Four Dyess Airmen convicted of drug offenses

  • Published
  • By Capt. Bradley Amys
  • 7th Bomb Wing Judge Advocate
Dyess Air Force Base, Texas --  Three Dyess Airmen recently left the Dyess Air Force Base federal courtroom with their heads hung low wearing shackles around their hands and ankles. As these Airmen shuffled their way down the long hallway which leads away from the courtroom, one can only imagine the thoughts running through their heads as they started the long journey to Taylor County Jail.

Over the past month, the Dyess courtroom has seen a lot of action. Four Airmen were convicted at court-martial of drug charges. Three were sentenced to jail and a fourth received the maximum hard labor without confinement sentence possible.

Airman 1st Class David J. Clark, Jr., 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was convicted of wrongfully using marijuana. Airman Clark's drug use was discovered when another Airman reported they had seen him using it. When confronted with this information, Airman Clark admitted to investigators he used marijuana on several occasions. Airman Clark was sentenced to confinement in jail for 14 days, forfeiture of two-thirds pay for 14 days and reduction to E-1.

Senior Airman Monterio D. Madison, 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was convicted of wrongfully using marijuana. Airman Madison's drug use was discovered as a result of a urinalysis unit sweep. Once confronted by investigators with the positive urinalysis results, Airman Madison admitted smoking marijuana on several occasions. Airman Madison was sentenced to confinement in jail for seven days, forfeiture of two-thirds pay for 14 days and reduction to E-1.

Senior Airman Brent M. Farrell, 7th Munitions Squadron, was convicted of wrongfully using marijuana. Airman Farrell's drug use was discovered when he was randomly selected to provide a urine sample through the Air Force Drug Demand Reduction Program and tested positive for marijuana. When confronted with the positive test results by investigators, Airman Farrell admitted smoking marijuana several times. Airman Farrell was sentenced to confinement in jail for seven days, hard labor without confinement for seven days, restriction to Dyess Air Force Base for seven days, forfeiture of two-thirds pay for 14 days and reduction to E-1.

Airman Nicole M. Holden, 7th Medical Support Squadron, was convicted of wrongfully conspiring with another to possess marijuana. Airman Holden agreed to allow a friend to store marijuana in her home. Airman Holden was sentenced to three months of hard labor without confinement, restriction to Dyess for two months, reduction to E-1 and a reprimand.

Airmen convicted of drug offenses face a mandatory administrative discharge from the Air Force for misconduct. Air Force Instruction 36-3208 states, "Drug abuse is incompatible with military service and Airmen who abuse drugs one or more times are subject to discharge for misconduct." Drug abuse includes illegal, wrongful or improper use; possession; sale; transfer; or introduction onto a military installation of any drug.

If you find yourself in a situation where you think about getting involved with illegal drugs, imagine yourself where these Airmen stood. Imagine yourself, standing at attention in front of a judge, wearing your service dress uniform listening to your court martial sentence being read and your military career slipping away.

Never again will you be allowed to work for the government. Imagine listening to the deafening series of clicks made by the shackles being attached to your wrists and ankles. Imagine the humiliation you will feel as you hobble down a long hallway with people starring at you wondering why you did what you did. Envision horrible thoughts running through your mind as your jail cell door is being closed, finding yourself alone, confined in jail to think about the better decisions you wished you had made.