Two Cadets Face Court Martial for Sexual Assaults

Freda'sMom

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I went to the New London newspaper web site this morning and was hoping to read all about today's USMMA football game against Coast Guard.

Instead, this was on the front page.

http://www.theday.com/military/20160909/2-coast-guardsmen-face-court-martial

Two members of the Coast Guard Academy Class of 2016 are facing court-martial proceedings after being charged in separate sexual assault cases.

The cadets are suspended from the corps of cadets following a recommendation by academy Superintendent Rear Adm. James Rendon, while their cases go through the judicial process, according to academy spokesman David Santos.

Santos said information about the cadets being suspended was not made public until now because "we typically release information on a court-martial prior to the convening date."
Each is facing 30 years, wow. I'm assuming since the Class of 2016 has already graduated that they were not commissioned and are still considered cadets?
 
10 years since my classmate was court martialed. He remained a cadet and we graduated.

It's rough on the class but the behavior shouldn't be tolerated.
 
I am surprised you only got one response to your post.


I went to the New London newspaper web site this morning and was hoping to read all about today's USMMA football game against Coast Guard.

Instead, this was on the front page.

http://www.theday.com/military/20160909/2-coast-guardsmen-face-court-martial

Two members of the Coast Guard Academy Class of 2016 are facing court-martial proceedings after being charged in separate sexual assault cases.

The cadets are suspended from the corps of cadets following a recommendation by academy Superintendent Rear Adm. James Rendon, while their cases go through the judicial process, according to academy spokesman David Santos.

Santos said information about the cadets being suspended was not made public until now because "we typically release information on a court-martial prior to the convening date."
Each is facing 30 years, wow. I'm assuming since the Class of 2016 has already graduated that they were not commissioned and are still considered cadets?[/QUOTE]
I went to the New London newspaper web site this morning and was hoping to read all about today's USMMA football game against Coast Guard.

Instead, this was on the front page.

http://www.theday.com/military/20160909/2-coast-guardsmen-face-court-martial

Two members of the Coast Guard Academy Class of 2016 are facing court-martial proceedings after being charged in separate sexual assault cases.

The cadets are suspended from the corps of cadets following a recommendation by academy Superintendent Rear Adm. James Rendon, while their cases go through the judicial process, according to academy spokesman David Santos.

Santos said information about the cadets being suspended was not made public until now because "we typically release information on a court-martial prior to the convening date."
Each is facing 30 years, wow. I'm assuming since the Class of 2016 has already graduated that they were not commissioned and are still considered cadets?
 
  • I went to the New London newspaper web site this morning and was hoping to read all about today's USMMA football game against Coast Guard.
Instead, this was on the front page.

http://www.theday.com/military/20160909/2-coast-guardsmen-face-court-martial

Two members of the Coast Guard Academy Class of 2016 are facing court-martial proceedings after being charged in separate sexual assault cases.

The cadets are suspended from the corps of cadets following a recommendation by academy Superintendent Rear Adm. James Rendon, while their cases go through the judicial process, according to academy spokesman David Santos.

Santos said information about the cadets being suspended was not made public until now because "we typically release information on a court-martial prior to the convening date."
Each is facing 30 years, wow. I'm assuming since the Class of 2016 has already graduated that they were not commissioned and are still considered cadets?
 
I am surprised you only got one response to your post.

It's not a subject that people are comfortable discussing.

What surprises me the most is an academy sitting on the information until the day before the court martial. I recall other sexual assault allegations brought against cadets/mids in the past, and those incidents were publicized even before an Article 32 hearing had taken place, and none of those went to court martial.
 
It's not a subject that people are comfortable discussing.

What surprises me the most is an academy sitting on the information until the day before the court martial. I recall other sexual assault allegations brought against cadets/mids in the past, and those incidents were publicized even before an Article 32 hearing had taken place, and none of those went to court martial.

In 2006 one went to Court Martial, but I do think the Article 32 hearing had been announced, I'm just not sure if it was announced by the Coast Guard or the defendant's counsel.
 
I think no one is discussing until it gets played through. With all that has happened, for example with Stanford I think it is perfectly ok to wait and hear how it all unfolds.
 
I think no one is discussing until it gets played through. With all that has happened, for example with Stanford I think it is perfectly ok to wait and hear how it all unfolds.

They are public hearings...
 
I feel as though the Coast Guard stepped in unnecessarily in the case of the cadet who allegedly sexually assaulted a non-coast guard affiliated person away from the USCGA or any base. Should have simply allowed the criminal justice system to run its course. I remember hearing of enlisted people in the navy who were discharged and subsequently subject to the civil criminal justice system upon committing serious crimes. Is this not available because of the kids' status as officer cadets? Or is it the Coast Guard wanting to make a statement? I see that one of them is now 'stationed' in a Coast Guard yard in Maryland doing junior enlisted level work, seems like a waste of time for a person who was a Cadet 1st Class at the USCGA a short time prior.

