SOTO CANO AIR BASE COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER
MILITARY JUSTICE
Soto Cano Air Base Court-Martial and UCMJ Defense
From courts-martial and Boards of Inquiry to other UCMJ defense and administrative actions, these are the cases I handle for service members at Soto Cano Air Base. Click any area below to learn more.
Court-Martial Defense at Soto Cano Air Base: What You Need to Know
Courts-Martial at Soto Cano Air Base
Three types of courts-martial can be convened for service members at Soto Cano Air Base. A summary court-martial handles minor offenses and can impose limited punishments, including confinement and reduction in rank. A special court-martial handles mid-level offenses and can result in confinement, forfeiture of pay, and a bad-conduct discharge. A general court-martial handles the most serious offenses. It can impose lengthy confinement, a dishonorable discharge, and other severe penalties.
If you are facing a court-martial at Soto Cano Air Base, the prosecution has likely been building its case before you were ever charged. You need a defense lawyer who can match that preparation. You need someone with the trial experience to fight in the courtroom — not just negotiate behind closed doors.
Convening Authorities at Soto Cano Air Base
Soto Cano Air Base is a Honduran military installation hosting U.S. forces under a bilateral military assistance agreement between the United States and Honduras, originally signed in 1954. The base is operated by the Honduran Air Force and houses the Honduran Air Force Academy. The U.S. military presence at Soto Cano is organized under Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-Bravo), a subordinate command of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). For Army cases, the service component command is U.S. Army South (USARSO). For Air Force cases, the service component command is 12th Air Force (AFSOUTH). The General Court-Martial Convening Authority is the SOUTHCOM commander. The Special Court-Martial Convening Authority is typically the JTF-Bravo commander.
Cases originating at Soto Cano Air Base may be handled in-theater or deferred until redeployment. Even when proceedings are delayed until you return stateside, statements, evidence, and decisions made at Soto Cano Air Base often shape the entire case. A skilled defense lawyer can engage with the convening authority early. Before charges are referred, there may be an opportunity to advocate for your interests, present mitigating evidence, or persuade the command to take a different path.
The Office of Special Trial Counsel
Under recent military justice reforms, certain cases are now handled by the Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC). These include sexual assault offenses, domestic violence, and related crimes. The OSTC operates independently from the chain of command. An independent special trial counsel decides whether to refer these cases to court-martial — not your commanding officer.
This means that for certain offenses, the convening authority no longer controls whether your case goes to court-martial. Having a civilian defense lawyer who understands how the OSTC process works is critical if you are facing these types of charges at Soto Cano Air Base.
Board of Inquiry and Administrative Separation
Not every adverse action goes through a court-martial. The Army and Air Force can process you for administrative separation through a Board of Inquiry or an Administrative Separation Board. A Board of Inquiry is used for officers. An Administrative Separation Board is used for enlisted soldiers and airmen. These boards can end your military career. They can also determine your discharge characterization, which affects your veterans’ benefits and future employment.
You have the right to a lawyer at these proceedings. A civilian defense lawyer who understands the administrative separation process can cross-examine witnesses, present evidence, and argue for your retention or an honorable discharge.
Article 15 / Non-Judicial Punishment at Soto Cano Air Base
Article 15 proceedings, also known as Non-Judicial Punishment, allow your commanding officer to impose discipline without a court-martial. At Soto Cano Air Base, your command can impose an Article 15 for minor offenses. If you accept an Article 15, you give up your right to a court-martial. In return, you limit the maximum punishment your command can impose.
You have the right to consult with a defense counsel before accepting an Article 15. You also have the right to demand a court-martial instead. A defense lawyer can help you weigh your options and can advocate for a reduction in punishment during the proceeding.
Why You Need a Civilian Defense Lawyer
Soto Cano Air Base is a joint installation. The Army provides defense counsel through the Trial Defense Service (TDS), and the Air Force provides defense counsel through the Area Defense Counsel (ADC). At Soto Cano, TDS and ADC attorneys serve service members across Joint Task Force-Bravo and the broader U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. These attorneys are dedicated defense lawyers, but they are often overloaded with cases and may rotate assignments during your case. As a civilian defense lawyer, I am not subject to reassignment or deployment cycles. I am with you from start to finish. I bring independence from the military chain of command and years of trial experience defending service members. You deserve a lawyer who has the time, focus, and experience to give your case everything it deserves.
I have defended service members at courts-martial and administrative boards at bases where the mission shifts from counter-drug to disaster relief overnight — and I know that your rights should never shift with the mission. I know how the military justice system works. I know the commands, the convening authorities, and the procedures. When everything you have worked for is on the line, you need a lawyer who has the experience, independence, and fight to stand with you.
About Soto Cano Air Base
Soto Cano Air Base is a Honduran military installation located in the Comayagua Valley, approximately 5 miles south of Comayagua and 50 miles northwest of the capital city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The base sits at an elevation of 2,062 feet and is approximately 2 miles wide by 6 miles long, ringed by 8,000-foot mountain peaks to the east and west. The runway, at approximately 8,850 feet, is the largest in Honduras and is C-5 Galaxy-capable. The base is operated by the Honduran Air Force and houses the Honduran Air Force Academy. In October 1988, the base was renamed from Palmerola Air Base in honor of General José Enrique Soto Cano, a Honduran Air Force aviator. In November 2021, Palmerola International Airport opened on the base, sharing the runway and facilities with the military installation and serving as Honduras’ primary civilian airport with a capacity of 1.7 million passengers per year.
The United States and Honduras signed a bilateral military assistance agreement on May 20, 1954. In August 1983, the Department of Defense established Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-Bravo) at Soto Cano — originally designated Joint Task Force 11 — to support U.S. military and political objectives in Central America during a period of heightened Cold War tensions. Congress appropriated $13 million to upgrade the base, extending the runway and building barracks, offices, roads, and utility systems. During the 1980s, Soto Cano served as a staging point for counterinsurgency operations, supporting the Nicaraguan Contras and conducting combined training exercises with Honduran forces. At its peak, approximately 5,000 U.S. personnel were stationed at the base. After the Cold War, personnel levels were reduced from approximately 1,288 to about 500, and the number of helicopters was reduced from 33 to 10. The 4th Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment relocated from Howard Air Force Base in Panama to Soto Cano on January 16, 1990, and was redesignated the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment on June 4, 1999.
Today, JTF-Bravo is composed of more than 500 U.S. military personnel and more than 500 U.S. and Honduran civilians. Its major subordinate commands include the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment — the only forward-deployed aviation asset in SOUTHCOM — operating UH-60L Black Hawk, CH-47F Chinook, and HH-60L MEDEVAC helicopters. The 612th Air Base Squadron maintains the runway and provides air traffic control, fire protection, weather, and base operations support. The Medical Element (MEDEL), composed of U.S. Army Reserve personnel and Honduran medical liaisons, is the only expeditionary surgical-capable medical unit in Central and South America and has conducted more than 300 Medical Readiness Training Exercises treating over 340,000 patients since 1992. The Army Forces Battalion and Joint Security Forces complete the task force. Since 1983, JTF-Bravo has served as a launching point for humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions across Central America, including Hurricane Mitch in 1998, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Hurricane Eta in 2020, and Venezuela earthquake relief in June 2026, when three CH-47 Chinooks deployed from Soto Cano to support earthquake relief efforts.
For military justice, courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, and administrative separation proceedings at Soto Cano Air Base fall under the SOUTHCOM chain of command. The SOUTHCOM commander serves as the General Court-Martial Convening Authority, and the JTF-Bravo commander serves as the Special Court-Martial Convening Authority. The Army provides assigned defense counsel through the Trial Defense Service, and the Air Force provides assigned defense counsel through the Area Defense Counsel. Soto Cano Air Base’s role as the only U.S. military installation in Central America, its position hosting aviation, medical, and security operations across the U.S. Southern Command area, and its unique status as a Honduran base operating under a bilateral agreement make it one of the most strategically important forward operating locations in the Western Hemisphere.
