Legal proceedings for four Army soldiers charged in connection with the sexual assault of a college student in an Army barracks began this month, a spokesperson for the military branch said.
The four were charged in April in connection with an Oct. 27 incident in barracks at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, southwest of Tacoma, Washington.
The victim, who was not identified, was described by Michelle McCaskill, spokesperson for the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, as a college student who has since been commissioned as an officer.
McCaskill told to NBC affiliate KING of Seattle the four men face the following charges, with many of the charges appearing with multiple counts, or specifications in Army parlance:
- Cpl. Pedro Angel Ruiz, 29, faces a court-martial. He is charged with attempted sexual assault, principal to indecent recording, principal to distribution of indecent recording, conspiracy to commit sexual assault and obstruction of justice. Online court records did not list a plea, and his trial is scheduled for November.
- Pvt. 2nd Class Deron J. Gordon, 20, faces a court-martial. He is charged with sexual assault, abusive sexual contact, principal to abusive sexual contact, principal to sexual assault, principal to attempted sexual assault, principal to indecent recording, principal to distribution of indecent recording, conspiracy to commit sexual assault and obstruction of justice. He pleaded guilty, and a hearing was scheduled for Sept. 3.
- Spc. Jadon Bosarge, 24, is charged with sexual assault, principal to sexual assault, principal to attempted sexual assault, indecent recording, principal to indecent recording, principal to distribution of indecent recording, conspiracy to commit sexual assault and obstruction of justice.
- Pfc. Kallon Curiel, 24, is charged with sexual assault, abusive sexual contact, principal to abusive sexual contact, abusive sexual contact, principal to sexual assault, principal to attempted sexual assault, indecent recording, principal to indecent recording, principal to distribution of indecent recording, conspiracy to commit sexual assault and obstruction of justice.
In addition, McCaskill said, Curiel is charged with sexual assault of a child and sexual assault without consent in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a child in Arizona.
The Army generally appoints defense counsel in cases like these. Representatives of its Defense Counsel Assistance Program did not immediately respond to a request for comment on behalf of the defendants. Counsel listed for Ruiz in his court docket could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.
Sexual assault and conspiracy to commit sexual assault are each calibrated to 30-year sentences for each specification, McCaskill said. Each defendant faces the potential of decades in prison if he is successfully prosecuted.
It’s not clear exactly what the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, the prosecuting body, alleges happened on that October day in the barracks, but McCaskill said, “The sexual assaults occurred at the same time and place with all charged soldiers present.”
The cases, including trials for each soldier, are scheduled to continue moving forward next month and at least through November in court at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
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