PORTSMOUTH,
Va. — A Coast Guard member charged with violating a number of Articles
of the Uniform Code of Military Justice pled guilty and was sentenced
Thursday during a special court-martial in Norfolk, Va.Senior Chief Petty Officer James R. Hamilton, 33, pled guilty in accordance with the pre-trial agreement to two specifications of violation of Article 92,Uniform Code of Military Justice —violation of a Lawful General Order as well as six specifications of violation of Article 128, UCMJ—Assault. Hamilton was sentenced to a bad conduct discharge, 80 days confinement and reduced to E-1. As a result of the plea agreement, his reduction to E-1 will be capped at E-5.
Vice Adm. William Lee, commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area, referred Hamilton’s case to general court-martial on July 24, 2014, following an Article 32 hearing completed on June 1, 2014, which is similar to a grand jury hearing. The case was later referred to a special court-martial as part of a plea agreement.
Hamilton was formerly assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Northland homeported in Portsmouth.