Worthy of commission?

[thedrifter]

Worthy of commission?

As Lamar Owens waits to hear whether he's kicked out of Navy, support for former quarterback grows

By Chris Amos - Staff writer
Marine Corps Times
March 19, 2007 Edition

Fifteen months ago, Midshipman 1st Class Lamar Owens was the toast of Annapolis, having rushed for three touchdowns in leading Navy to a 42-23 victory over Army.

Today, the 23-year-old is known as the marquee quarterback who was charged with - and later acquitted of - raping a classmate.

Instead of graduating last May with an economics degree - he's completed all academic requirements - and being commissioned as a surface warfare officer, Owens spends his days driving a desk at the Washington Navy Yard. He draws a midshipman's pay, sometimes less than $200 per month after deductions.

And within days, even that could all come to an end.

At his court-martial, a jury acquitted Owens of rape but convicted him of two lesser counts: conduct unbecoming an officer - for having sex in the dorm - and disobeying a lawful order. However, the jury recommended that he receive no punishment.

But based on those convictions, Vice Adm. Rodney Rempt recently recommended that Owens be expelled from the academy with neither a commission nor a degree.

It's now up to Navy Secretary Donald Winter to decide his fate. The decision could come at any time.

Meanwhile, there's been increasing support for Owens, most recently shown by Annapolis alderwoman Classie Hoyle, who presented a nonbinding resolution Feb. 26 in support of Owens to the Annapolis City Council. The council will vote on that proposal later this month.

"He has paid dearly for his poor judgment," she said. "We allow people to learn from their mistakes, and you just don't shut someone off. The court-martial said he was not guilty. Let him go forward with his life."

At his court-martial, Owens admitted that he and his accuser had a brief sexual encounter but claimed it was consensual.

His accuser, who is scheduled to graduate and be commissioned in May, testified that she was too drunk to remember parts of that evening. She said that she barely knew Owens and never consented, but later she testified that it was possible she had consented to having sex while she was blacked out.

Owens, who testified that he was also drunk that night, said the two exchanged text messages before she invited him to her room. Shortly after he arrived, he said, they began having sex, but she passed out during the encounter. That's when Owens left her room, he said.

A jury eventually acquitted him of the more serious charge of rape and recommended no punishment.

To some, that recommendation showed the jury's opinion of the case and its desire to allow Owens to move forward with his life and Navy career.

"If [the jury's verdict and recommendation that he not be punished] doesn't wipe the slate clean, it comes as close as you can get," said John Nolan, a 1950 Naval Academy graduate and Washington lawyer who worked on Owens' defense team.

But to Rempt, one of the convictions provided at least partial grounds for kicking Owens out.

"Having been convicted of conduct unbecoming an officer as a midshipman, it is disingenuous to commission him as an ensign in the Navy," he wrote in a recommendation to the Navy Department. "Based on his lack of suitability for commissioning, he is not eligible to graduate."

Rempt declined to be interviewed for this report.

Supporters claim Owens is being made a scapegoat in an overzealous attempt to prove the academy is serious about stamping out sexual crimes and harassment.

"Owens was acquitted of the only real charge against him," Nolan said. "They found him guilty of two charges that were added on. Neither of those charges would ever have been sufficient to have been the subject of a general court-martial without the rape charge."

Owens was essentially convicted of violations to orders: one against sex in the barracks and a second to stay away from the accuser after the incident was reported.

Deborah Clark, Owens' sponsor during his time at the academy, said that in the academy's 162-year history, no other midshipman has been criminally prosecuted for having consensual sex.

At the court-martial, a Naval Academy spokeswoman was unable to say how many midshipmen had been administratively punished for having sex in the dormitory but said only a few had been kicked out because of it.

Four midshipmen were granted immunity to testify at Owens' court-martial. They admitted to underage drinking, sneaking off duty to go to a party and keeping an off-campus apartment. Despite those violations of academy rules, all will be allowed to graduate and join the fleet.

"Once we agree that there was no rape, then Lamar's conduct was no different than the other midshipmen who testified," Clark said. "Why is he being asked to pay a price far greater than anybody else?"

Eugene Fidell, a military law expert who teaches at American University, said immunizing witnesses is a common tactic in criminal trials to help build cases against defendants.

"You hate to do it because you are giving somebody else a free ride," he said. "But it is one of the conventional pieces of equipment in the prosecutor's tool kit."

A growing number of supporters - including several Naval Academy alumni - say that since the charges were filed against Owens last February, they have suspected that Rempt was bowing to political pressure to aggressively pursue allegations of sexual misconduct.

Rempt's decision, Fidell wrote, was based on three other factors: pornographic materials found on Owens' computer, the 185 demerits he accumulated while at the academy and his poor academic performance during the semester after he was charged with rape.

Clark said the pornography charge was overblown. And even if Owens did download pornography, she added, he would hardly be the first midshipman to have done so.

Nolan scoffed at the demerits.

