Richard V Stevens III

I am a field grade military officer who faced an Officer Grade Determination (OGD) based on a prior disciplinary action I received. Mr. Stevens did not represent me back when I received the disciplinary action, but I hired him to provide me with guidance and assistance in preparing my OGD response. ... Mr. Stevens' military law experience was one of the reasons I hired him. He provided me with valuable advice and guidance in how to prepare my submission, what to include, what the reviewing authorities would be looking for, and what the process entailed. We went back and forth with drafts of the OGD submission before it was finalized and sent in. Based on Mr. Stevens' advice and representation, I felt that I submitted a very strong OGD package that covered the period of military service at issue, and showed that I should be retired at my highest rank. His advice was invaluable, as a negative board outcome can impact me for life. His availability was excellent, he responded to emails in a timely manner and always was on time for scheduled appointments and process milestones. His was very involved throughout the process, first by explaining the overall OGD process, then by providing templates and examples on how to organize my career history to complete my overall package. Based on my work with Mr. Stevens over an extended period of time, I would highly recommend his services to other military member that needs an attorney in a military law issue.

A couple years ago a false sexual assault allegation was made about me. After being handed off 2 times by the Air Force legal system I opted for a civilian attorney that would make it all the way to trail with me. I did a lot of research and interviewed many different attorneys across the U.S. and fo...und Mr. Stevens to be the best fit for me and my situation. He was always 100% upfront and candid with me from the start. He wasn’t one to say something to make you feel good; he told the truth and his thoughts on the matter. Throughout the process I never once felt like just another number, another paycheck. When he was working on my case at that point in time nothing else mattered. Anybody that has or is going through a case such as mine will say it is stressful. However, I believe my team made me feel more at ease than anybody else could. I am extremely grateful to Mr. Stevens for poking holes in her story and getting the truth in front of the panel members. I highly recommend Mr. Stevens for anybody seeking a highly skilled and experienced defense attorney.

I am a military officer who was falsely accused of sexual assault. With the allegations being completely false and some very clear motives to fabricate from the accuser, I was sure that the government would quickly recognize these claims were clearly false and let me move on with my career.  I was co...mpletely wrong... As the investigation continued I started to quickly realize that you are ‘guilty until proven innocent’ with respect to sexual assault allegations in the military. I felt as if my branch that I served faithfully for years quickly abandoned me and chose to take the word of an individual with several documented integrity issues.  As I started to realize the severity of the situation and the investigating agencies willingness to conduct a biased investigation in order to collaborate an almost inconceivable narrative, I began my search for legal representation. I had consultations with over a dozen attorneys. I read reviews, case results, bios, strategies, and talked to everyone from high profile costly attorneys with lavish social media accounts, to the newest firms specializing in court martial defense. Ultimately, I stumbled across Mr. Stevens' blog. I decided to give him a call. First impressions are everything and what I can tell you is that my first impression of Mr. Stevens was that he is the guy I can put my trust in. During the consultation, I did not feel rushed like I did with others. I did not feel like I had to cash a check at that moment in order to get some ‘real advice.’ I felt as if I was talking to a friend that was giving just the right amount of guidance for that stage of the game. Mr. Stevens tactfully gave me a ‘reality check’  and  incredibly sound counsel.  His knowledge of the system is unparalleled. From consultation to hiring, I was continuously amazed at his ability to identify the intricacies of the system and how to navigate around or even through them. In my opinion, Rich knows the system better than those who run it. The investigation phase was very long. I was optimistic in terms of timeline and the 'process' that would prove my innocence. However, I was continuously let down. Mr. Stevens was able to answer a lot of the questions for me during our long waits. I can’t count how many times I look back now and can say “wow Rich was right again.” One thing I like about Rich is that he will always give you an answer or advice based on FACTS. He doesn’t tell you what you want to hear. He will tell you what you NEED to hear. When it came to questions with established facts his answers were spot on and almost seem like ‘insider information.' When it came to subjective questions about the case itself, theories, strategy, etc. Rich was always extremely calculated and answered based on the information available. During the investigation phase, Rich conducted his own investigation. I was amazed at his attention to detail and meticulousness. It was incredibly unbiased and in my opinion he conducted a superior investigation compared to the government. As we began to prepare for my defense “new information came to light” and the complainant decided not to participate and dropped their false allegations. One thing that gave me a little peace of mind at night was that Rich was on my side. An acquaintance familiar with the inner circles of the military justice system asked who I decided to have represent me. I told them “Mr. Richard V. Stevens, have you heard of him?” They just smiled and replied “I know Rich… he is the best of the best.”  No matter how early it is in your situation, speak to no one. In today’s culture a single accusation (no matter how ridiculous) will be taken as truth by the government as you find yourself preparing for a GCM. Mr. Stevens WILL prepare you for what you are going to face. He guided me through the most difficult time of my life with the utmost professionalism with the compassion of a friend.

