USMC Officer defends disabled

This GoFundMe campaign is created because Good Samaritan statutes will likely fail in court and the situation is an affront to those who have good moral character. 2ndLt Kurtland Aiken was defending an individual, who suffers from a debilitating disease, after two men assaulted him without provocation. For his actions of defending others, he has been charged with assault, relieved as platoon commander, removed from his battalion, became non-deployable, faces a civil lawsuit, is ineligible to be promoted at this time, and is facing payment of medical bills in the sum of over $60,000.   

Kurtland Aiken, a United States Marine Corps Infantry Officer, has been charged with simple assault on an aggressor who physically assaulted an individual suffering from a debilitating disease, a condition that leaves him permanently disabled and must use walking canes to be mobile. Kurtland Aiken witnessed the physically disabled individual get thrown to the ground, kicked, and then punched by two aggressors outside of Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant in Virginia Beach, VA. Aiken and his colleague were waiting outside for an Uber, near where the assault took place. Aiken intervened by yelling at them to stop and started walking towards the group to confront the two aggressors and ensure the disabled individual wouldn’t get assaulted again. After showing multiple signs of being physically aggressive toward the disabled individual and being extremely verbally aggressive towards himself and his colleague, this drove his decision to punch him to defend himself and the disabled individual. The one punch subdued the aggressor and Aiken’s colleague attempted to wake him up. He was ultimately sent to the hospital for further on treatment. Five days later, the aggressor pressed assault charges on Aiken in which he had to report before a judge 25 July and plead his case for defense of self and others. Despite his obvious defense of self and others, He was convicted of simple assault and sentenced to 30 days in jail on the grounds that he could have “walked away from the situation!”  It is a depressing time when courts rule that someone capable should not intervene to assist those that are not capable.

He immediately posted bail, appealed the conviction, and hired a new lawyer. For the new appeal process he hired a new lawyer which has put financial stress on himself and his family. In the seven months of continuances in court hearings, there was also a pending civil lawsuit against him. The aggressor wanted to wait on the outcome of the trial before he continued to pursue it. The prosecution eventually agreed to an accord and satisfaction if Aiken pays all his medical bills up front, which is in excess of $60,000.

These funds will be used to pay for medical bills, an agreement that will drop the unwarranted assault charges, and also dismisses any civil lawsuit pertaining to this matter. In order for Aiken to immediately go back to a battalion to lead Marines, continue on with his Marine Corps career, and ultimately deploy to serve his country, he needs to meet the $60,000 requirement AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Any excess funds from this campaign will go towards the Wounded Warrior Project.

Disclaimer: The views presented are those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views of DoD and its components.