Sgt. 1st Class Nicoson Acquitted
Good start to your Monday. David sends.
Fort Bragg paratrooper acquitted of charges related to gunfight in Syria
Kyle Rempfer The Army Times
Sgt. 1st Class Robert Nicoson, the paratrooper who was accused of leading a patrol into an unnecessary gunfight in Syria before ordering troops to delete videos of the incident, was acquitted of all charges Friday evening after a court-martial at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The soldier’s civilian defense attorney, Phillip Stackhouse, argued that the patrol had briefed leaders that it would go to the checkpoint and the alleged threats Nicoson made were intended to deter an attack. Accusations that Nicoson tried to cover up the incident ultimately lost traction, as well.
“He was fully acquitted of all of the allegations,” Stackhouse told Army Times.
Spokesman for the 82nd Airborne Division, Lt. Col. Brett Lea, confirmed the acquittal Saturday morning.
The jury was comprised of two lieutenant colonels and six command sergeants major, Stackhouse said. They found Nicoson not guilty of all seven allegations. A motion for a finding of not guilty was granted to an eighth allegation at the end of the evidence phase.
“The trial lasted for a week and over 20 witnesses were called to the stand to provide testimony to a combat experienced panel,” Stackhouse said in an email to Army Times. “After just over 2-hours of deliberations, the panel president delivered the verdict in open court.
“Sergeant First Class Nicoson, and his family, continue to be humbled and thankful to those that have supported him and stood by
his side.”
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In total, Nicoson was charged with two counts of failure to obey an order; two counts of reckless endangerment; one count of communicating threats; and three counts of obstructing justice.
Charged by those not there, who take months to second guess a decision made in the blink of an eye. Thanks, David.
Category: Army, Feel Good Stories, Guest Link
What cha wanna bet that the Court Martial Panel will be quietly told to put their retirement papers in? And that SFC Nicoson will never see E-8 rank? Can’t be having a Platoon SGT doing his job of looking after his troops and returning fire when fired upon.
Sadly, I can’t say I disagree with you.
Yep, my thoughts as well…
Fucksticks who brought these charges are who should be loudly asked to retire…but it won’t go that way…
Every time I see something about recruiting and retention issues, I mention these moments and offer the concept that once your branch has a reputation for fucking over the people you’re supposedly tasked with watching our for it tends to diminish confidence in the veracity of recruiting claims…
Yeah, that’s all she wrote for his career.
But E-7 is a pretty good ending on it’s own.
And his men love him for doing the right thing.
The Court Martial Panel did what was right but alas, they’ll likely get persecuted for not doing what the PC Nazis wanted.
They’ll be quietly punished for doing the right thing v. the correct thing.
Can we charge the Generals and Regressmen with placing troops in danger with an illegal military action?
No one voted to go to war, there is no endstate, no declared enemy and ROEs are unethical if all the above LEGAL conditions are satisfied.
Now if those idiots in District of Criminals would like to grant letters of marque or reprisals…
LTC Scheller is looking more and more sane every day.
Before these suits become desk jockeys, shouldn’t they be made to go out on patrols with the troops for a number of months to see what it is all about.
The platoon leader was present…but only the platoon daddy gets smacked w/ a court martial?
You can’t seriously expect any of the soldiers to listen to a lieutenant!
He must have been a 2LT. 1LTs get their shit pushed in to.
He shot some potential immigrants and DIM voters.
A patrol gets into a gunfight and the PL is court martialed…how in the hell did it come to this? Whisky 95 here I come…
Sure hope he gets that Bronze Star Medal with “V” device he was originally written up for.