St. Petersburg Military Defense Lawyers – Court-Martial & Administrative Separation Attorneys

Elite Military Defense Representation for Service Members in St. Petersburg, Florida

St. Petersburg, Florida is one of the most active Coast Guard and joint-military regions on the Gulf Coast. With USCG Sector St. Petersburg, numerous Coast Guard stations, Reserve units, and thousands of active-duty personnel living throughout Pinellas County, this metropolitan area supports major military, maritime, and homeland security operations. Service members working or living in St. Petersburg face increased scrutiny, rapid legal escalation, and aggressive command action whenever allegations arise.

Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law is the premier civilian military defense firm representing Coast Guard members, Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Guardians across the Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg region. Led by former JAG officer Michael Waddington and courtroom strategist Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington, our team defends UCMJ charges, administrative separations, NJP/Captain’s Mast actions, BOIs, and military investigations throughout West Florida.

Why Service Members in St. Petersburg Face Heightened Legal Exposure

St. Petersburg is home to major federal and maritime operations, making the region a hotspot for military investigations. Coast Guard units in this area conduct search and rescue, drug interdiction, migrant operations, and port security missions—leading to some of the most intense oversight of any Coast Guard jurisdiction in the country.

CGIS launches investigations immediately after any allegation
Alcohol-related incidents in downtown St. Pete escalate quickly
Domestic disputes involving St. Petersburg Police trigger military action
Sexual assault allegations are aggressively pursued under zero-tolerance policies
Administrative separations are common due to “operational risk” concerns
St. Pete’s nightlife, tourism, and mixed civilian-military environment increase legal risk

Military Installations in the St. Petersburg Region

St. Petersburg hosts a large and operationally significant military presence, including:

USCG Sector St. Petersburg – Law enforcement, SAR, port security
Coast Guard Stations across Sand Key, Yankeetown, Cortez, and the Gulf Coast
Central Florida Reserve & Guard Units
Air Station Clearwater (nearby) – Aviation operations for the Gulf & Caribbean

Because the area supports federal maritime missions, disciplinary action is often swift and severe.

For official U.S. Coast Guard information, visit:
United States Coast Guard (.mil)

UCMJ Charges We Defend in St. Petersburg

Our lawyers defend service members throughout St. Petersburg facing all types of military criminal allegations, including complex operational cases:

Article 120 – Sexual assault, abusive sexual contact, indecent conduct
Article 128b – Domestic violence or physical disputes
Article 92 – Orders violations, operational misconduct, safety failures
Article 112a – Drug use, possession, or distribution
Article 107 – False official statements
Article 86 – AWOL, missed musters, unauthorized absence
Article 134 – Fraternization, adultery, disorderly conduct
Operational allegations – boarding team errors, mishandling evidence, use-of-force disputes

Administrative Separations & BOIs in the St. Petersburg Military Community

Commands in St. Petersburg—especially Coast Guard commands—frequently use administrative separations to remove service members quickly. These boards are extremely dangerous and often based on incomplete or biased evidence.

Enlisted Administrative Separation Boards
Officer Boards of Inquiry (BOI)
Show Cause Boards
Page 7 rebuttals
Captain’s Mast (NJP) defense
Security Clearance Defense

Because the Coast Guard’s missions in the region involve public-facing and politically sensitive operations, commands often pursue separation or punishment even when evidence is thin.

How Gonzalez & Waddington Fights for St. Petersburg Service Members

We build aggressive, evidence-driven defense strategies tailored to the culture of Coast Guard and joint-force units in St. Petersburg.

Comprehensive analysis of CGIS investigations
Review digital evidence (texts, GPS, photos, social media, phone logs)
Identify inconsistencies in witness interviews
Conduct our own independent witness interviews
Use expert witnesses in forensics, psychology, intoxication science
Challenge command bias and “risk-based” removals
Create strong retention and mitigation packages
Prepare clients for boards, testimony & cross-examination

Why Military Members in St. Petersburg Choose Gonzalez & Waddington

Michael Waddington – former JAG, globally recognized military defense lawyer
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington – elite trial strategist & cross-examiner
Decades of experience defending Coast Guard and joint-service personnel
A reputation for exposing weak investigations & command overreach
Authors of bestselling books on cross-examination & military trial warfare
We take fewer clients to provide maximum firepower to each case

Living in St. Petersburg & Military Legal Exposure

St. Petersburg combines Gulf Coast beauty with a bustling nightlife, growing tourism economy, and a high military presence—making it a hotspot for legal trouble.

Nightlife districts often lead to alcohol-related allegations
Tourist interactions increase risk for misunderstandings or false reports
Domestic incidents frequently involve St. Petersburg Police Department
Civilian arrests quickly transition into military action

For local resources, visit the City of St. Petersburg official website:
https://www.stpete.org

Cities in Florida Our Military Defense Lawyers Serve

Pro Tips for St. Petersburg Service Members Under Investigation

Do NOT speak to CGIS, NCIS, OSI, or CID without legal counsel.
Save every piece of digital evidence—screenshots, texts, location data.
Avoid discussing your case with coworkers or supervisors.
Do not confront your accuser—it harms your case immediately.
Write down a timeline while events are fresh.
Hire a civilian military defense lawyer early—timing determines everything.

Your Military Career in St. Petersburg Is on the Line — Act Immediately

If you are stationed or living in St. Petersburg and are facing a military investigation, NJP, administrative separation, BOI, or court-martial, you must act now. Commands in this region move fast, and the government is already building a case against you. You need elite, experienced defense representation immediately.

Florida Military Bases We Serve

How We Defend Florida Service Members