When the case is on the front page — when the command is committed to a conviction, the prosecution team has been hand-picked, and the world is watching — the margin for error disappears. The cases below are real. Cave & Freeburg, LLP has defended West Point faculty, retired senior officers, EOD experts accused of war-zone crimes, and Sergeants Major facing life in prison. The firm has been retained in matters that have made national and international news, and the results have followed.

Important. Below are real cases that we have defended. All cases are different. A success in one case does not guarantee success in another similar case. We do not guarantee a certain outcome — to do so violates the Rules of Professional Responsibility. Results often depend on the facts, whether the client follows legal advice, and the stage of the proceeding at which services are retained.

Cases That Made the News

Three matters that drew national — and in one case international — media coverage. Each ended with the client’s career and freedom intact.

U.S. v. O-6, Army, West Point, NY — National News

An Army Colonel and West Point faculty member faced court-martial charges arising from allegations involving cadets. After charges had been preferred, referred, and dismissed repeatedly, Cave & Freeburg, LLP was retained. Mr. Freeburg argued at the motions hearing that the charges had been referred for an improper purpose; the military judge agreed and dismissed all charges with prejudice. The Army appealed to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, where Mr. Cave argued that the government’s appeal should be denied. ACCA rejected the appeal.

Result. Charges Dismissed With Prejudice. No Federal Conviction. No Dishonorable Discharge. Retirement Preserved.

U.S. v. E-6, Air Force, Hill AFB — International News

A Technical Sergeant and EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) expert was accused of setting off two improvised bombs in Syria at MSS Green Village, injuring three other service members — the Air Force alleged the client’s own injuries were self-inflicted. He was placed in pretrial confinement. The Air Force assembled a special trial team of four prosecutors, including two of its most experienced trial counsel. Mr. Cave wrote and filed extensive motions to shape the trial; Mr. Freeburg handled opening, closing, and cross-examination. The defense exposed an alibi the prosecution had missed and showed the government’s case was purely circumstantial.

Result. Full Acquittal on All Charges. No Federal Conviction. No Dishonorable Discharge.

U.S. v. O-5 (Retired), Army, Fort Belvoir, VA — National News

A retired Army Lieutenant Colonel faced court-martial charges for the alleged sexual assault of another Army officer and assault consummated by battery arising from an altercation with his teenage son. Mr. Freeburg aggressively litigated unlawful command influence and defective referral issues while conducting an extensive case investigation that demonstrated the weakness of the underlying allegations. After thorough litigation and discovery, the Army dismissed the court-martial charges.

Result. Charges Dismissed. No Federal Conviction. No Sex Offender Registration. No Dishonorable Discharge. Retirement Preserved.

Senior & High-Stakes Matters

Senior officers, Sergeants Major, multi-million-dollar contract cases, and war-zone allegations. The pattern is consistent: aggressive investigation, decisive litigation, results that protect the client’s career and record.

U.S. v. E-7, Marine Corps, Quantico, VA — Full Acquittal

A Marine Gunnery Sergeant faced General Court-Martial on charges of dereliction of duty leading to death after a Marine was killed during their deployment in Africa. Mr. Freeburg undertook an extensive investigation and pretrial litigation practice to shape the trial. Working alongside Marine defense counsel, he used thorough cross-examinations of the prosecution’s witnesses and defense character testimony to bring the case to a Not Guilty verdict.

Result. Full Acquittal on All Charges. No Federal Conviction. No Punitive Discharge. Career Preserved.

U.S. v. E-9, Army, Fort Bliss, TX — Full Acquittal · Sergeant Major

An Army Sergeant Major was accused of a lewd (sexual) act on a child. Mr. Freeburg conducted his own investigation and interviews of witnesses CID had never spoken with in advance of the Article 32 hearing. Although the allegation was clearly false, the government moved forward to trial — and despite calling two of its own expert witnesses, denied the Sergeant Major his own experts in an effort to deny him a fair trial. Mr. Freeburg used cross-examination and direct testimony from the client himself to rebut the government’s case before a senior military panel.

Result. Full Acquittal on All Charges. No Federal Conviction. No Sex Offender Registration. No Dishonorable Discharge. Retirement Preserved.

U.S. v. E-6, Army, Fort Knox, KY — Acquittal · NCOIC, LTG PSD

An Army Staff Sergeant serving as the NCOIC for a Lieutenant General’s Personal Security Detail was charged with five specifications of sexual assault, aggravated assault with a loaded firearm, and a constellation of additional charges — alcohol use, steroids, false official statements, fraternization, and sexual harassment — all stemming from allegations made by his team. Mr. Freeburg had the steroid charges dropped before trial, then cross-examined the multiple accusers at trial and tied the reasonable doubts together in closing. The panel acquitted on all sexual assault and aggravated assault charges and most other specifications, sentencing the client to a reduction and forfeitures.

Result. Not Guilty of All Sexual Assault and Aggravated Assault Charges. No Sex Offender Registration. No Punitive Discharge. No Confinement.

U.S. v. O-6, Air Force (Deployed) — Rape · War Crimes

An Air Force Colonel was accused of rape, war crimes, and additional offenses while deployed. Mr. Cave defended the case through 18 months of investigation, presenting a strong defense at every stage. The allegations were ultimately reduced to several instances of adultery, resolved with a letter of reprimand.

Result. No Federal Conviction. No Discharge. No Sex Offender Registration.

U.S. v. Army Medical Officer · Fort Sill, OK (Retrial) — Full Acquittal · ACCA Reversal

An Army officer and medical provider was accused of assaulting seven different patients. At the first court-martial, he was convicted of the sexual assault of one patient. Mr. Cave appealed the conviction to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, which agreed the client had not received a fair trial and reversed the findings of guilt. Mr. Cave then represented the officer at the retrial at Fort Sill, where he was acquitted.

Result. Full Acquittal on All Charges. No Federal Conviction. No Sex Offender Registration. No Discharge.

Related Practice Areas

• High Profile Case Defense — High Profile and Multi-Victim Representation
• Article 120 Defense — Sexual assault & rape cases

When the Stakes Are This High, Experience Matters.

High-profile cases reward depth of preparation, appellate sophistication, and trial experience under pressure. They punish improvisation. Engage counsel early — the earlier in the process, the more of the record can be shaped.

By Philip Cave and Nathan Freeburg at www.court-martial.com. (Last reviewed May 12, 2026.)