ISCR Case 25-00447

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 25-00447

deniedDec 31, 2025· Hon. LeRoy F. Foreman· hearing

Summary

A 39-year-old defense contractor was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guidelines E (Personal Conduct), G (Alcohol Consumption), H (Drug Involvement), I (Psychological Conditions), and J (Criminal Conduct). The applicant admitted to a history of substance abuse, alcohol-related incidents, and mental health issues, including schizophrenia.

Specific allegations included being fired in February 2022 for sleeping at work and displaying aggressive behavior toward a coworker. He received an other than honorable discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps in May 2010 for unauthorized absences. The applicant had multiple arrests, including for assault after consuming alcohol in 2004 or 2005, two DUIs in 2008 and 2012, and possession of marijuana while driving and disturbing the peace in 2005. He was also sent home from work in October 2019 for smelling of alcohol.

The applicant admitted to extensive drug use, including marijuana from 1998 to January 2025, hallucinogenic mushrooms from November 1999 to January 2025, cocaine from February 2000 to March 2024, methamphetamines from July 2001 to October 2015, and heroin from January 2014 to January 2015. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia in June 2022 and May 2023, and a January 2025 evaluation diagnosed a thought disorder, likely schizophrenia or a substance-induced psychotic disorder. The judge concluded that the applicant did not mitigate the security concerns, leading to the denial.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant admitted to multiple allegations of substance abuse and alcohol-related incidents.
He has a history of mental health issues, including schizophrenia, which were not adequately controlled or treated.
The applicant did not demonstrate a commitment to sobriety or provide evidence of rehabilitation efforts.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 28(a)appliedBehavior That Casts Doubt on an Individual's Judgment, Stability, Reliability, or Trustworthiness.
AG ¶ 28(b)appliedAn Opinion by a Duly Qualified Mental Health Professional That the Individual Has a Condition That May Impair Judgment, Stability, Reliability, or Trustworthiness.
AG ¶ 25(a)appliedAny Substance Misuse.
AG ¶ 22(a)appliedAlcohol-related Incidents Away From Work.
AG ¶ 16(c)appliedCredible Adverse Information in Several Adjudicative Issue Areas.

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedApr 7, 2025
Answer filedApr 21, 2025
Hearing held—Decision made on the written record.
Decision dateDec 31, 2025

Cite For

Denial Based on Psychological Conditions Under Guideline I
Denial Due to Substance Abuse and Alcohol Consumption Under Guidelines H and G
Consideration of Personal Conduct Issues Under Guideline E

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

¶	Allegation	Finding	Conduct	Concealed Issue	Response	Disqualifying (¶16)	Mitigating applied (¶17)	Mitigation
5.a	Applicant was fired in February 2022 for sleeping at work.	Against Applicant	Rules Violation at Workplace	—	Denied	—	—	—
5.b	Applicant displayed acts of aggression and inappropriate behavior toward a fellow employee by confronting him with his fists and inviting him to go outside and fight.	Against Applicant	Rules Violation at Workplace	—	Denied	—	—	—
5.c	Applicant was discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps with an other than honorable discharge in May 2010, based on unauthorized absences between September 2008 and October 2009.	For Applicant	Unspecified Personal Conduct	—	Admitted	—	—	—
5.d	Applicant's conduct creates a vulnerability to exploitation, manipulation, or duress by a foreign intelligence entity or other individual or group.	Against Applicant	Questionable Judgment General	—	Denied	—	—	—

Allegation

Finding

Conduct

Concealed Issue

Response

Disqualifying (¶16)

Mitigating applied (¶17)

Mitigation

5.a

Applicant was fired in February 2022 for sleeping at work.

Against Applicant

Rules Violation at Workplace

—

Denied

—

5.b

Applicant displayed acts of aggression and inappropriate behavior toward a fellow employee by confronting him with his fists and inviting him to go outside and fight.

Against Applicant

Rules Violation at Workplace

—

Denied

—

5.c

Applicant was discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps with an other than honorable discharge in May 2010, based on unauthorized absences between September 2008 and October 2009.

For Applicant

Unspecified Personal Conduct

—

Admitted

—

5.d

Applicant's conduct creates a vulnerability to exploitation, manipulation, or duress by a foreign intelligence entity or other individual or group.

Against Applicant

Questionable Judgment General

—

Denied

—

¶	Allegation	Finding	Incident	Response	Disqualifying (¶22)	Mitigating applied (¶23)	Mitigation
3.a	Applicant was arrested for assault after consuming alcohol in 2004 or 2005.	Against Applicant	Alcohol Related Arrest	Admitted	(a) alcohol-related incident away from work (DUI, fighting, etc.) (b) alcohol-related incident at work	—	—
3.b	Applicant was arrested twice for driving under the influence in 2008 and 2012.	Against Applicant	DUI or DWI Alcohol	Admitted	(a) alcohol-related incident away from work (DUI, fighting, etc.) (b) alcohol-related incident at work	—	—
3.c	Applicant was sent home from his place of employment in October 2019 for smelling of alcohol.	Against Applicant	Intoxication at Work or Duty	Admitted	(a) alcohol-related incident away from work (DUI, fighting, etc.) (b) alcohol-related incident at work	—	—
3.d–3.g	4 sub-charges — specific text not stated in this decision (against the applicant). (low confidence)	Against Applicant			—	—	—

Allegation

Finding

Incident

Response

Disqualifying (¶22)

Mitigating applied (¶23)

Mitigation

3.a

Applicant was arrested for assault after consuming alcohol in 2004 or 2005.