"One hundred eighty-five demerits are approximately half the number allowed," he said. "We are talking about 50 demerits per year. That's very modest. To say that 185 demerits would call for seriously considering dismissal is a gross exaggeration."

Clark said Owens had consistently received B's and C's before he was charged with rape. The F he received came after he was charged.

Nolan said the seriousness of the charges would affect any 22-year-old.

"He was potentially facing life imprisonment," he said. "That is a very serious thing."

A retired Navy officer said Rempt was offering up Owens as a sacrifice to women's rights groups.

"There is a vendetta on this kid by a self-righteous, all-powerful group that thinks they are doing right, but what they are doing is a terrible disservice to [Owens} and to the Naval Academy," said retired Cmdr. Gerald Atkinson, who has written opinion pieces in support of Owens.

Clark echoed that sentiment.

"If you wanted to go after a male and you wanted to go after a football player, if you wanted to prove you were tough on this stuff, don't you think the quarterback of the football team is a great way to make an example?" Clark asked.

Nolan said the Navy would be the biggest loser if Rempt's recommendation is not overturned.

"I think the Naval Academy does a good job of producing leaders, but only rarely does it produce someone with the potential for leadership that Lamar Owens has," he said. "He has all the essential qualities for leadership. He has demonstrated that over and again."

Owens' supporters are reluctant to discuss race as an issue in the case, even though Owens is black and his accuser is white.

Clark said that if the Navy upholds Rempt's recommendation, Owens will have to attend another college for as many as two years because most schools limit the number of transfer credits they accept.

And if Rempt's recommendation that he not reimburse the federal government for the $130,000 cost of his education is overturned, Owens could be forced to begin making payments on that debt.

"Do you know how much money the Naval Academy makes from one Army-Navy game?" Clark asked.

Owens was selected most valuable player of the 2005 Army-Navy game.

"This is a travesty," said Jack Shehan, a 1952 academy alum. "Bull Halsey must be spinning in his grave."

[thedrifter]

GENERAL: KEEP OWENS
Marine Corps Times
March 19, 2007 Edition

This is an open letter to Navy Secretary Donald Winter:

I'm a Naval Academy graduate (Class of 1950), a "recruited" varsity football player, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general with 35 years of experience, and a Distinguished Academy Graduate of 2004.

I have a son who graduated from the academy (Class of 1973), who is a retired captain; a son-in law, also Class of '73; and a grandson, class of 2005, who was first in his class, captain of the baseball team and now a Rhodes Scholar in Oxford, England. He will soon become a Navy SEAL.

I dearly love the Naval Academy, am involved in its many affairs, was formerly a guest lecturer on leadership and am expressing to you the feelings of hundreds of my classmates and other associates on this matter. Basically, I feel that the academy's superintendent, Vice Adm. Rodney Rempt, has fostered a tragic situation that is about to destroy the life and the entire future of a fine young athlete and midshipman leader, Lamar Owens [See story, Page 3 .

I will not say that Owens didn't make a mistake. He made two, for which he was found guilty, although without any punishment tendered. This entire tragic episode was preceded by Rempt's justifiable goal of stamping out any vestige of sexual harassment or misconduct.

But Owens isn't the only one who messed up here: His accuser also violated academy regulations, came in totally intoxicated from an evening of drinking, sent an e-mail to Owens inviting him to her room and climbed into her bed after he arrived.

He should have stopped there and left, but he was human and he had been invited. He ceased any amorous attempts when she passed out. He immediately regretted what he had done and was charged with another offense when he attempted to apologize for his actions.

We have a young man who has suffered more than anyone can appreciate since he was charged, investigated and tried. He still is hanging on to his life's thread. You know what he had done at the academy athletically; he was a team captain who took Navy to one of its finest football seasons ever. He was religiously motivated and headed up a Bible study group. For almost four years, he gave the academy everything he had to offer without any problems.

Now, this occasion has placed him in a position of total ruin - no diploma, no commission, no further opportunity to serve his country as he was trained to do.

As a concerned alumnus, experienced leader and supporter of our school and its traditions, I tell you that some intelligent mercy and reinstatement would make the entire Alumni Association cheer your good judgment and compassion.

Owens has already paid a heavy price. I ask of you, don't take his life and his future away from him. Give him the diploma he has earned, and give him the chance to serve his country as an officer in the U.S. Navy.

Lt. Gen. Charles G. Cooper, USMC (Ret.)
Falls Church, Va.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

NO. He's unworthy.

[drumcorpssnare]

Throughout history, the Naval services have been known for their extremely strict code of conduct, and the harsh punishments handed down for transgressions against said code.
I think US Navy and Marine officers, and by extension...Annapolis midshipmen...
should be held to the highest standards when it comes any moral, ethical, or legal issue. They should be beyond reproach. They are supposed to be in training to be leaders. They will be leading US Marines!

It is the duty of the Marines to get drunk, and ***** around...not the Annapolis midshipmen!:D
drumcorpssnare:usmc:

[hrscowboy]

He disobeyed orders buttom line he needs the boot..

