Jerked Around
New Member
Ok heres what happened. I was supposed to ship out on Feb 16th for Fort Leonard Wood as a PFC in the ARMY with MOS 68W via Knoxville, TN. On Feb 11th at 3:36 I was in Madison, AL for a wedding and my going away party as my best friend and some family live in Bama. I stupidly got behind the wheel and and ran a redlight.
I submitted to a breathalyzer because I knew I was ****ed and wanted to cooperate. I blew 0.17. I was taken to jail and a mandatory 12hr hold was placed on me. I was charged with DUI and running a redlight. My arraignment was set for Feb 14th. I immediately upon bail texted my recruiter for advice. He said he would call the base commander and get back to me. Well, multiple texts back and forth and I never received a call from either of them. I texted to ask if a recruiter from the local station could come with me to court. Recruiter stated that was illegal. I went to my court date and was given a few options.
If I pled guilty and paid the fine of $900. It would have been an immediate conviction and I could not ship. I spoke with to probation officer and the judge and we agreed in my best interest to plead not guilty so I could still attend bootcamp with out a conviction. I asked my recruiter to give me advice and received no response. After pleading not guilty and not paying any fines my court date was sent in mid July, I was told my lawyer (who I have yet to hire) could postpone the date if need be. My recruiter then informed me then via text msg that I couldn't ship with pending charges and the commander would be calling me on Feb 15th to either determine me as a "loss or renegotiate my contract".
I feel like I was left hanging. If I pled guilty I couldn't go. If I pled non guilty I couldn't go. If I get a conviction in July I still can't. I'm 25 with a few dismissed priors (simple assualt at 23, wreckless driving/evading/destruction of public property/dui at 19). Basically I hit a church with my car after speeding when I was 19 and punched a heckler who deserved it at 22. I feel so ****ed! So if the Army is going to screw me and not give advice when all I heard was "call your recruiter" I'd rather be a Devil Dog.
Can the marines get me a waiver if i get a DUI conviction in July or can I apply to marines before court? I'm tough, I am 3 credits away from a BS in Criminal Justice, and I WANT TO SERVE! People get to sent to boot camp as punishment, but I want to go and cant..Help? Advice?
I submitted to a breathalyzer because I knew I was ****ed and wanted to cooperate. I blew 0.17. I was taken to jail and a mandatory 12hr hold was placed on me. I was charged with DUI and running a redlight. My arraignment was set for Feb 14th. I immediately upon bail texted my recruiter for advice. He said he would call the base commander and get back to me. Well, multiple texts back and forth and I never received a call from either of them. I texted to ask if a recruiter from the local station could come with me to court. Recruiter stated that was illegal. I went to my court date and was given a few options.
If I pled guilty and paid the fine of $900. It would have been an immediate conviction and I could not ship. I spoke with to probation officer and the judge and we agreed in my best interest to plead not guilty so I could still attend bootcamp with out a conviction. I asked my recruiter to give me advice and received no response. After pleading not guilty and not paying any fines my court date was sent in mid July, I was told my lawyer (who I have yet to hire) could postpone the date if need be. My recruiter then informed me then via text msg that I couldn't ship with pending charges and the commander would be calling me on Feb 15th to either determine me as a "loss or renegotiate my contract".
I feel like I was left hanging. If I pled guilty I couldn't go. If I pled non guilty I couldn't go. If I get a conviction in July I still can't. I'm 25 with a few dismissed priors (simple assualt at 23, wreckless driving/evading/destruction of public property/dui at 19). Basically I hit a church with my car after speeding when I was 19 and punched a heckler who deserved it at 22. I feel so ****ed! So if the Army is going to screw me and not give advice when all I heard was "call your recruiter" I'd rather be a Devil Dog.
Can the marines get me a waiver if i get a DUI conviction in July or can I apply to marines before court? I'm tough, I am 3 credits away from a BS in Criminal Justice, and I WANT TO SERVE! People get to sent to boot camp as punishment, but I want to go and cant..Help? Advice?
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