Annually, the 9/11 anniversary is a somber and revered day in our Nation’s historical past, however a North Carolina District Legal professional (DA), Ernie Lee, has picked that because the trial date for one retired Marine Raider, Michael Bloch. That is despite the truth that a trial ought to by no means have been an possibility.
Ernie Lee has allegedly abdicated his responsibilites and reportedly deferred them to lawyer Michelle Morton, who intends to prosecute Bloch in a felony continuing versus permitting him entry to the state’s Veterans Therapy Courtroom, which has said its readiness and willingness to offer Bloch with their full cadre of providers.
Veterans Therapy Courts successfully help state efforts to combine evidence-based substance use dysfunction therapy, obligatory drug testing, incentives, sanctions, and restoration help providers in judicially supervised court docket settings which have jurisdiction over veterans concerned within the justice system who’ve substance use problems, together with a historical past of violence and post-traumatic stress dysfunction because of their navy service.
Of word, through the incident Bloch didn’t injure anybody, and people whose property was broken and who the prosecutor has recognized as “victims,” have submitted written statements particularly requesting Bloch NOT to be prosecuted.
Because of involved and patriotic supporters, the DA’s workplace has been flooded with calls demanding for Bloch’s case to be handed over to the Veterans Therapy Courtroom.
The DA’s response? They’re telling callers to contact Bloch’s lawyer earlier than hanging up on them!
Involved supporters requested the DA’s workplace, “If Bloch’s lawyer had the ability to switch it to the Veterans Therapy Courtroom, wouldn’t he have already carried out that?”
In response to one report about his marketing campaign, Ernie Lee beforehand said, “My marketing campaign was based mostly upon my integrity, my expertise, my work ethic, my document, and a optimistic message.”
However that doesn’t match up along with his actions now.
You may make an influence by contacting your state’s elected representatives, together with contacting North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, to request that they use their powers to assist the switch of Employees Sergeant Bloch’s case to the Veterans Courtroom.
You can even learn Michael Bloch’s personal letter to Governor Cooper right here to assist together with your effort to help.
Particulars for the Michael Bloch case
In 2014, after 12 years of exemplary service to our nation as a U.S. Marine Corps Raider, Employees Sergeant Michael Bloch, a extremely adorned fight veteran, left energetic responsibility with an Honorable Discharge. Even after leaving energetic responsibility, Bloch continued service as an Intelligence Contractor with the elite Joint Particular Operations Command for seven years earlier than beginning EBS, a Protection Contracting Firm.
A yr after his separation, the Division of Veterans Affairs (VA) decided that Bloch was affected by Submit Traumatic Stress Dysfunction (PTSD) and a Traumatic Mind Harm (TBI) because of trauma he skilled throughout his a number of fight excursions.
To assist tackle his challenges associated to those points, Bloch was prescribed a medicine referred to as ‘Nuvigil.’
Health workers have recognized extreme unfavorable side-effects associated to taking this drug which might contribute to antagonistic psychological well being results together with hallucinations and psychotic episodes.
Moreover, Nuvigil just isn’t meant to be prescribed for multiple yr.
Sadly, the VA had been prescribing Nuvigil to Bloch for greater than 4 and a half (4.5) years, and never surprisingly, in consequence, Bloch had a psychotic episode.
On February 15, 2022, Bloch was on his solution to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for a enterprise assembly on behalf of an organization he based when he suffered a psychological breakdown.
It was introduced on by a mixture of high-stress, lack of sleep, and Nuvigil.
Mentally and bodily, his actions have been inconsistent with the numerous hours of muscle-memory coaching and real-world weapons expertise he had as a Marine Corps Raider/Crucial Expertise Operator (CSO).
Bloch was arrested and spent a number of weeks in a Virginia jail earlier than he was extradited to North Carolina the place his household was in a position to elevate sufficient cash to publish his $15,000 bail.
Of word, throughout Bloch’s capturing incident, he didn’t injure anybody, and people whose property was broken and who the prosecutor has recognized as “victims,” have submitted written statements particularly requesting Bloch NOT to be prosecuted.
Regardless of all that, Bloch has been charged with two felonies for discharging a firearm into an occupied automobile, a misdemeanor for discharging a firearm in proximity to a construction in metropolis limits, and a misdemeanor for property injury in extra of $200.
Up to now, Bloch’s household has paid hundreds of {dollars} out of their very own pockets for bail and authorized protection, which can elevate into tens of hundreds if no more ought to Bloch’s case go to trial.
As a consequence of the truth that Bloch self-reported this incident to the Division of Protection, his safety clearance has been revoked pending adjudication of his case. As such, Bloch is presently unemployed and is unable to search out significant work commensurate along with his coaching, training, and expertise.
On Could 11, 2023, UAP’s Board of Administrators accepted Bloch’s request for help with the intent to make sure Bloch features entry to the Veterans Therapy Courtroom and that he has the flexibility to fund his authorized protection in a felony court docket.
Your monetary help is crucial to our success, and most significantly, the success of our Warriors like Michael Bloch!
