Warren County Common Pleas Judge Timothy Tepe declined to send a veteran convicted of a felony to prison and instead placed him in the Warren County Veterans Honor Court, WCPO 9 Cincinnati reported on Oct. 14, 2026.
The defendant, Carl Dudley-Clouse, told the station that his conviction left him believing he had no future. According to the report, Tepe said the nature of the charge and Dudley-Clouse's military service made treatment and support a better option than incarceration. The judge described him as someone who needed help rather than prison.
The Honor Court, launched by Tepe, links veterans in the criminal justice system with resources, treatment programs and mentorship while requiring accountability, the station reported. It began in 2018, and Dudley-Clouse is among dozens of veterans the report says have completed it.
Dudley-Clouse said he used alcohol after his military service to cope. Through the program, he accessed support that helped him regain control, and he has been sober for more than 400 days as of the report, according to WCPO. As he graduates, he said he now sees a future he once considered impossible.
Two other veterans, Douglas Caldwell and Scott Horton, told the station about the program's value. Caldwell said veterans do not receive enough appreciation in the country. Horton said seeking help should be seen as strength. Dudley-Clouse encouraged other veterans to take a second chance.