The story of a theft as told by the victim Published April 21, 2011 By Capt. Justin Lonergan 90th Missile Wing Legal Office F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- The following is a walk through the military justice process from the victim's perspective. This is a fictionalized account, not the words of an actual victim. Maybe I was naïve, but I didn't think I needed to bring a lock to the gym. I guess I trusted that among other Airmen, my stuff would be safe. That all changed in January. I came in after running on the treadmill to find my wallet and keys were gone from my locker. I reported the incident to 90th Security Forces. The SFS Airmen were great - they listened, told me I had certain rights, and kept me posted. Although they warned me it'd be unlikely they'd find who stole my belongings without witnesses, they got a lead from some security footage. Unfortunately, they found the person three weeks later, after she'd cleaned out my bank account. After the investigation wrapped up, the prosecutors at Air Force Global Strike Command's 90th Missile Wing Judge Advocate took over. We discussed how the case might be handled, and eventually the prosecutors pressed charges against Airman Jane Smith for larceny. I won't lie, the process was stressful, but I had all the support I needed. The prosecutor appointed a victim advocate who I could call at any time with any question. My advocate worked with me when it was time to talk with Airman Smith's attorney, the Area Defense Counsel. I was pretty nervous about going to talk with the ADC, but he was respectful and explained how important it was that Airman Smith got a fair trial. When it came time to go to court, the prosecutor took the time to walk me through what I could expect. We discussed my testimony, especially the importance of being honest on the witness stand. One of the most helpful things for me was actually sitting in the courtroom and on the witness stand before the trial. The prosecutor wanted my thoughts on whether I wanted to testify against Airman Smith. I understood that ultimately, the prosecutor made the final decision on how the case would be presented, but I was glad that he valued my opinion. I did testify about the impact Airman Smith's theft had on me; which was an important step for me. As I look back, though, my closure was in realizing that I was an important part of our justice process, and was treated as such. I was treated with dignity, I was consulted, and I was kept informed. I realize the system gave not only me, but also Airman Smith, a fair shot. Even though the case is over, I will always remember my experience because it showed me I can believe in our system of military justice. For more information or to sign up for the self-defense class or panel discussion, contact Bonnie Scotto, Victim/Witness Coordinator at 773-6052 or 773-2256. Sign-ups are not required for the tree planting, come out and show your support for all those affected by crime. The 2nd Annual F. E. Warren Crime Victims' Rights Week will be observed Sunday, April 24 through Saturday, April 30 with several events scheduled for the week. Memorial Tree Planting - a tribute to all crime victims Monday, 12:30 p.m. at the F. E. Warren Golf Course, 13th hole Child Self-Defense and Bully-proofing class (Ages 5 through 12) Tuesday, 4 to 5 p.m. at the Fall Hall Community Center "Knowledge is Power" Panel Discussion/Q&A on Crime and Crime Prevention Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Airman and Family Readiness Center. Bring your lunch.