Latest news with #UniformCodeofMilitaryJustice
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Army husband of missing pregnant wife is expected to plead guilty
COURTESY U.S. ARMY Dewayne Johnson 1 /2 COURTESY U.S. ARMY Dewayne Johnson COURTESY PHOTO Mischa Mabeline Kaalohilani Johnson. 2 /2 COURTESY PHOTO Mischa Mabeline Kaalohilani Johnson. COURTESY U.S. ARMY Dewayne Johnson COURTESY PHOTO Mischa Mabeline Kaalohilani Johnson. A Schofield Barracks soldier, whose 19-year-old pregnant wife disappeared in the summer of 2024, has agreed to plead guilty to charges in a hearing next week, a spokeswoman from the U.S. Army's Office of Special Trial Counsel said today in an email. Pfc. DeWayne Arthur Johnson II's defense counsel negotiated a plea deal with the Army's Office of Special Trial Counsel, which is not releasing any details on the charges at this time. A June 3 – 5 hearing at Wheeler Army Airfield Courtroom is scheduled. Johnson's wife, Mischa Mabeline Kaalohilani Johnson, was six months pregnant at the time of her disappearance. The woman's family last heard from her July 12, 2024. On Aug. 27, the Army's Office of Special Trial Counsel preferred charges of providing false official statements, obstruction of justice and the production and distribution of child pornography in violation of Articles 107, 131b and 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and 14 unnamed specifications against Dewayne Johnson. Preferral of charges is a formal process in the military when a prosecutor drafts the charges, and a commander signs and reads the service member the charges. See more : 0 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Army reveals 2-phase plan to remove service members with gender dysphoria
The Army on Wednesday said it is approaching its second phase of separation with service members experiencing gender dysphoria, an initiative that follows the Trump administration's directive of prioritizing military excellence and readiness. A new memo issued by Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll and obtained by Fox News Digital outlines two phases in the separation process, the first of which will be completed at the beginning of June. The first phase, which ends June 6, allows service members who have been diagnosed with or have a history of gender dysphoria to identify themselves and volunteer to separate from the military branch, an Army spokesperson told Fox Digital. Pentagon Ceases Gender Transition Treatments As It Moves To Boot Trans Troops Once a service member notifies an immediate commander, that commander will then notify a superior, initiating the separation process. Soldiers who reached a threshold for years of service qualify for voluntary separation pay or double the pay a service member would get by separating from the Army for various reasons, the spokesperson said. Read On The Fox News App Hegseth Bans Future Trans Soldiers, Makes Sweeping Changes For Current Ones However, they will not qualify for separation pay if they have not reached the years of service, if there is pending administrative action against them or if they are facing Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) code infractions. In the case of pending administrative action against them, their discharge may also not be honorable. The Army said those who volunteer for separation, but do not qualify, will still be separated and afforded benefits; they will only forfeit the additional separation pay, according to the spokesperson. After the June 6 deadline for voluntary separation, the Army will enter the involuntary separation phase. In the second phase, "there will be means of identifying those who did not want to self-identify," the spokesperson said. Hegseth Orders Deadline For Trans Service Members To Leave Military: 'Out At The Dod' The spokesperson said soldiers' records, prior to the new policy, reflected service members' sex at birth. Once they are identified, a separation process will begin. Transgender Sailors, Marines Offered Benefits To Voluntarily Leave Service Or Face Being Kicked Out "Regardless of potential outcome, every service member will be treated with dignity and respect, however this shakes out," the spokesperson said. Driscoll's guidance comes after President Donald Trump issued an executive order Jan. 27, "Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth heeded Trump's executive order with a memo outlining what the Department of Defense needed to do to article source: Army reveals 2-phase plan to remove service members with gender dysphoria
NDTV
12-05-2025
- NDTV
US Navy Officer Charged With Murder After Wife Found Dead In Hotel Room
A US Navy officer charged with murder is facing death penalty, six months after his wife's body was found in a Japanese hotel room. Lieutenant Commander Christopher Olsen was charged on Wednesday during a preliminary hearing at Naval Base San Diego. His wife, 37-year-old Jessica "Jesse" Arguinzoni Olsen, was found strangled to death on October 27, 2023, inside a room at Hotel SOL in Fukuoka. The hotel is about 130 km from the naval base where Olsen had been stationed from November 2022 to December 2023. Ms Jesse suffered blunt force injuries to the head, and damage to her jaw and hyoid bones (tongue bone) evidence consistent with strangulation. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) has alleged that Olsen brutally beat and strangled his wife inside the hotel room. Hotel surveillance footage captured the couple checking into the hotel on October 25, as per Stars and Stripes. Olsen was seen leaving alone two days later. Hotel staff discovered Jesse's body and alerted authorities. The NCIS, working alongside Fukuoka police, launched an investigation, though Olsen was initially only questioned and not arrested. Olsen has now been formally charged with murder and obstruction of justice of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. A court martial is on the table, and if convicted, he could face confinement, dishonourable discharge, or even the death penalty. Ms Jesse's family, still reeling from her death, has voiced frustration over the delay in justice. "LCDR Christopher Olsen has finally been charged-five months later. And still, we wait. No timeline. No answers to our questions about the next legal steps. No clear communication. No respect," Ms Jesse's sister Dominique Arguinzoni told Newsweek. In a separate statement to Stars and Stripes, Ms Arguinzoni added, "We had no idea they ever had issues. None of her friends, even best friend, had an inkling. However, thinking back, my parents and I realised that she pulled away from us by reducing communications from every week to every other month or so." Ms Jesse and Christopher Olsen met at the State University of New York at Oswego and were married in August 2009. Olsen joined the Navy in 2014 and was promoted to surface warfare officer in July 2023.
