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Airman found guilty at general court martial of larceny, obstruction of justice

By 341st Missile Wing Judge Advocate's Office personnel / Published October 23, 2008

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MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- A general court-martial was held here from Oct. 7-10 in the case of United States v. Senior Airman Theran L. Shields, at which the accused, now Airman Basic Shields, was convicted of eight of nine specifications charged.

Airman Shields, formerly assigned to the 341st Tactical Response Force, was charged under the Uniform Code of Military Justice with obstruction of justice, four specifications of larceny, attempted larceny, making a false official statement, housebreaking and dishonorably failing to pay a debt. Two of the larceny specifications and the attempted larceny charge stemmed from a double-receipt scheme Airman Shields carried out at the Wal-Mart in Great Falls. Airman Shields executed the scheme by purchasing a large-ticket item such as a television or computer, loading it in his vehicle and then returning immediately into the store to grab an identical item to the one just purchased. Airman Shields would then leave the store without paying for the second item by using the receipt from the first item as proof of purchase, thereby deceiving Wal-Mart greeters or other security personnel. The obstruction of justice specification resulted from Airman Shields' attempt to hide a receipt used in an attempted larceny from a Great Falls Police Department officer investigating Airman Shields' crimes at Wal-Mart. The other larceny specifications related to Airman Shields' theft of a Playstation 3 from the Malmstrom Base Exchange and a theft of an iPod and camera by allegedly breaking into a fellow Airman's apartment off-base. The false official statement charge was based on Airman Shields' attempts to mislead security forces investigators when being interviewed about his theft of the Playstation 3.

At trial, Airman Shields pleaded guilty to the attempted larceny and two larcenies committed at Wal-Mart, making a false official statement, dishonorable failure to pay a debt to Kay Jewelers, and the Playstation 3 theft. Following a nearly four-day trial, a panel of officer members - the equivalent of a civilian jury - found Airman Shields guilty of obstructing justice and stealing the iPod and camera. The members found Airman Shields not guilty of housebreaking.

Following presentation of sentencing evidence and arguments by both the prosecution and defense counsel, the panel sentenced Airman Shields to six months confinement, a bad conduct discharge, a reduction in rank from senior airman to airman basic, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and a fine of $2,500. Because Airman Shields received a punitive discharge, the case will automatically be reviewed at the appellate level for error. Airman Shields also has a right to request clemency from Maj. Gen. Roger W. Burg, 20th Air Force commander, which could result in a reduction in his adjudged sentence.

"Airman Shields went to great lengths to avoid responsibility for his actions," said Capt. Aaron Roberts, trial counsel for the case. "He tried to deceive a lot of people, and even committed some crimes while in uniform in order to lessen suspicion. But his crimes caught up with him last week."
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