Bad checks, AWOL net Airman confinement

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KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) --  Writing $18,000 in bad checks and being absent without leave for six days netted a 377th Security Forces Squadron Airman here a bad-conduct discharge, six months confinement and demotion to airman basic.

Airman 1st Class Jessica Morris was convicted by a general court-martial. Military judge, Lt. Col. Nancy Paul, sentenced the Airman.

Airman Morris wrote about 60 checks, totaling about $18,000, to various on- and off-base establishments, said Capt. Terrence McCollom of the 377th Air Base Wing staff judge advocate's office.

While Airman Morris was under investigation for this misconduct, she bought a one-way plane ticket to West Virginia and traveled there without authority to be absent from her duties. She remained absent for six days before turning herself in to military authorities.

Airman Morris pleaded guilty to the charges and elected to be tried by a military judge alone.

During sentencing arguments, government lawyers argued that Airman Morris's conduct was inexcusable and cannot go unpunished, Captain McCollom said. They asked Colonel Paul to also sentence Airman Morris to 12 months confinement and total forfeitures.

Defense lawyers argued that Airman Morris had already suffered punishment by being restricted to the base since February, Captain McCollom said. They further argued that Airman Morris had already paid back a substantial portion of the debt; therefore, total forfeitures were inappropriate because she would be unable to pay back her remaining debts. The defense also argued that confinement should be minimal, and a bad-conduct discharge was not warranted in this case.

"We are not arguing that the accused is reprehensible; we are arguing that her conduct was reprehensible," said Capt. Jeremie Lipton, trial counsel for the case. "The court's decision has made it clear that the Air Force will not tolerate this type of misconduct that demonstrates such an egregious disregard for others and basic standards." (Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)