Coast Guard Rape Case Hinges on Drinking

[deadparrot]

NEW LONDON, Conn. - A night of heavy drinking last spring resulted in a U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadet becoming pregnant and accusing a classmate of rape, witnesses testified Tuesday at a hearing to determine whether the classmate should be court-martialed.

Webster M. Smith, 22, a Houston native who played football for the academy, has been accused by seven female cadets of misconduct ranging from improper touching to rape between May and November 2005.

The two-day hearing, the military equivalent of a grand jury, ended Tuesday after Smith declined to speak and his attorneys decided not to call any witnesses. The investigating officer has one week to recommend whether Smith should face a court-martial.

The rape charge against Smith involves a woman who witnesses described as his on-again, off-again girlfriend. She testified in secret, but her best friend testified publicly about the night of the alleged attack in June 2005.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cadet_sex_charges

[LostinVA]

1. That slut's lying, you can tell

Oh... just getting the nasty comments about the victim started... we all know they'll be appearing soon.... *sigh*

[superconnected]

2. He's been accused by 7 women.

Sounds like he's pathological.

But yeah, I know, it's coming.

[LostinVA]

3. Maybe my post headed them off...

I hope so.

And, I hope this guy does some hard time. They should throw away the key... seriously.

[MrPrax]

5. Good point...

You probably saw this http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=707596&mesg_id=707596">thread

[Niccolo_Macchiavelli]

4. female conspiracy to sully this good mans name

:sarcasm:

Put him in the brig already, seven cadets accusing him...there's a pattern it's not even a onetime-crime. 3 strikes, 7 strikes .....

[Geoff R. Casavant]

6. General Court-Martial for sure

The article doesn't really touch on the evidence, but from experience I can say the investigating officer's best move is to recommend General CM, and let the jury take responsibility for acquitting and convicting. Anything less, regardless of the evidence or lack thereof, will invite accusations of sexism, blaming the victim, etc.

[philbert5150a]

7. Justice

I am retired CG CPO and ashamed and appalled at reading this considering the standards the CG has and the officers should be held to these standards regardless of position. Being a cadet on there way into the Officer Corps does not give them immunity to wrong doing. If he is guilty set the example. As far as the Alcohol being the cause they both should be reprimanded for that regardless of incident. The enlisted have 2 strikes and they are gone with alcohol, treat the cadets the same. Give them both Alcohol related incidents to contend with on their next Officer Evaluation Reports (OER). Justice will be served either way. This has become to rampant throughout the CG not Rape but fraternization between members 8H should coem into play as well.