Newsweek
09-05-2025
- Newsweek
Navy Officer Charged After Wife Found Dead in Hotel Room
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A U.S. Navy officer was charged with second-degree murder on Wednesday in the death of his wife, Jessica "Jesse" Arguinzoni Olsen, whose body was discovered in a hotel room in Japan in October. Lieutenant Commander Christopher Olsen was also charged with obstruction of justice at a preliminary hearing at Naval Base San Diego on Wednesday. Why It Matters Jesse's family is calling on the Navy for more transparency as the case proceeds. Dominique Arguinzoni, Jesse's sister, said the family is still searching for answers after Christopher was charged. "LCDR Christopher Olsen has finally been charged—five months later. And still, we wait. No timeline. No answers to our questions about the next legal steps. No clear communication. No respect," Dominique told Newsweek. Dominique confirmed to Newsweek that Olsen was charged with Article 118, which is second degree murder, and Article 131B, which is obstruction of justice, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. She noted that the United States Navy is handling the court proceedings. Lieutenant Commander Christopher Olsen has been charged with murder following the death of his wife, Jessica 'Jesse' Arguinzoni Olsen. Lieutenant Commander Christopher Olsen has been charged with murder following the death of his wife, Jessica 'Jesse' Arguinzoni Olsen. Dominique Arguinzoni What To Know Christopher joined the Navy in 2014 and became a surface officer last July. He was stationed at Sasebo Naval Base in Japan from November 2022 to December 2023. He is now assigned to Naval Surface Group Southwest in San Diego. Police found Jesse, 37, dead in a hotel room in Fukoka on October 28. She suffered injuries to her head, including her jaw and hyoid bones, Stars and Stripes reported. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Naval Forces Japan for comment. Dominique said her family has been treated like an "afterthought" ever since they were informed of Jesse's death over the phone. "There was no in-person visit, no support team, no effort to ensure they were physically or emotionally able to process the news," Dominique said. "We were simply told that Jesse was dead—and that her husband, LCDR Christopher Olsen, was a person of interest." She said the family was promised a liaison officer to help them navigate the process of settling Jesse's affairs and navigating legal proceedings. "First, we were told that the liaison had retired. Then, we were told my parents were not eligible for a liaison at all, because the legal next of kin—the person of interest in her murder—was her husband," Dominique said. The family is still awaiting the return of Jesse's personal belongings .Dominique said they were asked to provide a list of items, so Christopher can decide whether to release them. "What kind of system prioritizes the accused over the grieving? How can we accept a system where the family of a murdered woman must beg for updates and plead for the return of her belongings?" Dominique said. The family is calling for justice for Jesse and wants to ensure that "no other family is ever treated this way again." A Facebook group has been started called "Justice for Jesse Olsen" and a GoFundMe for the family has raised over $8,000. What People Are Saying Dominique, in a statement to Newsweek: "The silence from the Navy is not just inhumane—it is part of the injustice. This lack of accountability and communication must be exposed. Jesse was a daughter, a sister, and a beloved human being. She mattered. And she deserves better than to have her life and death swept under the rug." Commander Paul Macapagal, spokesperson for Naval Forces Japan, in comments to Stars and Stripes: "We are unable to comment further at this time due to the ongoing litigation. The Navy is committed to ensuring the military justice system is fair and impartial, and the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty." What Happens Next The hearing officer is expected to make a recommendation to the Navy's Office of Special Trial Counsel, which decides whether to refer the case to trial. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
U.S. Army hears murder case of Ft. Leonard Wood soldier
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo — Specialist Wooster Rancy, 21, is being accused in the October 2024 murder of 23-year-old Sgt. Sarah Roque. Last October, officials Fort Leonard Wood said Sgt. Roque's body was found in a dumpster on October 22. Sgt. Roque was a member of the 5th Engineer Battalion. According to the U.S. Army, an Article 32 hearing took place Tuesday at the military installation. Spc. Rancy is charged with murder and obstructing justice in violation of Articles 118 and 131b of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel preferred charges against Spc. Rancy on Oct. 20, 2024. Wooster Rancy, Courtesy of Phelps County Jail The hearing gives investigators a chance to lay out the case to a Preliminary Hearing Officer (PHO) who will then examine evidence and testimony, both of which were provided Tuesday. The next step is for the PHO to issue a report and make recommendations regarding the appropriate disposition of the case. This hearing is required before charges can be referred for trial by general court-martial according to Article 32 of the UCMJ. If it is referred to court-martial, a military judge will be selected. The schedule, dates for pre-trial hearings, and the trial itself. Sgt. Roque was a native of Ligonier, Indiana, and was a bridge crewmember. She also served as a Mine Dog Handler with the K9 detachment. 'Sergeant Roque was a daughter, sister, friend, and Soldier who chose to serve our country bravely and honorably,' said Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood commanding General at the time of her death. Sgt. Roque's awards and declarations include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. Sarah Roque – Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood Spc. Rancy is originally from North Miami, Florida, joining the Army in 2022 and attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood. Rancy is being held in jail at the Midwest Joint Regional Confinement Facility at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR -
