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I would like to apologize. I would like to apologize to you
for having to take time to do this. I want apologize to my wife and daughter
that have had to endure this trial and to hear the things that were said. I
want to apologize to the judge and the various people who have had to be inconvenienced
because of this court martial. I have let down many people who believed in
me. I want to reassure you that I will learn and grow from this. I had a
failure in judgment. I want you to know that it was a temporary lapse. I want
to assure you that it will not happen again. I want to convince you that this
is not me. I am a good man. I am a man who loves his family and loves that
Navy. I love my rank of Chief Petty Officer and take pride in upholding its
tradition. I know that I brought discredit on myself. I am standing here to
assure you that if you allow me the opportunity you will not regret your
decision. You’ve already heard of my track record. I know how to overcome
diversity. I did it before. I know how to excel as a sailor. I’ve done that before
as well. I say these things to build your confidence in me so that I can have
an opportunity to fix what I have done. I am asking each of you individually to see past my mistakes
and failures and to consider my entire record. I have been responsible for
training over 300 productive and successful sailors. I have been relied on by
pilots who have gotten onto their cockpits and taken off after a cursory
inspection of their aircraft, after realizing I was the one that worked on
their engine and prepped their flights. People have trusted and relied on me.
I will never betray that trust again. This is the punishment phase. As you ponder your decision I
want to share a few facts with you. Over the last couple of years there have
been dozens of people of all levels that have been accused of fraternization.
None have gone to court-martial. Of the dozens who have been accused 3 were
CPOs. Also none of them went to court-martial. One chief who violated the
same TSCINST didn’t even lose his red rope. I am not saying this to minimize
my actions. I am saying in the hope that I will persuade you to allow me a
chance to redeem myself. You of course know that if a Chief does not go to
court-martial he can’t be reduced. I am respectfully requesting that you not
reduce me. This conviction will stay with me for the rest of my life. Every
time a records check is completed I will pop us as someone who has a federal conviction.
I am hoping that I can persuade you to let this conviction stand as punishment
enough. The judge says you can do that. You can just let this conviction be
my punishment. You all know that this will limit my opportunities to ever
advance again and it may result in me being eventually administratively
separated. That in addition to the stress, fear, and the living with the
unknown has been devastating to my state of mind and the well being of my
family. It has been punishing. Me and my family have suffered. I request
that you end my punishment. Haytham Faraj, Esq. PUCKETT & FARAJ, PC WASHINGTON DC׀ SAN DIEGO ׀ DEARBORN 888.970.0005 Toll Free 202.280.1039 Fax The information
contained in this electronic message is confidential, and is intended for the
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