I recently received a pricinpal nomination for West Point, and my profile is approved. All I am waiting on is a medical waiver. However, last month, I was cited by the game warden for a safety zone violation. My friend had invited me over to his house to hunt, and although the neighboring houses were barely within the 150 yard safety zone required for hunting in PA, he told me he had permission to hunt on his property by his neighbors. Later, when I eventually shot a deer, one of the neighbors called the game warden. (Which revealed my friend told me false information). Although I had shot from outside of 150 yards from the closest house, the warden measured where my slugs landed and charged me with a misdemeanor safety zone violation. They were all safe shots into a hillside. Does anyone know how seriously this can affect my application? I plan on calling my regional officer to tell him about the citation, and although I have not been found guilty yet, is this the right decision? I consider myself responsible based on the fact that I blindly followed my friend's, but I do not want this hurting my chances of appointment.
USMA Misdemeanor
- Thread starter Allen468
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If you have a principal nomination you should consider a free consult with an attorney who specializes in military admissions and security clearances. Whatever it costs you to have that attorney guide you through the process is cheaper than a 4 year degree. You are not the first to have something like this happen and probably not the last. I think if you consult the right people, word your responses correctly and own up to your mistake you will probably be ok. That is my unprofessional opinion.
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You’ll have to inform USMA at some point — there’s no hiding from this should you be found guilty/culpable. If you receive offer of appointment, you’ll need to submit a form from your local law-enforcement agency that states you’re “clean.” In matters such as this, you want to be proactive and fully honest. As an aspiring officer, take full responsibility for your actions.
GH148
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I'd agree. Get a reputable local attorney, preferably one who has a relationship with the sitting Judge in the case. No Judge, nor prosecuting attorney would want you to lose this opportunity for this violation. Let your attorney plead your case, in private to all involved, and I would guess you will get a favorable outcome to the case. However I would assume you would still have to report the initial violation to USMA.
Contacting your RC...best next step.
Btw...own it. Tell your RC what you are charged with and ask for guidance. All the other information, provide details if asked but dont lay the blame at your friends feet. You own your actions.
Best of luck !
Btw...own it. Tell your RC what you are charged with and ask for guidance. All the other information, provide details if asked but dont lay the blame at your friends feet. You own your actions.
Best of luck !
MidwestDad
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Good advice above. A good Attorney may be able to get a reduced charge e.g. civil infraction.
Thank you all for the advice, I contacted a lawyer today. I got some information wrong, it turns out a safety zone violation is just a summary offense. Regardless, it is in my best interest to reveal this to USMA now, so I am contacting my RC at the moment.
No, do not reveal it now. A summary offense is civil and will not appear on a criminal record search. I would just pay the fine or whatever it is and be done with it. If it were a misdemeanor that would be a totally different story.