USMMA soccer program suspended amid federal probe

Freda'sMom · Jun 13, 2017

I haven't heard anything through the grapevine yet, and the NewsDay article is even less informative.

The men’s soccer program at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point has been suspended until further notice, pending results of a federal investigation involving several team members, officials confirmed Monday.

The probe is being conducted by the Office of Inspector General in the U.S. Department of Transportation, the federal agency that oversees the academy.

Federal officials declined to provide information on the nature of the investigation or what prompted it — whether there was an incident or incidents, or a complaint. They also would not say how many members of the team allegedly were involved or identify anyone associated with the investigation.

Jmoney457 · Jun 13, 2017

One of the plebes on the team (who no longer attends the academy), made some serious harassment allegations against first classmen ('17) on the team. None of the first class soccer players are going to walk at graduation. Those are all the details I'm going to provide.

KPEngineer · Jun 14, 2017

Curious if there was any kind of investigation or have they been prevented from participating in graduation based on the allegation alone.

Jmoney457 · Jun 14, 2017

2017 is a really small class, I think they're at around 160.

vortexkp99 · Jun 15, 2017

Kings Point Sentry (With Recent Update):
http://www.kingspointsentry.com/sea-year-stand-down/why-i-havent-posted-about-the-soccer-team-issue/

Military Times Article:
http://www.militarytimes.com/articl...merchant-marine-academy-amid-harassment-probe

rjb · Jul 9, 2017

Judge gives ten days to divulge charges or he will rule to issue diplomas to mids.

http://www.nydailynews.com/amp/news...rchant-marine-academy-probe-article-1.3306074

Freda'sMom · Jul 22, 2017

The alleged behavior / conduct of the senior mids is disgusting, disturbing, and unworthy of anyone attending a federal service academy. If proven true in court, I hope none of them are awarded degrees and all of them are summarily dismissed with a hefty govt reimbursement invoice.

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/...s-sexually-abused-bullied-freshman-1.13815991

KP_2020DAD · Jul 22, 2017

The court did issue rulings yesterday but are under seal. From pacer.gov:
"
- In camera conference held with the Court and counsel. Rulings made as stated on the record. This portion of the transcripts is ordered under seal. Transcripts of this portion can be made available to counsel of record and the Court ONLY. "
"
- This Court will retain jurisdiction while administrative
procedures are completed by the Merchant Marine Academy."

rjb · Jul 22, 2017

Freda'sMom said:
If proven true in court, I hope none of them are awarded degrees and all of them are summarily dismissed with a hefty govt reimbursement invoice.

So far this case has been more about violation of due process than alleged actions.

I might suggest you let the process run its course before handing down sentence.

Maplerock · Jul 23, 2017

Freda'sMom said:
The alleged behavior / conduct of the senior mids is disgusting, disturbing, and unworthy of anyone attending a federal service academy. If proven true in court, I hope none of them are awarded degrees and all of them are summarily dismissed with a hefty govt reimbursement invoice.

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/...s-sexually-abused-bullied-freshman-1.13815991

Yours is quite a severe reaction. You must know more than the articles suggest. Yes, if true, some behaviors were disgusting. Worthy of expulsion/refusal of degree and hundreds of thousands of dollars repayment? Hopefully a very wise judge or jury will decide the case. Young people can act quite stupidly. Was it bad enough for the extreme measures you suggest? We will wait and see.

vortexkp99 · Jul 23, 2017

While the defendent eventually received a federal hotel stay, failure to carry out the administrative due process has been a stumbling block as evidenced by past case history....

http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/985/292/1569433/

Freda'sMom · Jul 23, 2017

rjb said:
I might suggest you let the process run its course before handing down sentence.

Is that not what you think I meant when I typed the phrase "If proven true in court.."?

Sexual assault, even if by a male upon another male, is a serious matter that deserves (again-IF PROVEN TRUE) a serious punishment.

azmilmom · Jul 24, 2017

KP_2020DAD said:
The court did issue rulings yesterday but are under seal. From pacer.gov:
"
- In camera conference held with the Court and counsel. Rulings made as stated on the record. This portion of the transcripts is ordered under seal. Transcripts of this portion can be made available to counsel of record and the Court ONLY. "
"
- This Court will retain jurisdiction while administrative
procedures are completed by the Merchant Marine Academy."

