According to a United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals case heard in 2017 Bloomington District Four Council Candidate John Wyatt Danenberger lied, missed a hearing, disobeyed orders, deflected blame, lacked candor, and breached standards while in the army.
In United States v. Patrick A. Battles, Malcom H. Squires Jr., Clerk of Court wrote on behalf of Apellate Military Judges Muligan, Febbo and Wolfe that Danenberger;
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falsely told the trial counsel and his client he would be unable to attend the Mil. R. Evid. 412 hearing because he had to attend mandatory Special Victims Counsel (SVC) training in Washington, DC
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falsely told the SVC program manager he could not attend the SVC training because he would be at the Mil. R. Evid. 412 hearing,
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missed the court hearing because he was in fact in Majorca, Spain, on leave with his family,
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was ordered to return to Germany, but did not, then appeared at the Mil. R. Evid. 412 hearing via telephone,
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tried to deflect blame by breaching his duties to his client by implying his client had been untruthful in her testimony.
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displayed lack of candor and
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breached professional standards.
Nalefski and Danenberger Facing Off in Bloomington District Four
These are serious findings against Danenberger. Military discipline can result from these type of behaviors. Penalties range from a written reprimand to removal according to Army Regulations 690 -752 – Civilian Personnel – Disciplinary and Adverse Actions Table 3-1.
The following is from table 3-1;
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9. Failure to Follow Directives, Instructions, Orders, Procedures, Regulations, or Rules (Oral and Written). 9c(3). Intentional validation or reckless indifference – First Offense – Removal
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10. Falsification – 10a. False statements, misrepresentation. or fraud in entitlements, includes falsifying information on a time card, leave form, travel voucher, or other document pertaining to entitlements. – First Offense – Written reprimand to removal.
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13 Insubordination: Willful/Intentional refusal to obey orders, defiance of authority. – First Offense – Written reprimand to removal
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15. Lack of Candor: Failure to be forthcoming with regard to relevant facts or information. – Fist Offense – Written Reprimand to Removal – Includes misrepresentation, exaggeration, concealment, omission, or withholding a fact regardless of whether such information was explicitly solicited.
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22. Refusing to Testify; Interference or Obstruction – 22a. Failing or refusing to give oral or written statements, testimony, or failing to cooperate with an inquiry, investigation, or administrative proceeding. First Offense – Written reprimand to removal.
In 2017 Danenberg was already working in Bloomington for State Farm in his current position as Corporate Counsel. He went to work for State Farm in October of 2015 immediately after leaving the Army where he worked in Wiesbaden Germany and the last position he held was as a Claims Attorney.
The court case that resulted in Danenberg being documented as behaving as described above resulted from a case that arose in Wiesbaden after a 2012 crime. Danenberger represented the plaintiff in that case as SVC after starting his work with the Army in Wiesbaden during July of 2013.
Previous to that Danenberg worked as Trial Counsel for the Army at Fort Hood, Texas.
Cities 92.9 reached out for comment from Danenberger but he did not respond to our inquiry.
We also reached out to Danenberger’s challenger in District Four for Council, Steven Nalefski.
Nalefski replied, ““While I have recently been made aware of this matter, my focus is on getting to know the Ward 4 voters and the issues that are important to them.”
The election starts on Feb. 23.