Conduct Unbecoming: A Military True Crime Podcast

Erin

This podcast analyzes the crimes committed by US military personnel - the very people who swore to protect the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic, only to become the sort of monsters we fear.

  1. 2d ago

    101 United States v. Nelson

    Dairy was not the easiest thing to get in Okinawa and it was a real gamble. Even though Hokkaido makes beautiful dairy products, it is not exactly a staple of Japanese food culture. But, the commissary endeavored to provide us dairy. The dairy had to float its way over to us and sometimes the refrigeration gave out and entire shipments were lost. Whatever the cause, some of the dairy would sit in the commissary past its expiration date, or arrived already expired. That's when a little note would pop up on the cases, explaining that the veterinarian inspected the goods and they were safe to eat after their best by date.  I assume the vet did a bang up job, but it's not like I ever watched them inspect the food to verify it would be safe to consume after its expiration date. And I wasn't exactly trying to buy food outside of its best by date from a place that, on more than one occasion, stocked visibly moldy cheese. But not everyone in charge of inspections is all that diligent and maybe I was right to skip all those products. I relied on the AFCCA opinion and CAAF opinion, as well as some of the briefing in the matter. I also referenced information about Upton Sinclair's The Jungle (1)(2) and Dr. Wiley and the Poison Squad (1)(2)(3)(4).     Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share, rate and review it wherever you hit play today. I'm happy to receive constructive feedback or case suggestions at conductunbecomingpod@gmail.com. Join me over on Instagram @conductunbecoming! Disclaimer: Conduct Unbecoming is a podcast where I get to talk about interesting crimes and cases that involve US military service members. I research, write, and produce the podcast myself… the opinions expressed are my own and, perhaps it's obvious, Conduct Unbecoming is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department of Defense or whatever name they go by socially now. I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I'm a practicing attorney, I don't do direct criminal defense. This podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinion.

    101 United States v. Nelson

  2. Oct 13

    100 United States v. Potter

    Navy Corpsmen take the following pledge: "I solemnly pledge myself before God and these witnesses to practice faithfully all of my duties as a member of the hospital corps. I hold the care of the sick and injured to be a sacred trust and will assist the medical officer with loyalty and honesty. I will not knowingly permit harm to come to any patient. I will not partake of nor administer any unauthorized medication. I will hold personal all matters pertaining to the private lives of patients in strict confidence. I dedicate my heart, mind, and strength to the work before me. I shall do all within my power to show in myself an example of all that is honorable and good throughout my naval career." I'm pretty sure stabbing someone 40 something times violates that final clause.     Finding no appellate opinions, I relied on local coverage of this murder and a press release from the Department of Justice: WJLA, Washington Blade (1, 2, 3), NBC Washington, NBC News, Marine Corps Times (1, 2), DC Witness (1, 2, 3, 4).     Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share, rate and review it wherever you hit play today. I'm happy to receive constructive feedback or case suggestions at conductunbecomingpod@gmail.com. Join me over on Instagram @conductunbecoming! Disclaimer: Conduct Unbecoming is a podcast where I get to talk about interesting crimes and cases that involve US military service members. I research, write, and produce the podcast myself… the opinions expressed are my own and, perhaps it's obvious, Conduct Unbecoming is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department of Defense or whatever name they go by socially now. I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I'm a practicing attorney, I don't do direct criminal defense. This podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinion.

    100 United States v. Potter

  3. Sep 29

    099 United States v. Long

    Those of you who have dogs are probably familiar with the distinct level of suspicion and fear that comes with seeing your dog chewing, realizing you don't know what they're chewing on, telling them to stop, and that half turn away from you they di followed by rapid chewing. In that moment, you know whatever is in your dog's mouth is something you do not want there. But in both circumstances, you're at least pretty sure it's not a shank. Probably. Hopefully.  The same can't be said for Master Sergeant Long.     This episode involved discussion of sexual assault. There are a number of resources available for survivors and victim of sexual assault, including the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). They offer a free, confidential national sexual assault hotline at 800-656-HOPE as well as an online chat option.   I relied exclusively on appellate opinions for this case. I referenced the ACCA's 2018, 2020, 2023, and 2026 opinions, as well as the 2021 opinion from CAAF.   Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share, rate and review it wherever you hit play today. I'm happy to receive constructive feedback or case suggestions at conductunbecomingpod@gmail.com. Join me over on Instagram @conductunbecoming! Disclaimer: Conduct Unbecoming is a podcast where I get to talk about interesting crimes and cases that involve US military service members. I research, write, and produce the podcast myself… the opinions expressed are my own and, perhaps it's obvious, Conduct Unbecoming is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department of Defense or whatever name they go by socially now. I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I'm a practicing attorney, I don't do direct criminal defense. This podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinion.

