3 USNA Football Players Face Sexual Assault Probe

Status
Not open for further replies.

Luigi59

Banned
Joined
Apr 1, 2007
Messages
4,566
http://www.military.com/daily-news/...-assault-probe.html?comp=1198882887570&rank=1

Three Naval Academy football players are under investigation for sexually assaulting a female midshipman, Academy officials confirmed Thursday.

The Naval Academy would not name the players under investigation or say when the investigation started.

"Naval Academy leadership is monitoring the progress of this investigation and evaluating the appropriate options for adjudication," said Cmdr. John Schofield, the Naval Academy spokesman. "It is completely inappropriate to make any other public comment on this investigation or any ongoing investigation as we risk compromising the military justice process."

Naval Academy officials could not say when they expected the investigation into the three Naval Academy football players to be completed.

Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Michael Miller and Navy Football Coach Ken Niumatalolo were not made available to comment on the investigation because it is ongoing.

There are few details available on the investigation as it remains ongoing. However, it comes to light six days after President Obama spoke at the Naval Academy graduation and challenged the newly commissioned officers to combat the growing problem of sexual assault in the service academies and the military at large.
 
I don't see the purpose for a post like this. If you must, why not wait and see what happens. Just a way to publicize and therefore tarnish navy? Even if true, it could happen at any university in the world.
 
I don't see the purpose for a post like this. If you must, why not wait and see what happens. Just a way to publicize and therefore tarnish navy? Even if true, it could happen at any university in the world.

I really don't think Luigi is trying to "tarnish Navy"...he's just posting something that happened, as this is under the "Academy/Military news forum, and this is Academy news...every other time something happens at any of the other academies, those stories are also put up.
 
I don't see the purpose for a post like this. If you must, why not wait and see what happens. Just a way to publicize and therefore tarnish navy? Even if true, it could happen at any university in the world.

I'd say that if these guys did actually sexual assault someone they're the ones to "tarnish Navy."
 
I don't see the purpose for a post like this. If you must, why not wait and see what happens. Just a way to publicize and therefore tarnish navy? Even if true, it could happen at any university in the world.

So it's your position that news from the US Naval Academy does not belong in a forum section called "Academy/Military News"? :confused:

How about this oft-used quotation:

"Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman." Justice Louis D. Brandeis
 
I don't see the purpose for a post like this. If you must, why not wait and see what happens. Just a way to publicize and therefore tarnish navy? Even if true, it could happen at any university in the world.

Sexual assault in the military is certainly a big topic in the news AND in the military these days. I think the post is fine.
 
It's disgusting to hear so many stories of sexual misconduct in the military.

Why's this happening so often?
 
At this point it is unsubstantiated. Charges have not been brought. Would any one of us like rumors or unproven and unflattering accusations posted for the world to see?

Of course all proven guilty should be punished. I just do not like to see people finding joy in the suffering of others. Maybe that's not the case here and it was meant to be purely informative, but it doesn't feel that way.

At the same time one could point out that Navy had fewer instances of misconduct than Army or the USAFA in 2012 according to the story.

The news sensationalizes what they perceive as "big stories." IMHO I will continue to support and sing the praises of our service academies and leave the criticism and finger pointing to those more inclined to do so.
 
Last edited:
At this point it is unsubstantiated. Charges have not been brought. Would any one of us like rumors or unproven and unflattering accusations posted for the world to see?

Of course all proven guilty should be punished. I just do not like to see people finding joy in the suffering of others. Maybe that's not the case here and it was meant to be purely informative, but it doesn't feel that way.

At the same time one could point out that Navy had fewer instances of misconduct than Army or the USAFA in 2012 according to the story.

The news sensationalizes what they perceive as "big stories." IMHO I will continue to support and sing the praises of our service academies and leave the criticism and finger pointing to those more inclined to do so.
So you're saying we should only be talking about the good things about the SA's and not the issues they also face? Sexual assault is a big story...something that's very real and increasing. I think everyone on here supports the SA's, but that doesn't mean we can't discuss the problems they also are facing...in fact, it would be unfair to candidates who come on here to get information about the SA's to just talk about the good things at the SA's, wouldn't be telling the whole story.

I don't think anyone's finding joy here at this...no one wants to see this happen, but it is happening, so we might as well talk about it...the more things aren't talked about, the bigger of an issue they usually come.

According to the article, USNA had more assaults than USMA....went up to 15 at USNA, 13 to USMA, not fewer like you stated, though I think that's beside the point.
 
Last edited:
At this point it is unsubstantiated. Charges have not been brought. Would any one of us like rumors or unproven and unflattering accusations posted for the world to see?

At this point...well that ship has already sailed since the article has already been posted on Military.com for the world to see.

Luigi59 made no comments, no accusations, and spread no rumors, he simply posted a news article that has already been released to the public.
 
Sexual assaults are "big stories" at academies. Sorry if you don't like that. My classmate was the first CGA cadet to go to court martial. It was all over the news... and it should have been.

"Singing the praises of the academies" are for the little cub scouts and brownies who want to attend and assume nothing bad happens. What you're going to find here is active duty and vets, officers and cadets/midshipmen, are OK with calling out cadets and midshipmen when they do bad things.

