Airman found guilty of multiple offenses

from 35th Fighter Wing Judge Advocate Office

4/21/2013 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Senior Airman Justin J. Lyle, 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron, was found guilty at a special court-martial held at Misawa Air Base, Japan April 4, 2013.

He was charged with departing from his place of duty at a unit urinalysis sweep without authorization, violating the Pacific Air Forces Commander general order on intoxicating substances by using spice, violating the U.S. Forces Japan commander's general order on the curfew in Japan by violating curfew restriction, making a false official statement to a fellow Airman to conceal his crimes and driving under the influence of alcohol.

A Military Judge accepted Lyle's pleas of guilty for all specifications and sentenced him to a bad conduct discharge, four months eight days confinement, forfeiture of $750.00 pay per month for five months, and a reduction to E-1. His confinement will be spent in a military confinement facility in Japan.

The Misawa Office of Special Investigations and the 35th Security Forces Squadron began investigating Lyle in late October 2012. While under investigation, Lyle fled from the site of his unit urinalysis. Once apprehended, Lyle confessed to using spice multiple times.

On November 30, 2012, Lyle received two separate briefings from his squadron leadership about the updated USFJ curfew policies and how service member misconduct impacts our strategic relationship with Japan. That night, he went to Hachinohe, Japan with another Airman at approximately 7:15 p.m. They arrived at the Manon theater in Hachinohe and began to drink prior to the show. They continued to drink during the show and afterwards drove to a bar. They stayed out well past the 11 p.m. curfew and decided to drive back to Lyle's off-base residence at approximately 2:30 a.m. Lyle was severely intoxicated when he attempted to drive home. He lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a Japanese building, injuring himself and his passenger. The car caught fire and the fire spread to the building. Lyle and his passenger left the scene of the accident and while walking in the neighborhood, were apprehended by the Japanese National Police.

The JNP turned Lyle and his passenger over to 35 SFS patrolmen who took them to the Misawa Urgent Care Center. There the passenger was treated for several broken bones. While at the UCC, Lyle was found to still be intoxicated nine hours after the incident and spice was found in his system.

This was the second court-martial held in the period of March 26 through April 3, 2013.