Military Criminal Investigations Defense Lawyer

Skilled Military Criminal Investigations Defense Attorney

Your Military Criminal Investigations Defense Lawyer Starts Working Before Charges Are Filed

A visit or call from NCIS, Army CID, or Air Force OSI often marks the real start of your case, long before any charge is filed. What happens next can shape your career, your clearance, and your freedom.

Investigators are trained to build rapport and encourage conversation, often before a suspect has had time to think through what to say. Article 31 gives you the right to be told the accusation against you and the right to stay silent.

Knowing you have that right and knowing when to use it are two different things.

Aaron Meyer has served in the Marine Corps since 2004 and brings over a decade of dedicated experience as a military criminal investigations defense lawyer. Aaron Meyer Law has handled more than 75 military criminal investigations and courts-martial at bases across the United States and overseas, often stepping in during the investigative stage, before an administrative board or a court-martial becomes the next step.

Reach out before your next interview, and we’ll walk you through what to consider before you say anything else.

Why Service Members Call a Military Criminal Investigations Defense Attorney Early?

By the time NCIS, CID, or OSI schedules an interview, investigators may already have begun gathering evidence and identifying witnesses.

The sooner you involve us, the more options are usually available. We handle matters at every stage of the military justice process, including:

• NCIS investigations involving alleged sexual assault, fraud, or other criminal misconduct
• Army CID investigations, including apprehensions, search authorizations, and command-directed inquiries
• Air Force OSI and Coast Guard CGIS investigations involving serious criminal allegations
• Article 32 preliminary hearings conducted before referral of charges to a General Court-Martial, subject to the exceptions provided by law
• Administrative separation or security clearance actions connected to a pending criminal investigation
• General and special courts-martial after charges have been preferred and the case proceeds through the military justice process

Whichever agency is involved, the early stages of an investigation matter. Getting legal advice before an interview can help you understand your rights and avoid making statements that create additional problems later.

What an NCIS, CID, or OSI Investigation Can Cost You Before Trial Even Starts?

A military investigation does not have to end in a court-martial to create consequences.

Depending on the circumstances, an investigation can affect a security clearance, lead to administrative action such as a flag, or result in information being maintained in military law-enforcement records. Those records can also become relevant to certain later background investigations or security determinations.

Under UCMJ Article 31 (10 U.S.C. § 831), a person suspected of an offense cannot be compelled to answer an incriminating question. Before interrogating or requesting a statement from an accused or suspected person, a person subject to the UCMJ must inform the individual of the nature of the accusation and advise that the individual does not have to make a statement and that any statement may be used as evidence at a court-martial.

The early stage also matters because a case referred for a general court-martial generally requires an Article 32 preliminary hearing (10 U.S.C. § 832), unless an applicable exception or waiver applies. The hearing is conducted by an impartial hearing officer, who makes findings and recommendations concerning the charges and specifications. The convening authority or, where applicable, the special trial counsel then makes the referral decision.

Recent Outcomes for Service Members Under Military Investigation

Recent results for our clients include:

Past results do not predict or guarantee the outcome of any future case, since every investigation turns on its own facts.

What Service Members Ask Before Their First Interview

Do I need a lawyer if NCIS or CID just want to ask a few questions?

You should consider getting legal advice before answering questions about an investigation. Article 31 requires the applicable warning before a suspected service member is interrogated or asked for a statement. A military criminal investigations defense lawyer can advise you about your rights and, when appropriate, assist during the investigative process.

What happens after I am read my rights under Article 31?

Article 31 requires investigators to advise a suspected person of the nature of the accusation and the right not to make a statement. If you invoke an applicable right to remain silent or request counsel, the circumstances of the questioning and the applicable military rules determine what investigators may do next. Your lawyer can also begin reviewing the allegations and developing a defense strategy.

How long does a military criminal investigation take before charges are decided?

There is no single timeline that applies to every military criminal investigation. The length depends on the service, allegations, evidence, witnesses, forensic work, and other circumstances. Some investigations may take months, while others may be resolved sooner.

What could this cost me if the investigation moves forward?

The consequences depend on the allegations and what happens after the investigation. A case can involve administrative action, security clearance consequences, adverse information in military records, or court-martial proceedings. A criminal investigation does not itself establish guilt or guarantee that any of those outcomes will occur.

How much does it cost to hire a military criminal investigations defense attorney?

Cost depends on the stage of the investigation, the allegations, and the representation required. We discuss fees during the initial conversation so you can understand the scope of representation before deciding how to proceed.

If your question is not answered here, tell us your situation and we can explain what comes next.

Service members have the right to free detailed military defense counsel provided by their branch, as well as the right to retain civilian defense counsel at their own expense.

Talk to a Military Criminal Investigations Defense Lawyer Before Your Next Interview

The investigative stage is often the earliest opportunity to protect your position before the government decides what action to take.

Aaron Meyer Law has defended service members and civilian contractors facing NCIS, CID, and OSI investigations at bases across the United States and overseas.

If you have been contacted by a military investigative agency, getting legal advice before your next interview can help you understand the allegations, your rights, and the decisions ahead. Contact Aaron Meyer Law to schedule a confidential consultation and discuss where the investigation stands.