An Army captain stationed at Joint Base Lewis‑McChord has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after admitting he secretly slipped a drug to a fellow soldier he was dating, ending her pregnancy. Capt. Brandon Jones‑Adams, 34, pleaded guilty this week to intentionally killing his unborn child and several related offenses. His sentence also includes dismissal from the Army and forfeiture of all pay, and military prosecutors said he will begin serving his time at JBLM before being transferred to Fort Leavenworth.
Court‑martial and plea
The guilty plea and sentence were detailed in a news release from the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel. According to the release, Jones‑Adams admitted to intentionally killing an unborn child and pleaded guilty to domestic violence, fraternization, and conduct unbecoming an officer. A military judge imposed 12 years of confinement, ordered his dismissal from the service, and directed the forfeiture of all pay and allowances, with officials describing the outcome as the result of an Army Criminal Investigation Division probe.
What prosecutors say happened
Prosecutors say Jones‑Adams met the victim in November 2024 while both were assigned to the same battalion, and the two later began a relationship. The couple became pregnant in May 2025 during a rotation to South Korea. On Aug. 21, 2025, the victim was at Jones‑Adams’ home in Puyallup when he poured her a drink. She later noticed a residue in the cup, began experiencing severe cramping, and went to the JBLM emergency room, where she miscarried at 13 weeks of pregnancy, according to The News Tribune.
Evidence and the drug
Investigators determined that Jones‑Adams used a fake name to order mifepristone online and that a forensic review of his phone showed multiple attempts to obtain the medication. When questioned by Army CID, he admitted putting a pill into the victim’s drink, according to military reporting. Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone and is used to end early pregnancies, according to the FDA. Reporting by Army Times states that prosecutors relied heavily on digital evidence and medical records to build their case.
Legal context
Under military law, intentionally killing an unborn child falls under Article 119a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The Army’s Criminal Law Deskbook explains that Article 119a covers injury or death to an unborn child and allows punishment consistent with what would apply if the same offense had been committed directly against the mother. The reference notes that the crime requires specific intent and gives military courts significant flexibility in sentencing, according to the Army Criminal Law Deskbook.
Officials respond
Special Agent in Charge Michele Starostka condemned the conduct as “a disgusting act that killed an unborn child and violated the victim’s trust and autonomy in the most personal way,” while Circuit Chief Lt. Col. Tyler Heimann described it as “deliberate, calculated, and malicious.” Both officials’ statements appear in the Army’s release from the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel. Prosecutors credited a coordinated effort between Army CID investigators and trial counsel for bringing the case to its conclusion.
What comes next
Jones‑Adams will start serving his sentence at the Northwestern Joint Regional Correctional Facility at JBLM and is expected to be transferred to the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, according to military reporting. Coverage by local and national outlets says the case has drawn renewed focus to fraternization rules and reproductive autonomy within the ranks, and observers are watching for any appeals or follow‑on administrative actions, as reported by Stars and Stripes.
