Military Attorney Stephen P. Karns

Here are just a few examples of actual cases including courts-martial and administrative separation boards, where Mr. Karns achieved positive results in defense of his clients.*

Senior Master Sergeant charged with BAH Fraud and Travel Voucher Fraud (Four Specifications for False Official Statement and two for Larceny). Maximum possible punishment: 60 years confinement, Dishonorable Discharge, and reduction to E-1. After the Article 32 hearing, three specifications of False Official Statement were dropped. At court-martial, Client found Not Guilty of the remaining specifications and charges. Client was two years away from retiring and retirement was saved.
Navy LTJG pilot received Captain’s Mast for smoking marijuana. His case was then referred to a Show Cause board where he was facing an Other Than Honorable Discharge. Client was retained and will complete his contract and receive an Honorable Discharge.
Air Force Major pilot chatted on-line with who he believed was a minor, but was a member of Perverted Justice, the group who works with NBC Dateline’s To Catch a Predator. His personal laptop computer was seized, and he was charged with Solicitation of a Minor, Attempting to take Indecent Liberties with a Minor, Possession of Child Pornography and Possession of Photos depicting Bestiality. Client wanted Attorney Karns to negotiate a plea bargain. Attorney Karns negotiated a dismissal of the Possession of Child Pornography and Bestiality charges. And, the Solicitation of a Minor and Attempting to take Indecent Liberties charges were both changed to Indecent Language with a Minor. Client could have received several years of confinement and be required to register as a sex offender. Client received only three months confinement and a Dismissal.
PFC stationed in Korea charged with possession of child pornography on his personal laptop computer and false official statement. Prior to the Art. 32 hearing, the Government offered Client a 30 month deal which would require sex offender registration and likely include a Bad Conduct Discharge. On Attorney Karns' advice, Client turned down the offer. Attorney Karns traveled to Korea for the Article 32 hearing. After the hearing, the Government trial counsel asked Attorney Karns to "state his terms" for an offer. Attorney Karns said Client would take a Ch. 10 administrative discharge which would avoid a federal conviction, jail time, and sex offender registration for Client. Government trial counsel scoffed and said, "The bottom-line is that he has child porn on his machine... He was charged with possession. He will be convicted on these facts. His status as a sex offender is guaranteed. The only question is whether he wants to negotiate a cap on his sentence." Six weeks later after we still do not give in and win a request for a computer forensics expert, the Government agrees to support a Ch. 10, and it gets approved. Client does not receive a federal conviction, does not have to serve jail time, and is not required to register as a sex offender.
NCO charged with rape and adultery. General Court-Martial panel returned verdict of Not Guilty on both charges.
Soldier charged with rape and sodomy. General Court-Martial panel returned a verdict of guilty on a reduced charge of indecent acts and guilty on the sodomy charge. Mr. Karns convinced the Division Commanding General not to approve the court-martial panel’s verdict and thus clearing the soldier of all charges.
NCO charged with burglary. General Court-Martial panel returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
Special Forces Senior NCO charged with two counts of unlawful use of marijuana. Special Court-Martial panel returned a verdict of Not Guilty on both charges.
Soldier was AWOL for 60 days in time of War. Soldier received an Article 15 and Chapter Separation with an Honorable Discharge.
Petty Officer 1^st Class was ordered to Captain’s Mast and reduced in rank for disrespecting a senior officer, disobeying a lawful order, and resisting arrest. Mr. Karns intervened and the commander agreed to suspend the reduction in rank.
Senior NCO testified positive for cocaine. Mr. Karns convinced the soldier’s Commanding General to grant the soldier’s request for an Honorable Discharge and allow the soldier to retire.
Senior NCO testified positive for marijuana. Mr. Karns convinced the soldier’s command to terminate the administrative separation action and retain the soldier.
A retirement eligible NCO was convicted in a civilian court for child molestation and incest. He was serving time in state prison. The Army demanded that the soldier be administratively separated with an Other Than Honorable Discharge. An OTH Discharge would have reduced the NCO to an E-1 and severely affected his retirement pay. Mr. Karns was able to convince the separation board to grant a General Discharge thus preserving the soldier’s retirement pay at his current rank.
NCO testified positive for marijuana on a urinalysis test. In most cases, the command would refer the soldier to an administrative separation board. However, in this case, through Mr. Karns’ negotiations with the soldier’s command, the soldier was able to avoid a board and separation.

* Past results achieved are not a guarantee of future results. Each case is unique and reference must be made to the specific legal and factual circumstances presented.

Worldwide Availability:

Every post, camp, or station
All major Naval stations
Any Air Force base