  4. Sep 15

    098 United States v. Teeter

    At one point a few years ago, I found myself in the position of having to describe a creepy man to local police who responded to my non-emergency line call with three marked cars and an unmarked vehicle. I think I got his general physical description pretty close-his height, build, the fact that he wore glasses. I know I bobbled the description of whatever he was riding, which comes as no surprise. But I know I nailed the description of his outfit and footwear. It still strikes me as insane that he was riding around on a motorized bike of some kind in flip flops. When you're tasked with giving a witness statement, it's the strangest things that stand out in your memory. For me, it was the inappropriate footwear and the fact that the man's light blue shirt was substantially the same color as his pants. For one of the witnesses in the Teeter case, it was that Teeter stood outside on an Army installation, dressed in his uniform, but lacking his cover. This episode involved discussion of sexual assault. There are a number of resources available for survivors and victim of sexual assault, including the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). They offer a free, confidential national sexual assault hotline at 800-656-HOPE as well as an online chat option. I relied exclusively on the Army Court of Military Review's opinion in researching this case because it predates the internet and I'm not local to Fort Campbell.   Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share, rate and review it wherever you hit play today. I'm happy to receive constructive feedback or case suggestions at conductunbecomingpod@gmail.com. Join me over on Instagram @conductunbecoming! Disclaimer: Conduct Unbecoming is a podcast where I get to talk about interesting crimes and cases that involve US military service members. I research, write, and produce the podcast myself… the opinions expressed are my own and, perhaps it's obvious, Conduct Unbecoming is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department of Defense or whatever name they go by socially now. I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I'm a practicing attorney, I don't do direct criminal defense. This podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinion.

    098 United States v. Teeter

  5. Sep 1

    097 United States v. Askins

    There are very few fact patterns I can see domestic violence taking a back seat to, and yet this case found a way.  My interest in this case was two fold. First, I wanted to know how the Army didn't notice that at least 11 blocks of explosives went missing. Second, I wanted to know just how creatively an appellate court could apply the principles of waiver and forfeiture. Unfortunately for all of us, but perhaps most particularly for the inhabitants of Anchorage, I don't really have an explanation for the first issue, only more questions. As to the second, I think CAAF undertook some really fancy footwork to course correct what I perceive to be a misstep by the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, but all without setting down a hard and fast rule for future cases. For more information on intimate partner violence, I urge you to explore Alliance For Hope and their Family Justice Center Alliance. If you need help finding shelter in your area, please visit DomesticShelters.org. Last, but not least, many law schools and courthouses offer free legal assistance for people seeking protective restraining orders. I relied on the the ACCA opinion and related materials as well as the CAAF opinion. I'm also sharing a copy of Article 128b of the UCMJ so you can decide if it means anything that subdivision 5 is different than subdivision 1.     Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share, rate and review it wherever you hit play today. I'm happy to receive constructive feedback or case suggestions at conductunbecomingpod@gmail.com. Join me over on Instagram @conductunbecoming! Disclaimer: Conduct Unbecoming is a podcast where I get to talk about interesting crimes and cases that involve US military service members. I research, write, and produce the podcast myself… the opinions expressed are my own and, perhaps it's obvious, Conduct Unbecoming is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department of Defense or whatever name they go by socially now. I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I'm a practicing attorney, I don't do direct criminal defense. This podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinion.

