Airmen sentenced for stealing property, damaging fellow member's vehicles

  • Published
  • By Compiled from staff reports
  • 354th Fighter Wing Staff Judge Advocate office
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  During the evening of Oct. 26, 2007, Airman 1st Class Nathan Robinett, 354th Communications Squadron, and Airman Basic Brandon Brown, 354th Security Forces Squadron, started drinking in base housing. While they were drinking they devised a plan to go to the 354th Maintenance Squadron dormitory parking lot, break into cars and steal whatever property they could find in the vehicles located there.

The two of them drove Airman Robinett's vehicle to the parking lot. After arriving at the parking lot, they got into several different cars and stole a variety of items to include the following: CDs, a debit card, a handgun, MP3 players, a snowmobile cover and tools.

They also damaged a vehicle when they tried to remove the car stereo system by prying it out of the dashboard. Airman Brown acted as a lookout and drove Airman Robinett's vehicle next to the cars they were breaking into to make it easier for Airman Robinett to load the stolen items into the vehicle.

Because of the icy conditions and the fact that Airman Brown was drunk, he drove the vehicle into the ditch located behind the dormitory parking lot. In an effort to cover up their actions they placed some of the stolen items into other vehicles. They then walked away and reported Airman Robinett's vehicle as being stolen.

Following the incident, Airman Brown and the other member were overheard discussing the incident. The individual who overheard this conversation notified their supervisor who contacted Security Forces. During the investigation it was discovered that on Aug. 31, 2007, Airman Robinett had damaged another vehicle and stole speakers from that vehicle.

At trial, Airman Brown pled guilty to larceny and damaging personal property. A military judge sentenced him to seven months of confinement, forfeiture of $850 for seven months and a bad-conduct discharge.

At trial, Airman Robinett pled guilty to giving a false official statement, damaging personal property, larceny, and wrongful appropriation. A panel of officers sentenced him to reduction to E-1, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, one year confinement, a fine of $7,000 (with seven months of extra confinement if the fine is not paid), and a bad conduct discharge.