Have they been convicted? Nope. But you know what? This isn't good for them. And the LAST thing the military can afford to do is sweep anything ELSE under the rug... even at the highly thought of academies.
 
The original post is appropriate for this forum.

That said, given that no charges have been brought let alone anyone convicted, it would not be appropriate to suggest/assume that those under investigation are guilty.

Thus, I'm not sure there's much more to be said on the subject. If you have something to say, please choose your words wisely and address the topic, not the motives of others. Thank you.

Your friendly mod.
 
I am often amazed at the reaction to a "bad news" story published about one of SAs, most often a response of "why bring that up?" or sometimes the ad hominem (mostly used when Dr Bruce Fleming is quoted) is deployed as well.

It's not just USNA, it's at all of the academies. USAFA just had a football player convicted and sentenced, with 2 or 3 others getting lesser punishments. West Point has a guy taping female cadets in the showers, as well as a Superintendent having an affair with a civilian worker there. And as LITS stated, the only USCGA cadet ever court-martialed was a star football player also charged with sexual assault (although he was not convicted of that charge, he did serve time for a lesser charge). King's Point must do a great job suppressing these stories because I can't say I've heard of any there, but as they are not military and not under the UCMJ they probably don't report them to the same entities.

Bringing these stories to light serves multiple purposes. "Hiding" them, ignoring them, not talking about them etc -- does nothing to reduce them. "Out of sight, out of mind" or "Speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil" has never worked as a remedy, just ask an ostrich.

Every parent needs to get past the (well-deserved) pride they feel about their son/daughter attending such a prestigious and selective institution, and understand there are others attending who may not have the same moral values or character traits that little Johnny/Susie personify.

I'll wager against any and all comers that alcohol (once again) played a part in this event, and is just another in the long long line of events that demonstrate the need for a total alcohol ban for all cadets/mids (but that's another subject deserving of its own thread).
 
I'll wager against any and all comers that alcohol (once again) played a part in this event, and is just another in the long long line of events that demonstrate the need for a total alcohol ban for all cadets/mids (but that's another subject deserving of its own thread).

I am 100% against that. Let's "remove" (but let's be honest, we all know even with a ban, they'll still drink) alcohol, so these people, we want to call leaders, get their first taste of legally drinking in uniform once they get to their units and have people actually relying on them.

I'd much prefer they make the mistakes, and be punished, while they're cadets/midshipmen.... weed them out then, instead of at a point when it has an impact on the operational readiness of the service (although, some will still get in trouble after they graduate).
 
I am 100% against that. Let's "remove" (but let's be honest, we all know even with a ban, they'll still drink) alcohol, so these people, we want to call leaders, get their first taste of legally drinking in uniform once they get to their units and have people actually relying on them.

I'd much prefer they make the mistakes, and be punished, while they're cadets/midshipmen.... weed them out then, instead of at a point when it has an impact on the operational readiness of the service (although, some will still get in trouble after they graduate).

Actually, many if not most will have about 6 - 18 months of drinking under their belts before they graduate and commission. They'll have opportunities to screw up before they get to their units, most likely during the week of their 21st birthday if nothing else. I do agree that the drinking laws in this country are all screwed up.
 
The local Baltimore news has a little more info:

CBS News said earlier this week that the incident happened one year ago and was recently reopened. The initial investigation was dropped after the woman refused to file charges.

One of the players was the woman's boyfriend at the time; investigators told CBS News he was set to graduate, but it was put on hold.

Reporter: We learned one of the accused players was supposed to graduate that day but was not allowed to, because of the investigation. The senior, who was supposed to graduate with his fellow midshipmen that day is alleged to be the principal perpetrator in the sexual assault while he completed requirements for graduation, the navy wants to finish the investigation before he is allowed to leave. It was one week ago today, President Obama told the graduates, that sexual assault had no place in the greatest military on earth.

Those who commit sexual assault are not only committing a crime, they threaten the trust and discipline that makes our military strong. Reporter: The accuser in the sexual assault said that three midshipmen assaulted her a year ago. But four months later, she said she no longer wanted to pursue the case.

It was dropped. And then in February of this year, she changed her mind. It is now an ongoing investigation.

http://www.wbal.com/article/100201/...all-Players-Facing-Sex-Assault-Investigation-

The news of the investigation comes on the third day of a court-martial for a former academy instructor accused of sexually assaulting one mid and having consensual sex with another. Marine Maj. Mark Thompson could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the sexual assault charge.
 
^^^^^
This is not to cast any aspersions on the possible victim here, but you get to change your mind? Really? I put this one in the category of birth Moms who want their child back 3 years after their adoption. Certainly some amount of time should be allowed for changing one's mind in either case but it seems to me there needs to be some limit on this as well.
 
^^^^^
This is not to cast any aspersions on the possible victim here, but you get to change your mind? Really? I put this one in the category of birth Moms who want their child back 3 years after their adoption. Certainly some amount of time should be allowed for changing one's mind in either case but it seems to me there needs to be some limit on this as well.

I agree, it seems odd that a law enforcement agency would stop an investigation of a crime on the say-so of the victim or a witness or a political hoo-ha.
They are supposed to make their own mind up about the existence of a crime and then who did the deed. Witnesses and victim can be intimidated into silence. Of course that can bring an investigation to a screeching halt, but does not close the case.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top