. He was indicted for conspiracy to send national defense information to an intelligence officer working for the People’s Republic of China.

2.) United States v. Wenheng Zhao, Central District of California

A U.S. Navy servicemember, Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, aka Thomas Zhao, 26, of Monterey Park, California, was arrested foll-owing an indictment by a federal grand jury, charging him with re-ceiving bribes in exchange for transmitting sensitive U.S. military information to an individual posing as a maritime economic re-searcher, but who was actually an intelligence officer from PRC.
The indictment alleges that Zhao, who worked at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme and held a U.S. security clear-ance, received bribes from a Chinese intelligence officer in ex-change for violating his official duties as a U.S. sailor by, among other actions, disclosing non-public sensitive U.S. military information.

ANOTHER CONGRATS!

Lt. Phil Jones, staff judge advocate for Naval Air Station Jacksonville hit the mark at the 2023 Atlantic Fleet All Navy Rifle and Pistol Championships where he earned a bronze Fleet Rifleman badge and SECNAV Trophy Rifle award by finishing in the top 10% at the Atlantic Fleet rifle match. Additionally, he won the title of “Top New Shooter” for both rifle and pistol.

Although his primary weapon is the UCMJ, Jones demonstrated his proficiency in fi****ms after showcasing his shooting skills with both service weapons from various distances and positions. Jones traveled from his duty station on board Naval Air Station Jacksonville to Quantico, Va., for this nine-day tournament hosted by the U.S. Navy Marksmanship Team. Competitors from diverse Navy communities arrived at the competition armed with the desire to prove themselves as top Navy shooters.

Firing Line 2
Still, Jones highlighted that “in spite of it being a competitive environment, everyone there was so willing to help, to lend gear, and to share some wisdom.”

In speaking about his experience, Jones said he enjoyed spending time with the Sailors in attendance, including officers and enlisted from many backgrounds.

“I learned that small arms skills may not be as widely taught in the Navy as they used to be, but with the proper instruction, anyone can apply the fundamentals and make some serious improvement.”

Due to his outstanding performance, Jones has been selected as 1 of 25 members to represent the U.S. Navy at interservice and national marksmanship competitions on the 2023 Navy Rifle Team. Congratulations to Lt. Phil Jones on his success, and good luck in upcoming competitions!

CONGRATS !!!
Region Legal Service Office Southeast (RLSO SE) held a change of command ceremony on August 11 at the Ocean Breeze Conference Center aboard Naval Air Station Mayport.

Rear Adm. David G. Wilson, Commander, Naval Legal Service Command, presided over the ceremony in which Capt. Tanya M. Cruz was relieved by Capt. Katherine S. Pasieta as Commanding Officer of RLSO SE.

During the ceremony, Cruz thanked her Sailors for a rewarding tour and acknowledged her family's support throughout the years.

Cruz will assume duties as the OJAG Code 61 Military Personnel Division Director.

Pasieta joins RLSO SE having just completed her tour at the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as Deputy Legal Counsel.

"The challenges we face in the next few years will not be the same as the past, but the fighting spirit of the Navy will not change," said Pasieta. "That is the fighting spirit in each one of you. You are the next generation of legal professionals who will lead our Navy whether in the courtroom, the office, overseas and at sea. I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead you.”

Pasieta graduated from the University of Chicago with an honors bachelor’s degree in political science and then graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of San Diego School of Law. In 2013, she graduated with distinction from the Georgetown University Law Center with a Master of Laws in National Security Law and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. She was commissioned as an officer in the Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps through the Student Program in 2001.

RLSO SE supports the operational readiness of Department of the Navy assets in the Southeastern United States by providing responsive, timely, and accurate legal guidance, support services, and training in military justice, legal assistance, and administrative law.

2018 ANNUAL CRIME REPORT:

CHILD ABUSE
In CY 2018, 396 incidents of Child Sexual Abuse were reported in the DON; a decrease of 5 percent from CY 2017. Included were varying combinations of subjects and victims who were active duty military, activated reservists, and
civilians with a DON nexus. Incidents of contact sexual abuse (CSA), child po*******hy (CP), and internet contact (IC) are included in the Child Sexual Abuse category.

Noteworthy Changes from CY 2017 to CY 2018
 Offenses involving Internet Contact decreased by 9 percent (CY 2017=141; CY 2018=129). This was the first decrease in
internet contact offenses since CY 2014.

 After a 15 percent increase in incidents involving CP from CY 2015 to CY 2016, and an additional 11 percent increase from CY 2016 to CY 2017, the trend continued with a 1 percent increase in CY 2018.

