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ISCR Case 24-02236 — CASE

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ISCR Case 24-02236

A decided public DOHA case, shown for research — not advice or a prediction.

Case Profile
Decision Date9/19/2025
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Judge: Darlene Lokey Anderson
Government Counsel: Aubrey M. De Angelis
Applicant's Counsel: Ryan C. Nerney
Case Summary
Applicant, was also submitted, highlighting his dedication and work ethic.
The applicant, a 32-year-old former U.S. Army staff sergeant, sought a security clearance after being employed as a Systems Analyst for a defense contractor. The Statement of Reasons (SOR) issued by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency cited concerns under Guideline G (Alcohol Consumption) and Guideline J (Criminal Conduct), detailing the applicant's extensive history of alcohol abuse and related criminal behavior. The applicant admitted to the allegations, which included multiple incidents of excessive drinking, nonjudicial punishment for alcohol-related offenses while in the military, and recent arrests for driving under the influence and child abuse.
The administrative judge ruled in favor of the applicant, concluding that he had demonstrated significant rehabilitation efforts. The judge noted the applicant's completion of court-ordered substance abuse treatment, ongoing therapy, and a commitment to abstaining from alcohol. Testimonies from witnesses, including former military colleagues, supported the applicant's character and trustworthiness. The judge found that the applicant's current mental health status and proactive steps taken to address his past issues mitigated the security concerns, leading to the decision to grant the security clearance.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline GAlcohol Consumption · Against Applicant
- Guideline JCriminal Conduct · Against Applicant
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Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 24-02236

deniedSep 19, 2025· Hon. Darlene Lokey Anderson· hearing

Summary

A 32-year-old defense contractor and former Army staff sergeant was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline G (Alcohol Consumption) and Guideline J (Criminal Conduct). The applicant had an extensive history of alcohol abuse, including multiple arrests and military nonjudicial punishments. Specific allegations included a DUI and charges of felony child abuse and felony assault on a police officer while intoxicated.

These incidents raised significant concerns regarding the applicant's judgment and reliability. While the applicant engaged in rehabilitation efforts, including treatment and supportive witness testimony, the judge found these actions insufficient to mitigate the security risks.

The denial emphasized that more time was required to establish a sustained pattern of sobriety and responsible behavior, thereby demonstrating the necessary reliability and trustworthiness for a security clearance.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant had an extensive history of alcohol-related incidents, including multiple arrests and military nonjudicial punishments.
Recent criminal charges, including DUI and child abuse, raised significant concerns about the applicant's judgment and reliability.
The applicant's efforts at rehabilitation were acknowledged, but the judge determined that more time was needed to demonstrate sustained sobriety and responsible behavior.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 22(a)raisedAlcohol-related Incidents Away From Work
AG ¶ 22(c)raisedHabitual or Binge Consumption of Alcohol
AG ¶ 22(d)raisedDiagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder
AG ¶ 31(b)raisedEvidence of Criminal Conduct
AG ¶ 31(c)raisedCurrently on Probation

Key Rule Quoted

“The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedFeb 20, 2025
Answer filedApr 28, 2025
Hearing heldAug 26, 2025via MS Teams
Decision dateSep 19, 2025

Cite For

Insufficient Evidence to Mitigate Alcohol-related Security Concerns
Pattern of Criminal Conduct Affecting Security Clearance Eligibility
Importance of Sustained Sobriety in Security Clearance Evaluations

Editorial summary generated for research. Not legal advice; not a prediction. Verify against the full decision before relying on any quoted language.

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline G (Alcohol Consumption) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found against the applicant on the alcohol-related allegations, citing a history of alcohol abuse and criminal conduct, including a DUI arrest. The applicant admitted to the allegations but claimed to have abstained from alcohol for a period and reported improvements in his condition, which the judge did not find sufficient to mitigate the concerns.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Incident	Response	Disqualifying (¶22)	Mitigating applied (¶23)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant has a history of alcohol abuse and criminal conduct, including DUI and child abuse.	Against Applicant	DUI or DWI Alcohol	Admitted	—	—	—

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case (Guideline G). The verbatim source decision is shown in full below.

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline J (Criminal Conduct) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found against the applicant on the criminal conduct allegations, which included felony child abuse and felony assault on a police officer while intoxicated. The applicant admitted to the allegations, and the judge expressed concerns regarding the applicant's history of alcohol abuse and criminal conduct, ultimately leading to a denial of the security clearance.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Offense	Criminal disposition	Response	Disqualifying (¶31)	Mitigating applied (¶32)	Mitigation
2.a	Applicant was charged with felony child abuse and felony assault on a police officer while intoxicated.	Against Applicant	Unspecified Criminal Conduct	Charged Not Convicted	Admitted	—	—	—

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case (Guideline J). The verbatim source decision is shown in full below.

Full decision

The complete, official text — footnotes and signatures included — is in the original PDF.