Against Applicant

Alcohol Related Arrest

Admitted

(a) alcohol-related incident away from work (DUI, fighting, etc.)

(b) alcohol-related incident at work

—

3.b

Applicant was arrested twice for driving under the influence in 2008 and 2012.

Against Applicant

DUI or DWI Alcohol

Admitted

(a) alcohol-related incident away from work (DUI, fighting, etc.)

(b) alcohol-related incident at work

—

3.c

Applicant was sent home from his place of employment in October 2019 for smelling of alcohol.

Against Applicant

Intoxication at Work or Duty

Admitted

(a) alcohol-related incident away from work (DUI, fighting, etc.)

(b) alcohol-related incident at work

—

3.d–3.g

4 sub-charges — specific text not stated in this decision (against the applicant). (low confidence)

Against Applicant

—

¶	Allegation	Finding	Substance / event	Use level	Response	Disqualifying (¶25)	Mitigating applied (¶26)	Mitigation
2.a	Applicant used marijuana from 1998 to January 2025.	Against Applicant	Marijuana	Regular	Admitted	—	—	—
2.b	Applicant used hallucinogenic mushrooms from November 1999 to January 2025.	Against Applicant	Psilocybin	Regular	Admitted	—	—	—
2.c	Applicant used cocaine from February 2000 to March 2024.	Against Applicant	Cocaine	Regular	Admitted	—	—	—
2.d	Applicant used methamphetamines from July 2001 to October 2015.	For Applicant	Methamphetamine	Regular	Admitted	—	—	—
2.e	Applicant used heroin from January 2014 to January 2015.	For Applicant	Heroin	Regular	Admitted	—	—	—
2.f	Applicant was arrested in 2005 for possession of marijuana while driving and disturbing the peace.	For Applicant	Drug Distribution or Dealing	Not Applicable	Admitted	—	—	—

Allegation

Finding

Substance / event

Use level

Response

Disqualifying (¶25)

Mitigating applied (¶26)

Mitigation

2.a

Applicant used marijuana from 1998 to January 2025.

Against Applicant

Marijuana

Regular

Admitted

—

2.b

Applicant used hallucinogenic mushrooms from November 1999 to January 2025.

Against Applicant

Psilocybin

Regular

Admitted

—

2.c

Applicant used cocaine from February 2000 to March 2024.

Against Applicant

Cocaine

Regular

Admitted

—

2.d

Applicant used methamphetamines from July 2001 to October 2015.

For Applicant

Methamphetamine

Regular

Admitted

—

2.e

Applicant used heroin from January 2014 to January 2015.

For Applicant

Heroin

Regular

Admitted

—

2.f

Applicant was arrested in 2005 for possession of marijuana while driving and disturbing the peace.

For Applicant

Drug Distribution or Dealing

Not Applicable

Admitted

—

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶28)	Mitigating applied (¶29)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant was diagnosed with schizophrenia twice, in June 2022 and May 2023.	Against Applicant	Psychotic Disorder Diagnosed	Admitted	(a) behavior that casts doubt on judgment/stability/reliability/trustworthiness, not covered under any other guideline, indicating an emotional/mental/per… (b) an opinion by a duly qualified mental health professional that the individual has a condition that may impair judgment/stability/reliability/trustwort…	—	—
1.b	Applicant was evaluated by a psychologist in January 2025 and diagnosed with a thought disorder, likely schizophrenia or substance or medication-induced psychotic disorder.	Against Applicant	Psychotic Disorder Diagnosed	Admitted	(a) behavior that casts doubt on judgment/stability/reliability/trustworthiness, not covered under any other guideline, indicating an emotional/mental/per… (b) an opinion by a duly qualified mental health professional that the individual has a condition that may impair judgment/stability/reliability/trustwort…	—	—
1.c	specific text not stated in this decision	Against Applicant	Unspecified Psychological Condition	Unknown	—	—	—

Allegation

Finding

Type

Response

Disqualifying (¶28)

Mitigating applied (¶29)

Mitigation

1.a

Applicant was diagnosed with schizophrenia twice, in June 2022 and May 2023.

Against Applicant

Psychotic Disorder Diagnosed

Admitted

(a) behavior that casts doubt on judgment/stability/reliability/trustworthiness, not covered under any other guideline, indicating an emotional/mental/per…

(b) an opinion by a duly qualified mental health professional that the individual has a condition that may impair judgment/stability/reliability/trustwort…

—

1.b

Applicant was evaluated by a psychologist in January 2025 and diagnosed with a thought disorder, likely schizophrenia or substance or medication-induced psychotic disorder.

Against Applicant

Psychotic Disorder Diagnosed

Admitted

(a) behavior that casts doubt on judgment/stability/reliability/trustworthiness, not covered under any other guideline, indicating an emotional/mental/per…

(b) an opinion by a duly qualified mental health professional that the individual has a condition that may impair judgment/stability/reliability/trustwort…

—

1.c

specific text not stated in this decision

Against Applicant

Unspecified Psychological Condition

Unknown

—

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Summary

Why the Applicant Was Denied

Conditions Referenced

Procedural Posture

Cite For

Full decision