 Offenses involving contact sexual abuse decreased by 10 percent from CY 2017 and is at the lowest amount since CY 2011.

5 Total incident counts are based on victim count.
Note: The “IC Involved and “CP Involved” categories include
incidents where another child sexual abuse offense occurred
along with the reported internet contact or child po*******hy
offense.
Relationship & Proximity for Offenses
Involving Contact Sexual Abuse

 The victim knew the subject prior to the offense in a higher percentage of USN cases than in USMC cases.

 The victim lived with the subject at the time of the offense in a higher percentage of USN cases than in USMC cases. USMC USN Number of Cases involving contact offenses
75 124
Relationship Number of Cases when Relationship was Reported 61 107 Subject previously known to Victim (may or may not have resided together at the time of the incident)6
49 (80%) 98 (92%) Proximity Number of Cases when
Subject/Victim Proximity was Reported 66 109
Victim and Subject Reside in Same Residence 25 (38%)
58 (53%) 6 Percentage is calculated based on those cases in which the relationship/proximity of subject and victim was reported in the case materials reviewed.

NARCOTICS
In CY 2018, 2,277 subjects were involved in 3,160 narcotics offenses reported in the DON. This was a 6 percent increase in incidents from CY 2017. The subjects involved in these offenses included DON active duty and reserve personnel,
dependents, and civilians with a DON nexus. Those implicated were involved in the use, possession and/or distribution of illegal narcotics aboard military facilities and/or at offbase locations.
The following graph depicts the overall numbers and associated drug types for the combined Use/Possession and Distribution categories.7 It is important to note that more than one drug type may have been used, possessed and/or distributed by a single subject. Compared to CY 2017, the number of offenses involving He**in, Steroids and Spice decreased, while offenses involving Ma*****na, Prescription
Drugs, Methamphetamines, and Amphetamines, iincreased during CY 2018.8

7 Drug Paraphernalia was included in this year’s data due to a
noticeable increase throughout the year. 8 The “Other” category includes V**e, L*D, P*P, Pe**te, Mushrooms, Salvia Divinorum, Human Growth Hormones and other synthetic or over-the-counter drugs. The “Unknow” category is the result of the reporting official not providing and/or possession. This category included 2,070 of the overall 2,277 subjects.

 The most prevalent drug for CY 2018 in both se/Possession and Distribution offenses was Ma*****na.

 241 subjects abused multiple drug types.

 52 subjects distributed more than one drug type.

 The typical distributor preferred to conduct transactions in the privacy of their barracks or residence. The following table delineates the drug types by affected service branches for CY 2017 and CY 2018

Judge Advocate Honored by Alma Mater
October 18, 2019
From Navy JAG Corps Public Affairs

Cmdr. Tim Stone – who currently serves as the officer in charge at Defense Service Office (DSO) West in Bremerton, Wash. – was honored with an Outstanding Achievement Award from his undergraduate alma mater, Ottawa University, on Oct. 11, 2019.

Stone earned a bachelor of arts degree in history in 1990 from Ottawa University, which is located in Ottawa, Kan. Upon graduation, he attended Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kan.

The Outstanding Achievement Award, established in 2005, recognizes individuals who have made an impact in their chosen field of endeavor, whether over a span of many years or in a relatively short timeframe. According to the school, recipients’ life stories demonstrate what one can do with an Ottawa University education.

“Tim Stone was the model officer in charge: he led from the front, cared for his people, zealously represented his clients and devoted himself to his family. I was a better commanding officer because of the mentorship Tim provided me during my time at DSO West,” said Capt. Dan Cimmino, who now serves as chief of staff of the Defense Service Office from San Diego, Calif.

“We are lucky that Tim is part of the JAG Corps family. I am very happy Ottawa University recognized Tim’s significant contributions to the nation, Navy and the JAG Corps,” Cimmino added.

Stone has served in the Navy JAG Corps for more than 28 years, and he has completed a wide range of challenging and rewarding assignments. Perhaps Stone’s most prominent case came during his four years of service as a prosecutor assigned to the Office of Military Commissions. In that role, Stone successfully prosecuted Osama Bin Laden’s lead bodyguard in the only fully contested trial in the war on terror and the first war crimes prosecution since Nuremberg.

Another significant assignment in Stone’s career was serving as lead international law attorney in support of coalition military operations against Libya.

At DSO West, Stone is responsible for ensuring that all military personnel in the Pacific Northwest facing adverse criminal or administrative actions are afforded the best legal representation available. He oversees seven attorneys and 12 support staff assigned to the division.