About Us

Attorney Richard V. Stevens is the founder of this law firm, and has handled military cases over the past three decades. As a civilian court-martial defense lawyer, Richard V. Stevens is a former active duty military JAG attorney, having previously served in the military both as a base level defense counsel and as a senior regional level military defense lawyer. He has handled military cases since 1995, and has served as a civilian defense counsel since 2001.

As a civilian defense attorney over many years, Attorney Richard V. Stevens established his military defense law firm because, as a former military officer, he cares deeply about protecting and defending the rights of military members and their families, and ensuring they are treated with fairness and respect in the military justice system.

Attorney Richard V. Stevens’ law firm includes Mr. Stevens and Attorney Artie Vaughn (who is “of counsel”). Attorney Frank Spinner is not employed by the Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens. Mr. Spinner has his own, independent, military law practice. He does, however, have space on this website to identify himself and his practice, as he shares our values regarding the importance of defending those who defend us.

Attorney Richard V. Stevens’ military defense law practice has included, over the years:
– The Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, LLC
– Stevens and Brash, LLC
– The Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, PC

The criminal defense attorneys in the Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens only represent military members and only handle military cases. That includes military investigations, military disciplinary actions, military adverse actions, military discharges/separations, and military court-martial trials. We represent members of all military branches. Please note that we are not legal assistance attorneys and we do not represent military members in civilian courts and cases, nor do we handle, for example, family law or property law issues. As criminal defense lawyers, we only represent military members facing military cases.

Our Attorneys

Attorney Richard V. Stevens is a former active duty military JAG attorney and the founder of this law firm. He has extensive experience in the most complex, serious military trials, and all types of adverse military administrative actions, discipline and investigations. He has served as an active duty base military defense counsel, active duty regional military defense counsel, civilian state and federal trial attorney, and civilian criminal defense and military defense attorney. Mr. Stevens has been handling military cases since 1995, and his experience is evident in his zealous representation of the thousands of military clients he has assisted over the decades.

Attorney Artie Vaughn has associated with The Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, P.C. in an “of counsel” capacity.  He also maintains his own, independent, military defense law practice – Vaughn Defense.  Artie served more than 11 years as an attorney on active duty in the U.S. Air Force.  This included serving as a military base defense counsel in which he was rated the #1 litigator and defense counsel in his region.  In addition to his civilian military defense practice, Artie continues to serve as a lieutenant colonel (O-5) in the U.S. Air National Guard as a regional defense counsel for the southeast region.

IN MEMORIAM. With a very heavy heart, we must share the news that Attorney David F. Brash has passed away (18 October 1958 – 21 April 2025). Air Force Colonel (Ret.) David F. Brash was the consummate Air Force JAG officer, leader, and mentor. He served in the Air Force JAG Corps, with distinction, from 1984-2006. That service included assignments as a military prosecutor, military base defense counsel (Area Defense Counsel), military regional defense counsel (Circuit Defense Counsel), Staff Judge Advocate, Chief Circuit Military Judge, and Chief Trial Judge of the Air Force. Immediately after his retirement from the Air Force, Attorney Brash joined Attorney Richard V. Stevens to form Stevens and Brash, LLC, a military defense law practice that preceded the current practice. Attorney Brash worked with Stevens and Brash for three successful years before returning to government service. First as a labor litigation attorney for the Air Force JACL Division, and then as an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) with the Social Security Administration in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. He ultimately retired from the ALJ bench. David Brash was a leader and mentor to all junior JAG attorneys who served under him and appeared before him as a judge. He always took the time to help attorneys with their professional development, and genuinely cared about their personal and professional lives. He was quick with a joke, and to lend support when needed. Even when he was serving in the Pacific Theater, he would reach back to the States to check on those he had previously served with. He led by example, and those who knew him were much better for it. He traveled around the globe serving his country, and he touched countless lives along the way. Colonel (Ret.) David F. Brash passed away on Monday, 21 April 2025 after a lengthy illness. He will be greatly missed.

IN MEMORIAM. With a very heavy heart, we must share the news that Attorney Michael J. Coco has passed away (September 1964-November 2023). Mr. Coco led a life of personal and professional service. He was not just a strong, skilled, and compassionate servant as a defense attorney, he was the example of a good person. Mr. Coco served in the Air Force JAG Corps in many positions, including base defense counsel (Area Defense Counsel), regional defense counsel (Circuit Defense Counsel), and Military Trial Judge. After his retirement from the Air Force, Mr. Coco worked as a civilian defense counsel for military cases. This included working as an “of counsel” defense attorney for the Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens from 2015-2023 when he had to step away due to illness. That lenghthy illness ultimately led to his passing. He faithfully served his family and his community, and it was clear that he was someone who truly cared for others and sought opportunities to provide his guidance and assistance when needed. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him and were touched by him.

Attorney Frank J. Spinner has his own, independent, military law practice. He retired from active duty military service in the early 1990s, and has defended some of the most highly publicized cases in recent military justice history. These cases have included: Capt James Wang, SSG Delmar Simpson, Lt Kelly Flinn, MG David Hale, Capt Richard Ashby, Cadet Douglas Meester, SPC Sabrina Harmon, CWO Lewis Welshofer, SFC Trey Corrales, SrA Andrew Witt, MSG Tim Hennis, and SPC Jeremy Morlock.

As described above, attorney Richard V. Stevens and attorney Frank J. Spinner have completely separate and independent law practices, with no common clients, offices, or personnel. They share, however, the belief that zealous defense of our military members is critical to the fairness of the military justice system, and to the military’s mission as a whole.

Mr. Stevens and Mr. Spinner travel around the world, to wherever their respective military clients are stationed or serving, to represent and defend them. They advise, represent, and/or defend military members wherever they are stationed or serving across the globe. These locations include the following.

Mr. Stevens has the extensive military law, criminal defense and trial experience necessary to fight for you. He has fought for, and defended, military members of all ranks, in all service branches, who have faced military adverse actions ranging from administrative discipline and board hearings through courts-martial alleging the most serious offenses. This includes “war crimes,” crimes arising out of combat or in theater, national security cases, murder, manslaughter, homicide, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, consensual sex offenses, drug offenses, computer crimes (pornography), larceny, fraud, conduct unbecoming, military academy offenses, senior officer cases, AWOL/desertion, and all types of the most serious criminal charges and military offenses.

Mr. Stevens and his law firm pledges to provide proven trial skills, extensive knowledge of the military and military law, experienced representation, aggressive defense and straight forward advice to members of all military branches stationed around the world.