Four Military Personnel Accused of Sexual Assault on Campus
Legal proceedings have commenced for four military servicemen accused of sexually assaulting a female student on a military base. The accused have been formally charged, and the case has started to move through the judicial system.
The four men were charged after an unfortunate incident that occurred on a military base located to the southwest of Tacoma, Washington.
Victim Now Serving as an Officer
The victim, whose identity has been kept private, was a college student at the time of the assault. She has since joined the military service and been commissioned as an officer.
Charges Against the Accused
The four accused servicemen face numerous charges. A 29-year-old corporal is facing a court-martial, charged with attempted sexual assault, aiding and abetting in an inappropriate recording, distributing the inappropriate recording, planning to commit sexual assault, and obstruction of justice. The corporal's trial has been slated for November, though a plea has yet to be recorded in the online court system.
A 20-year-old private second class is also facing court-martial. He is charged with sexual assault, abusive sexual contact, aiding and abetting in abusive sexual contact and sexual assault, planning and attempting to commit sexual assault, aiding in inappropriate recording and its distribution, planning to commit sexual assault, and obstruction of justice. He has pleaded guilty and a hearing is set to take place soon.
A 24-year-old specialist is also charged with sexual assault, aiding and abetting in sexual assault, attempting to commit sexual assault, inappropriate recording, aiding in inappropriate recording and its distribution, planning to commit sexual assault, and obstruction of justice.
Finally, a 24-year-old private first class is facing charges of sexual assault, abusive sexual contact, aiding and abetting in abusive sexual contact and sexual assault, attempting to commit sexual assault, inappropriate recording, aiding in inappropriate recording and its distribution, planning to commit sexual assault, and obstruction of justice. Moreover, he is also charged with sexual assault of a minor and sexual assault without consent, related to a separate incident involving a minor in Arizona.
Legal Proceedings and Possible Sentences
Defense counsels are typically appointed in such cases by the Army. However, the representatives of the Defense Counsel Assistance Program have yet to comment on behalf of the accused. Furthermore, the legal counsel listed for the 29-year-old corporal could not be reached for a comment as well.
Sexual assault and conspiracy to commit sexual assault carry heavy penalties, potentially leading to a 30-year sentence for each charge. If convicted successfully, each of the accused faces the possibility of many years in prison.
While the specifics of what exactly transpired on the day of the incident are not entirely clear, it has been stated that the assaults occurred simultaneously with all the accused present at the site.
Upcoming Trials
The ongoing legal proceedings, including trials for each of the accused, are scheduled to continue in the coming months, with court proceedings taking place on the military base where the incident occurred.