An Army officer who secretly gave abortion medication to a pregnant junior enlisted soldier, causing the loss of her unborn child, was sentenced to 12 years in prison following a guilty plea at a court-martial on June 24, according to Army officials.
Capt. Brandon Jones-Adams, 34, pleaded guilty to multiple offenses, including intentionally killing an unborn child, domestic violence, fraternization and conduct unbecoming of an officer. The sentence was handed down during a military trial at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Washington.
According to Army officials, Jones-Adams admitted to secretly placing a pill in the soldier’s drink after investigators determined he had ordered mifepristone online using a false name and made multiple attempts to obtain the drug from other sources.
The two had met in November 2024 and maintained a consensual relationship while assigned to the same battalion, including during a nine-month rotation to South Korea, where the soldier became pregnant in May 2025.
On Aug. 21, 2025, while at Jones-Adams’ home in Puyallup, Washington, he poured the soldier a drink. After consuming it, she noticed a residue in the cup and immediately suspected she had been drugged. She soon began experiencing severe cramping and reported to the emergency room at JBLM, where she informed medical staff of her suspicions. She miscarried during the 13th week of her pregnancy, resulting in the death of the unborn child.
The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division opened an investigation, during which agents confirmed Jones-Adams had used a fake identity to obtain the drug and had made repeated efforts to acquire it. When confronted by investigators, he admitted to placing the pill in the soldier’s drink.
“Capt. Jones-Adams’ actions were deliberate, calculated and malicious,” said Circuit Chief Lt. Col. Tyler Heimann of the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel. “By committing these crimes, he inflicted profound harm on his victim and betrayed the trust placed in him as an Army officer.”
Court-Martial Results and Sentence
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Jones-Adams faced a potential sentence ranging from four to 12 years in confinement. The military judge imposed the maximum 12-year sentence allowed under that agreement.
In addition to confinement, the officer was sentenced to forfeiture of all pay and allowances and dismissal from the Army, the officer equivalent of a dishonorable discharge. He will begin serving his sentence at the Northwestern Joint Regional Correctional Facility at JBLM before being transferred to the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
Jones-Adams was an Adjutant General’s Corps Officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 23rd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division, Multi-Domain Command-Pacific, JBLM.
Army officials emphasized that the case centered on deception, lack of knowledge by the victim and the resulting harm, rather than on lawful medical care.
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