Military Criminal Defense & DUI

Pierce County, Thurston County, & Kitsap County have many military residents due to Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) & Naval Base Kitsap. For a military professional charged with or accused of a crime in Washington State, the consequences and required reporting are often different than what a civilian would be facing.

Possessing a firearm and handling ammunition is part of the job description for an Army soldier, as well as some members of the Navy and Air Force. Losing gun rights due to a conviction will normally end the career of an Army soldier.

If there is a negotiated settlement in your criminal case, avoiding the loss of gun rights should be a top priority of negotiations. Military members cannot maintain any gun rights after losing eligibility, even for official duties. 

All felony convictions will result in a loss of gun rights. Domestic violence convictions that involve an assault, threat (harassment), or violation of a no contact order will also result in a loss of firearm rights.

There are some civil actions, such as a domestic violence protection order, that can also limit the eligibility to possess a firearm. It is important that your criminal defense attorney is not only fighting for you on your criminal case, but is also fighting to save your Army, Navy, or Air Force career.

Military members often do not have a Washington State driver's license. An approach to a DUI charge may change with an out of state license, so it is important that your criminal attorney is experienced in dealing with these types of situations. A DWI conviction may not only cause a driver's license suspension and jail time, but it may also involve a reprimand from the military and impact future promotions, deployments, and security clearances.

It is a good idea to consult with a criminal defense attorney who has experience fighting for military professionals on their criminal, domestic violence, assault, or DUI case. There are many military programs that the court will accept as equivalent to the civilian programs usually ordered in criminal cases.

At Beckwith Law, we have extensive experience fighting for and saving the military careers of service members in both Washington State and Federal Courts. We are proud to represent military members from JBLM & Naval Base Kitsap.

We have office locations in Seattle & Tacoma, and we can be called any day of the week (including after-hours) for a free consultation. We offer a 10% discount for active-duty military members. 

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