Airman pleads guilty to larceny charge

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joshua Stevens
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  A 28th Civil Engineer Squadron airman first class pled guilty to a charge of larceny during a court martial here, Feb. 12.

"This crime shows the Airman's character is flawed, but the fact he pled guilty shows he is willing to accept responsibility for what he did, which is a positive character trait," said Maj. David Eby, 28th Bomb Wing deputy staff judge advocate and lead court martial prosecutor.

The Airman was convicted of one charge, with a specification of larceny of government property of more than $500 in value, a violation of Article 121 of the U.S. Code of Military Justice, Major Eby said.

"The Airman stole four Level IV body armor systems, which are vests with protective body armor inserts, from the CE warehouse," he said.

The maximum punishment authorized for the Airman was a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for one year, two-thirds forfeiture of pay each month for one year, and a reduction in rank to airman basic.

After pleading guilty to the charge and its specification, a military judge sentenced him to a reduction in rank to airman, forfeiture of $500 pay per month for four months and four months confinement, Major Eby said.

Additionally, the Airman was provided the chance to rehabilitate via the Air Force Return to Duty Program.

"Our leadership has courageously agreed to allow this young Airman to rebuild his lost trust through the program, which is located at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas," said Capt. Christopher Goewert, Ellsworth Area Defense Counsel attorney and the Airman's representation. "By participating in the program, he will be 're-blued' over a period of 14 to 24 weeks and then stationed at a new duty location."

It is not often that guilty Airmen are permitted to attend this course from here.

This is a test case for us at Ellsworth, Captain Goewert said. "If he succeeds, he will be laying a path of redemption that other Ellsworth Airmen may one day be able to take advantage of."