As Lt. Col. Justin Murphy was preparing for his graduation ceremony from the Rappahannock Regional Veterans Treatment Docket (RRVTD), his mentor, Daniel Cortez, asked what he was wearing.
“He remarked to me, ‘I’m going to be business casual,’” Cortez recalled. “I asked him not to be business casual and wear his uniform … I wanted everyone to see who Justin Murphy really is.”
Cortez and the other speakers who gathered in Spotsylvania County Circuit Court on Thursday afternoon said that Murphy, a Fredericksburg resident, shouldn’t be defined by his guilty plea to a charge of driving after illegally consuming alcohol in March 2024 in Stafford County.
His next court appearance is in two weeks.
Murphy also sought to be included on the treatment docket — a 7-year-old comprehensive diversionary program supporting veterans by providing immediate access to substance abuse and mental health services related to PTSD, as well as mentorship and other services under court supervision.
While more than a dozen participants were on hand to update Judge Ricardo Rigual on their progress Thursday, Murphy was the lone graduate.
“We all know from time to time that we stumble,” said Maj. Gen. Ryan Rideout, director of Manpower Management. “What’s most important is not that we stumble, it’s how we get back up and how we help others get back up. I think that’s really what demonstrates our true strength.”
Judge Ricardo Rigual (left) congratulates Lt. Col. Justin Murphy on his graduation from the Rappahannock Regional Veterans Treatment Docket Thursday at Spotsylvania County Circuit Court. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Cortez)
The program’s objectives are to: introduce veterans to a continuous substance use treatment and recovery program aimed at eradicating drug and alcohol dependency; provide tailored mental health treatment to address specific needs such as PTSD; mitigate the influence of recurring offenders on the local criminal justice system; and encourage self-reliance so that participants can become productive members of society.
Each veteran is assigned a mentor.
Felony cases involve a minimum of 18 months in the program and the completion of five phases, which include stabilization and education, intensive treatment and counseling, ongoing support, and a case plan. Each phase includes random drug and alcohol testing and regular appearances before a judge. Misdemeanor cases include three phases and a minimum of 12 months.
The RRVTD is one of several specialty dockets in the Fredericksburg area.
Earlier this month, the Fredericksburg Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office announced that a new docket, the Fredericksburg Therapeutic Docket, had received approval to begin operations. That docket, which will be based out of Fredericksburg General District Court, will accept misdemeanor cases involving individuals with serious mental health issues.
Brian Gahagan noted that his close friend, Murphy, attended Laurel Ridge Treatment Center in Texas and Strong Hope, a military behavioral health program in Utah, but benefited greatly from the RRVTD.
“I think those things provided a lot of what Justin needed, but what it exposed is a gap in the limitation of what some of the programs [provide],” Gahagan said … “I think this community program that the docket provides is a stopgap that’s much needed. So, I’m proud of what he’s done.”
Murphy is a 19-year Marine Corps veteran. Cortez, his mentor, noted his vast educational background that includes a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Norwich University, a master’s in engineering management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and two stints at the Naval Postgraduate School.
After completing the RRVTD program, Murphy will work alongside Cortez at the National Vet Court Alliance. Cortez is the chairman of the alliance, which aims to expand veteran court dockets to all federal, state and tribal jurisdictions.
“He is going to be the catalyst that’s going to take us where we need to be, to give back, nurture and support fellow veterans,” Cortez said … “He’s going back from whence he came and he’s going to do that proudly. I am so proud that you are here to witness the ongoing transition that this remarkable Marine officer has made.”
Murphy said his growth did not come without trial. He said his message to his fellow veterans in the program is to “harvest and isolate your energy on the root causes that brought you here.”
“You hear a few times that [being charged with a crime] is what brought you here, and that’s not true,” Murphy said. “That’s not true at all, and you need to stop thinking about that as soon as possible. What brought you here is there’s something inside of you that you have to figure out. The charges are just a [symptom] of that.”
The courtroom broke out into laughter when Murphy added that, “Some of you have a healthy Rolodex of charges” before reiterating that’s not where their focus should lie.
Murphy also added some levity when he thanked Rigual before stating, “I really don’t want to see you again.”
He commended the judge on his leadership with the program, setting a standard and high expectations for the participants. Rigual heaped praise on most of the participants who are in various stages of the program, rewarding them with gift cards and medals for their progress. He also sentenced to community service two who did not meet expectations since their last court appearance.
“Everyone knows the standard. Everyone knows what’s expected of you,” Murphy said. “There are no questions.”
State Sens. Bryce Reeves (R-Spotsylvania) and Tara Durant (R-Stafford) had representatives attend Murphy’s ceremony to read congratulatory letters from the legislators. Ann Baker, the specialty dockets coordinator with Rappahannock Regional Jail, also congratulated Baker for taking “great initiative” and seeking out the program immediately after the incident that led to his guilty plea.
Baker said Murphy “far exceeded” requirements to complete the program, and that it’s easy for the RRVTD team to get behind a veteran who is determined to live a healthier life. Murphy has been sober for more than a year, and Baker said she’s looking forward to witnessing him help others with the National Vet Court Alliance.
“I feel that this event happened for a reason,” Baker said. “It is the catalyst for you to realize your true purpose.”
Free Press Managing Editor Joey LoMonaco contributed to this story.