    097 United States v. Askins

  6. Aug 18

    096 United States v. Ellis

    In my previous work, I used to visit a lot of family courts for restraining order calendars. During a memorable court appearance, the woman seeking a restraining order asked the judge if she could use her phone to play videos the other party posted on his public Instagram. The judge allowed it and eventually hit play. A lengthy diatribe and threatening language to the judge, court, and judicial process filled the air, prompting the bailiff, a retired Marine, to move behind the respondent just in case. As I stared at the back of that man's head, I wondered what would motivate him to commit a threat to video and then to upload it to Al Gore's internet for anyone to see. The takeaway is almost certainly, "don't commit something to video you wouldn't want played in court." That is perhaps doubly true in the contentious downfall of a relationship. Unfortunately for Lieutenant Colonel Ellis, this advisement is coming a bit late. For more information on intimate partner violence, I urge you to explore Alliance For Hope and their Family Justice Center Alliance. If you need help finding shelter in your area, please visit DomesticShelters.org. Last, but not least, many law schools and courthouses offer free legal assistance for people seeking protective restraining orders.   I relied on the ACCA opinion and briefing as well as the opinion from CAAF.   Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share, rate and review it wherever you hit play today. I'm happy to receive constructive feedback or case suggestions at conductunbecomingpod@gmail.com. Join me over on Instagram @conductunbecoming! Disclaimer: Conduct Unbecoming is a podcast where I get to talk about interesting crimes and cases that involve US military service members. I research, write, and produce the podcast myself… the opinions expressed are my own and, perhaps it's obvious, Conduct Unbecoming is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department of Defense or whatever name they go by socially now. I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I'm a practicing attorney, I don't do direct criminal defense. This podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinion.

    096 United States v. Ellis

  7. Aug 4

    095 United States v. Bozicevich

    Something specific I like about my current job is that the annual performance review is entirely predictable. We get pretty continuous feedback, so we know where we stand and what that annual review will actually look like. In previous jobs, an annual review was so nerve wracking and I dreaded it every year. Perhaps you suffer from a similar distaste for the process. I can say with confidence that we're all better adjusted and prepared than Sergeant Bozicevich. His Staff Sergeant attempted to counsel him and, as far as I can tell, it resulted in the only counseling with a 200% mortality rate. I relied on the ACCA opinion and order from the District Court. I also referenced information from MPR News (1)(2), NBC News, Coastal Courier, and Army.mil.     Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share, rate and review it wherever you hit play today. I'm happy to receive constructive feedback or case suggestions at conductunbecomingpod@gmail.com. Join me over on Instagram @conductunbecoming! Disclaimer: Conduct Unbecoming is a podcast where I get to talk about interesting crimes and cases that involve US military service members. I research, write, and produce the podcast myself… the opinions expressed are my own and, perhaps it's obvious, Conduct Unbecoming is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department of Defense or whatever name they go by socially now. I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I'm a practicing attorney, I don't do direct criminal defense. This podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinion.

    095 United States v. Bozicevich

  8. Jul 21

    094 United States v. Bass

    I know you've all heard that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. For me, that might look like having five separate knitting projects going at any given time, expecting that they'll get finished in a timely manner. Spoiler: they do not, have not, and probably never will. For Gunnery Sergeant Bass, the repeated behavior was or could have been eating whatever gummies his wife handed to him, even after repeatedly failing urinalysis tests. I relied on an NMCCA opinion, CAAF opinion, and record of trial. I also referenced information from the Federal News Network and Army.mil. This episode discussed substance use. If you, or someone you know is struggling with substance use, the SAMHSA National Helpline can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP and their treatment locator is available online.     Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share, rate and review it wherever you hit play today. I'm happy to receive constructive feedback or case suggestions at conductunbecomingpod@gmail.com. Join me over on Instagram @conductunbecoming! Disclaimer: Conduct Unbecoming is a podcast where I get to talk about interesting crimes and cases that involve US military service members. I research, write, and produce the podcast myself… the opinions expressed are my own and, perhaps it's obvious, Conduct Unbecoming is not approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department of Defense or whatever name they go by socially now. I am not a military JAG and have never been a military JAG. While I'm a practicing attorney, I don't do direct criminal defense. This podcast is a passion project, not legal advice or expert opinion.

    094 United States v. Bass
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This podcast analyzes the crimes committed by US military personnel - the very people who swore to protect the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic, only to become the sort of monsters we fear.

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