Former Naval Academy instructor faces sexual assault charges

[Luigi59]

By Matthew Hay Brown, The Baltimore Sun
January 16, 2013

A Marine Corps officer who worked as an instructor at the Naval Academy has been accused of sexually assaulting a female midshipman in his Annapolis apartment following the annual croquet match between the academy and St. John's College in 2011.

An academy spokeswoman confirmed that Marine Corps Maj. Mark A. Thompson, a history instructor at the academy at the time of the alleged assault, has been charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of fraternization and three counts of conduct unbecoming an officer.

Details of the Article 32 hearing in the Thompson case, which concluded this week at the Washington Navy Yard, were first reported by Military.com.

According to the news website, former Midshipman Sarah Stadler testified Tuesday that she and a fellow female midshipman visited Thompson at his apartment following the croquet match on April 30, 2011. The fellow midshipman later reported the alleged assault to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. In general, The Baltimore Sun does not identify alleged victims of sexual crimes.

According to Military.com, Stadler said that she and the alleged victim drank alcohol at the croquet match, at a Mexican restaurant in Annapolis and at Thompson's apartment. She described the alleged victim and herself as "drunk."

Stadler, now a gunnery officer aboard the destroyer USS Howard, testified she had had sex with Thompson before April 30, according to the news website. On the night of the alleged attack, Stadler said, she, the alleged victim and Thompson played strip poker in his apartment.

The investigative officer presiding over the Article 32 hearing will now forward his findings to Miller, the academy superintendent. Miller will decide whether to proceed with a court-martial or other action.

 

[Vista123]

So many very poor choices on so many levels.
Don't sexually assault someone.
Dont get drunk with your students.
Dont play strip poker with your students.
Dont invite your students to your apartment.
Dont get drunk with your teacher.
Dont play strip poker with your teacher.
Dont got to your teacher's apartment.

 

[usnabgo08]

Sounds like a great discussion for the "Academy/Military News" forum.

 

[Whistle Pig]

Agreed. And let's not convict anyone. Leave that to military justice. At this point, what we know is he is innocent of all charges. I'm not sure why this is on this forum.

 

[Luigi59]

"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."

You disagree? You think that if it's not "talked about" that it never happened?

 

[Luigi59]

Updated - Baltimore Sun 1-31-2013

Former Naval Academy instructor to be court-martialed

Marine Corps officer accused of assaulting female midshipman

A former Naval Academy instructor who is accused of sexually assaulting a female midshipman will be court-martialed, an academy spokeswoman said Thursday.

Marine Corps Maj. Mark A. Thompson, a former history instructor at the academy, is accused of assaulting the midshipman in his Annapolis apartment following the annual croquet match between the academy and St. John's College in 2011.

Adm. Michael H. Miller, the academy's superintendent, referred the case to a general court-martial after reviewing information from a preliminary hearing that concluded this month in Washington, spokeswoman Jenny Erickson said.

Thompson is to be charged under the sections of the Uniform Code of Military Justice that deal with sexual assault, failure to obey an order or regulation, and conduct unbecoming an officer, Erickson said.

Thompson is presumed innocent until proved guilty. A date for the court-martial has not been set.

 

[sprog]

... drank alcohol at the croquet match, at a Mexican restaurant in Annapolis ....

I have no comment as to merits of the case apart from noting its serious nature; however, I am fairly positive as to the identity of the Mexican restaurant in question. Even just one margarita from there will drop you right on your a$$. I've been there.