I am a military NCO who was falsely accused of sexual assault by a civilian who I previously had a relationship with. I faced a general court-martial trial, in which the maximum punishment if convicted was decades in prison, a dishonorable discharge, and I would have had to register as a sex offend...er. Mr. Stevens represented me in this case, and it was ultimately dropped. I entered a plea of not guilty and we were prepared for trial when the complainant backed out and the case was dropped. She did not back out because of luck, there was a lot of work that ended in this result. Mr. Stevens handled all aspects of my case. We had more than one motion hearing, in which Mr. Stevens wrote and filed the motions, questioned the witnesses, and argued the motions in front of the military judge. Several of these motions had to do with discovery we were seeking, and issues regarding the background and credibility of the complainant. Mr. Stevens cross-examined the complainant during the motions hearings. His motions, court performance and arguments during the motion hearing added so much value and pointed out the weak points in the evidence presented by the government. His work during the motion broke down the government's case, and it led to the complainant backing out at the last minute. In preparation for trial, Mr. Stevens wrote and submitted our various filings, and prepared to handle all the major portions of the case - to include voir dire, opening statement, witness questioning, cross-examination of the complainant, and closing argument. I am not a lawyer, and I had a lot of questions about strategy, evidence, procedure, etc. Mr. Stevens always made himself available to answer my questions until I understood his points. He included me in defense discussions and strategy decisions. He made me part of the defense team. I had a lot of anxiety about being falsely accused of something like this, and Mr. Stevens did a lot to work me through what is a very difficult process. My military career had now continued, and the case is behind me. I would definitely recommend Mr. Stevens if you face allegations in the military justice system and/or a court-martial. I believe without the help, guidance and experience that Mr. Steven's brings to the table, my case may not had the positive that I recieved. Although the ADC can be extremely helpful, the addition of an experienced Military Attorney like Mr. Stevens is a necessity.

I am a recently retired military officer with 30yrs of service who was falsely accused of sexual assault by a fellow service member after a night of drinking. I originally was facing a general court-martial trial, in which the maximum punishment if convicted would be decades in military prison, a pun...itive discharge, and I would have had to register as a sex offender. Mr. Stevens represented me in this case and, thanks to his efforts on my behalf, I retired honorably without a conviction. Mr. Stevens began representing me during the investigation phase of the case, leading up to what would have been court-martial charges. However, the electronic evidence in the case showed that I was not guilty of sexual assault. Even though the electronic evidence contradicted the complainant's claim, she continued to falsely insist she had been sexually assaulted that night. Because of this, although the command was forced to drop the court-martial case, they began to take administrative actions against me based on her claims, to try to kick me out of the service. Mr. Stevens continued to represent through this whole process. It was clear from our discussions that he was extremely knowledgeable about military law and had decades of experience. His advice and experience were critical to the successful outcome of my case. Beyond Mr. Stevens' skill as a defense attorney, his support was very important to me. Going through this process, particularly with so much on the line (including retirement), is very difficult and stressful. There were a lot of low points. His support really helped me through when i felt like I was at the lowest and darkest point of my life. I ultimately faced an involuntary administrative discharge board, and Mr. Stevens' advice, representation and assistance were crucial in me winning at the board hearing and being retained in the service. I was then able to retire, honorably, after decades of service and overseas deployments in combat operations. Mr. Stevens' representation and support through this whole process made this successful outcome possible. I give Mr. Stevens my highest possible endorsement and my deepest thanks for savings my life. If you face military allegations and discipline, he is the one I would recommend, above anyone else. He made this outcome, and my retirement, happen for me, when it seemed like the military was determined to end my career and deny me the retirement I had earned. Thanks Mr. Stevens, I'm forever grateful. - Officer client