Phony Medals Case Rocked by Records

[unhappycamper]

Phony Medals Case Rocked by Records
January 26, 2009
Virginian-Pilot

The case against an Army captain accused of wearing more than a dozen unauthorized medals hit a snag Friday when the Soldier's lawyer produced military records showing he is entitled to wear most of the decorations -- and two of his superiors conceded they had never checked those forms, known as DD-214s.

"I cannot believe the Army would accuse an officer of wearing ribbons and awards he was not entitled to wear without checking his DD-214s," Greg McCormack, the lawyer representing Jose J. Huertas, said during closing arguments in a preliminary hearing.

Huertas was charged in December with a range of offenses: fraud, for filing a false claim for hotel reimbursements; being absent without leave, for being repeatedly late to work; and conduct unbecoming an officer, for requesting leave to visit a sick brother in Kentucky but not traveling there.

He was also charged with making a false official statement to a supervisor that he didn't take any leave in 2007 when he had taken at least 35 days, and for taking leave without submitting the required forms.

McCormack argued Friday that Huertas was the victim of an overzealous boss trying to drive him out of the Army. Huertas later filed a complaint against his boss, Maj. Donald Brent Streater, with the Army Inspector General.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/phony-medals-case-rocked-by-records.html?col=1186032325324