There's probably a straightforward answer to this, but why not just cut him lose?
 
I feel as though the Coast Guard stepped in unnecessarily in the case of the cadet who allegedly sexually assaulted a non-coast guard affiliated person away from the USCGA or any base. Should have simply allowed the criminal justice system to run its course. I remember hearing of enlisted people in the navy who were discharged and subsequently subject to the civil criminal justice system upon committing serious crimes. Is this not available because of the kids' status as officer cadets? Or is it the Coast Guard wanting to make a statement? I see that one of them is now 'stationed' in a Coast Guard yard in Maryland doing junior enlisted level work, seems like a waste of time for a person who was a Cadet 1st Class at the USCGA a short time prior.

There's probably a straightforward answer to this, but why not just cut him lose?

Coast Guard cadets are subject to UCMJ. It's fine for the Coast Guard to pursue charges in a military court.

The cadet has to be away from the Corps of Cadets. The real waste is the time and energy put into the training of a cadet who would do something like this.
 
There appears to be a presumption of guilt in this thread?
 
First, per the military, consent cannot be attained if someone is under the influence. I realize people still do have sex drunk, but it's a risk.

Second, just because someone isn't found guilty in a court of law, that doesn't mean they haven't violated a regulation that can result in separation.
 
LITS...a good example of what you just posted was former Navy QB Lamar Owens...found not guilty of rape, but guilty in violating a military protection and lawful general order at a General Court Martial. The member panel sentenced "no punishment." Lamar was still administratively separated and it was upheld by the SECNAV.
 
UCMJ:
Art 133 Conduct Unbecoming
Art 135 Conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline

These are the two articles most often used to charge military members who are in legal proceedings in civilian courts. The Service can't duplicate those charges, but can, if they choose, charge a member for the same conduct under the articles above. That is what gets people out the door. These articles are also used in military proceedings when it's clear something bad has happened, but the Article 32 hearing ("grand jury") doesn't find enough evidence to support specific charges on the alleged criminal act.

These may not be in play in this case, but they are the military's handy all-purpose tools.
 
Coast Guard cadets are subject to UCMJ. It's fine for the Coast Guard to pursue charges in a military court.

The cadet has to be away from the Corps of Cadets. The real waste is the time and energy put into the training of a cadet who would do something like this.

This is a really off base response. Who ever questioned the fact that USCGA cadets are subject to the UCMJ? Obviously, all active duty military members are. The real question here is, why is the Coast Guard selectively applying the UCMJ here in this situation to these cadets?

It's also highly disrespectful to call their training a waste when you don't know exactly what happened, and there's (supposedly) a presumption of innocence until the Coast Guard can prove that these cadets violated the UCMJ.
 
This is a really off base response. Who ever questioned the fact that USCGA cadets are subject to the UCMJ? Obviously, all active duty military members are. The real question here is, why is the Coast Guard selectively applying the UCMJ here in this situation to these cadets?

It's also highly disrespectful to call their training a waste when you don't know exactly what happened, and there's (supposedly) a presumption of innocence until the Coast Guard can prove that these cadets violated the UCMJ.

The presumption of innocence is for the court of law, not court of public opinion. The individual has done nothing to earn my respect.

I'm not sure why this is difficult to understand. An alleged assault occurred. The person involved is subject to the UCMJ. The UCMJ doesn't exist only for service members doing something to other service members. So here you have an active duty member of a branch of the military that violates federal military law.... And your confused why the military would pursue such a case in a military court?

I'm confused by your confusion.
 
I'm not sure why this is difficult to understand. An alleged assault occurred. The person involved is subject to the UCMJ. The UCMJ doesn't exist only for service members doing something to other service members. So here you have an active duty member of a branch of the military that violates federal military law.... And your confused why the military would pursue such a case in a military court?

I'm confused by your confusion.

okay, let's say I'm hypothetically a Coast Guard Cadet and I'm caught smoking dope in Chase Hall. Am I going to be court martialed for possessing drugs? Probably not, The USCGA would probably just disenroll me with a general discharge.
 
okay, let's say I'm hypothetically a Coast Guard Cadet and I'm caught smoking dope in Chase Hall. Am I going to be court martialed for possessing drugs? Probably not, The USCGA would probably just disenroll me with a general discharge.

Are you suggesting a sexual assault should result in a simple administrative action?
 
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