For defense at other installations in the SOUTHCOM area, see our SOUTHCOM Court-Martial Defense Lawyer page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of cases do you handle at Soto Cano Air Base?
I handle courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, administrative separation boards, Article 15 / Non-Judicial Punishment proceedings, military investigations, and UCMJ defense for service members at Soto Cano Air Base. My primary focus is court-martial defense. This includes serious offenses such as sexual assault, drug offenses, fraud, and violent crimes under the UCMJ. Cases originating at Soto Cano Air Base may be handled in-theater or deferred until redeployment, but statements and evidence gathered at the base often shape the entire case.
Do you represent all branches at Soto Cano Air Base?
Yes. Soto Cano Air Base is a joint installation with Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo. I represent service members from every branch facing military discipline anywhere in the world.
Why should I hire a civilian defense lawyer instead of the ADC?
Soto Cano Air Base is a joint installation. The Army provides defense counsel through the Trial Defense Service (TDS), and the Air Force provides defense counsel through the Area Defense Counsel (ADC). At Soto Cano, TDS and ADC attorneys serve service members across Joint Task Force-Bravo and the broader U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. These attorneys are dedicated defense lawyers, but they are often overloaded with cases and may rotate assignments during your case. As a civilian defense lawyer, I am not subject to reassignment or deployment cycles. I am with you from start to finish. I bring independence from the military chain of command and years of trial experience defending service members. You deserve a lawyer who has the time, focus, and experience to give your case everything it deserves.
What is a Board of Inquiry?
A Board of Inquiry is an administrative proceeding used to separate officers from the Army or the Air Force. The board reviews allegations of misconduct or substandard performance. It can recommend separation with a specific discharge characterization. You have the right to a lawyer at a Board of Inquiry. A skilled civilian defense lawyer can cross-examine witnesses, present evidence, and argue for your retention or an honorable discharge.
Can you help with Article 15 at Soto Cano Air Base?
Yes. I can review the evidence against you, advise you whether to accept the Article 15 or demand a court-martial, and advocate for a reduction in punishment during the proceeding. Article 15 punishments can include restriction, forfeiture of pay, reduction in rank, and extra duties. Having a lawyer involved early can make a significant difference in the outcome.
I’m under investigation — what should I do?
Do not make any statements to investigators, your chain of command, or anyone else about the allegations without consulting a lawyer first. You have the right to remain silent under Article 31(b) of the UCMJ. Contact a defense lawyer immediately. The earlier I get involved, the more I can do to protect you. This includes conducting an independent investigation, engaging with the command before charges are referred, and building a defense strategy from day one.
Can you help with sexual assault allegations under the UCMJ?
Yes. Sexual assault allegations under Articles 120, 120b, and 120c of the UCMJ are among the most serious charges a service member can face. These cases carry severe penalties, including lengthy confinement and sex offender registration. Under recent reforms, the Office of Special Trial Counsel now handles these cases independently from the chain of command. I have experience defending sexual assault cases in the military. I understand the unique evidentiary and procedural issues these cases involve. If you are facing a sexual assault allegation at Soto Cano Air Base, you need a defense lawyer who knows how to fight these specific charges.
How quickly can you get to Soto Cano Air Base?
I travel to Honduras for courts-martial and administrative boards. When you contact me, I will work with you to establish a timeline that meets your needs. I have spent years defending service members at courts-martial and administrative boards, and I am ready to step in when you need me.
Talk to a Soto Cano Air Base Military Defense Lawyer Now
If you are facing a court-martial, Board of Inquiry, administrative separation, or any UCMJ action at Soto Cano Air Base, do not wait. The prosecution is already building its case. You need a defense lawyer who is ready to fight for you.