Charges referred to court-martial for Kadena Airman Published Nov. 21, 2011 By 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The General Court-Martial Convening Authority and Commander of Fifth Air Force, Yokota AB, Japan, Lt. Gen. Burton M. Field, referred charges to court-martial regarding the accused, Staff Sgt. Nicholas R. Cron. The referred charges include premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and obstruction of justice. Tech. Sgt. Curtis E. Eccleston, a military member assigned to the 733rd Air Mobility Squadron was found dead in his off-base residence Feb. 6. Cron, assigned to the same squadron, was charged with murdering Eccleston, along with conspiracy to commit murder and obstruction of justice. Based on the evidence and the charged offense, the case was referred as a capital case. Therefore, the military judge or panel of court-martial members could consider all potential punishments authorized under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including a death sentence, life with or without eligibility for parole, and other punishments. Under the Manual for Courts-Martial, military members are afforded due process protections, including representation by independent military defense counsel. All military members accused of a crime are presumed innocent until convicted in a court martial. No trial date has yet been established.