@KP_2020DAD , I've been waiting to hear some updates. Do I understand correctly that there have been rulings regarding the charges, but that no one knows the rulings? Has anyone heard whether there have been decisions made about mids allegedly involved?

KP_2020DAD · Jul 24, 2017

According to pacer.gov (the government website for publishing and filing court records), rulings have been issued and are under seal (which means the public can't view them). The court has seemingly directed KP to take action but what action we don't know. As KP seemed to be waiting on DOT to finish an IG investigation we may have to wait for awhile to learn the outcome here. Sorry for lack of detail but very little was provided by the court.

azmilmom · Jul 24, 2017

KP_2020DAD said:
According to pacer.gov (the government website for publishing and filing court records), rulings have been issued and are under seal (which means the public can't view them). The court has seemingly directed KP to take action but what action we don't know. As KP seemed to be waiting on DOT to finish an IG investigation we may have to wait for awhile to learn the outcome here. Sorry for lack of detail but very little was provided by the court.

Thanks, @KP_2020DAD . Was hoping to hear that the rulings meant that decisions were reached and the case closed.

kp2001 · Jul 25, 2017

Freda'sMom said:
Sexual assault, even if by a male upon another male, is a serious matter that deserves (again-IF PROVEN TRUE) a serious punishment.

I keep seeing the words sexual assault, but I have yet to see anything that would suggest there was even an alleged sexual assault. I've seen an allegation of urine being thrown on someone, but that's not sexual assault in my mind. Disgusting, yes...stupid, yes. Sexual assault, not quite.

Maybe there are other allegations that haven't been reported or I missed.

Freda'sMom · Jul 26, 2017

kp2001 said:
I keep seeing the words sexual assault, but I have yet to see anything that would suggest there was even an alleged sexual assault.

You haven't even seen an allegation of sexual abuse or anything that would suggest sexaual assault? Did you read the headline in the Newsday article? Did you read the first paragraph?

USMMA soccer players sexually abused, bullied freshman, lawyer says

Seven former members of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men’s soccer team committed sexually abusive acts against a freshman player in September and bullied him for at least a month afterward, a government lawyer said Friday in federal court in Central Islip.

There's your allegation, from the US Govt's lawyer/prosecutor. Whether you believe the allegation or not is irrelevant, but don't pretend the allegation of sexual abuse is not suggested. It's right there in black in white.

kp2001 · Jul 26, 2017

Freda'sMom said:
You haven't even seen an allegation of sexual abuse or anything that would suggest sexaual assault? Did you read the headline in the Newsday article? Did you read the first paragraph?

There's your allegation, from the US Govt's lawyer/prosecutor. Whether you believe the allegation or not is irrelevant, but don't pretend the allegation of sexual abuse is not suggested. It's right there in black in white.

And then they go on to delineate what those acts supposedly were. None of which meet what I see as definitions of sexual assault. If there was something else alleged I'm sure they would have been happy to print it to sell more newspapers / web clicks.

From my reading/interpretation they are trying to stretch the urine allegation into being a sexual assault. Maybe my reading comprehension is poor, but if they've printed some detailed allegations why wouldn't they print them all?

joriebelle · Jul 26, 2017

That was my understanding as well, that they were trying to say the urine allegation was a sexual assault. Obviously I could be wrong but that's how I took it too.

There's your allegation, from the US Govt's lawyer/prosecutor. Whether you believe the allegation or not is irrelevant, but don't pretend the allegation of sexual abuse is not suggested. It's right there in black in white.[/QUOTE]

And then they go on to delineate what those acts supposedly were. None of which meet what I see as definitions of sexual assault. If there was something else alleged I'm sure they would have been happy to print it to sell more newspapers / web clicks.

From my reading/interpretation they are trying to stretch the urine allegation into being a sexual assault. Maybe my reading comprehension is poor, but if they've printed some detailed allegations why wouldn't they print them all?[/QUOTE]

AJC · Jul 26, 2017

If the urine was "applied directly" then it would be considered a sex crime.
just sayin'

USMMA soccer program suspended amid federal probe

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