[drumcorpssnare]

Not to mention, he walked away once she passed out. Isn't that dereliction of duty? Failure to complete the mission? Abandoning his post?

Anyone?......Beuler?:D
drumcorpssnare:usmc:

[FISTFU68]

:evilgrin: F*C-HIM, JUST LIKE HE F*C'ED HER! HE'S LUCKY IT WASN'T ONE OF MY DAUGHTER'S,OR YOU JUST MIGHT SEE MY HANDSOME AZZ; ON AMERICA'S MOST WANTED?:evilgrin: SEMPER~FIDELIS:iwo:

[ggyoung]

You are all right.

[jgorosco]

I am still trying to see what was done to wrong to warrant being kicked out of the Navy. If what he did was wrong by not staying away from the female. I think they go to the same school. So that might be hard to do. And demerits and poor grades, just doesn't cut it for me. If anything the female should be booted out as well for giving false statements and making false acquisations in a Court of Law. Why isn't she being punished for being drunk in the barracks? That is grounds from being dismissed from the Academy. And this BullSh*t about they are held to higher standards is just plain and simple BullSh*t! They are just like regular Marines but with more training to be leaders that they haven't finished receiving. This Owens character should be let to lead squids or Marines. Thats my opinion

[ggyoung]

jgorosco+++++++++++++========== It dos not matter what you or anybody else thinks. They are held to a higher standard and they should be held to a higher standred. The higher the rank the higher the standred. The next thing is "female".It should not be that way but it is so live with it.( I'm probly going to catch hell from 84 on this.) Also this is not the traits that a officer of the Naval Service of the United States should have. He should walk the plank.

[jgorosco]

Ok well answer me this. Does this Midshipman have his as an officer while in the Academy? If this pertains to officers then why doesn't it pertain to Enlisted as well? If it is true for one it should be true for both. And the Female part I can live with but if I was this Owens fella I would be filing Lawsuit after Lawsuit to stay and in. And that the way it is.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Owens code of conduct as a mid was violated. If the female mid was in violation of the code (being intox in the barracks, if she was underage), then the punishment for her should NOT be the same as for Owens. The equivlant of a misdemeanor vs a felony.

I think he's a scumbag who doesn't deserve to lead a patrol out of the head, but that's just me.

[yellowwing]

Annapolis Midshipmen have to be nominated to get in. Where is the Senator or Congressman that signed off on his application? Why aren't they stepping forward to go to bat for him?

"Vice Adm. Rodney Rempt recently recommended that Owens be expelled from the academy with neither a commission nor a degree."

It doesn't look good for Owen. We all know that the Navy ain't really geared for Vice Admirals to make mistakes. I would not loan Owen any money, that's for sure!

[maverickmarine]

I agree that he should be held to a higher standard, although this is a situation that any one of us could be accused of and it seems when it comes to sexual assault it is guilty until proven innocent. I do think that he should not have the right to lead men in combat and that he probably shouldn't be commissioned at all but if he has met the requirements there is no reason he shouldn't receive his degree at very least. His **** up is no worse then many of us have been involved in as a young, dumb full of cum kid and I don't think the rest of his life should be ruined for it but I do agree that his conduct does not allow for him to serve as an Officer, especially in my freakin' Marine Corps.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

MM, I stand corrected. I have no problem with him getting a degree. I have a problem with him leading any of the kids America's Mom's and Dad's send to the military.

[FISTFU68]

:evilgrin: THAT'S WHY THEY ARE AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN,AND CAN RESIGN;INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE BRIG!THEY GET AWAY WITH CHIT,THAT AN ENLISTED MAN WOULD HANG FOR! READ THE OATH OF AN OFFICER,THAT HE SWEAR'S TOO.TO THAT OF AN ENLISTED MAN!:evilgrin: :iwo: S/F

[OLE SARG]

Give him his diploma and KICK HIS ASS OOOUUUTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't want that ****head leading one of my Grandsons in combat, he might want to stop for a piece of tail and tell his superiors to take a hike.
They are held to a higher standard and he VIOLATED that standard.
"NUFF SAID!!!!!!!!!!!!

SEMPER FI,

[roderickyseaton]

Worthy of commission?

As Lamar Owens waits to hear whether he's kicked out of Navy, support for former quarterback grows

By Chris Amos - Staff writer
Marine Corps Times
March 19, 2007 Edition

Fifteen months ago, Midshipman 1st Class Lamar Owens was the toast of Annapolis, having rushed for three touchdowns in leading Navy to a 42-23 victory over Army.

Today, the 23-year-old is known as the marquee quarterback who was charged with - and later acquitted of - raping a classmate.

Instead of graduating last May with an economics degree - he's completed all academic requirements - and being commissioned as a surface warfare officer, Owens spends his days driving a desk at the Washington Navy Yard. He draws a midshipman's pay, sometimes less than $200 per month after deductions.

And within days, even that could all come to an end.

At his court-martial, a jury acquitted Owens of rape but convicted him of two lesser counts: conduct unbecoming an officer - for having sex in the dorm - and disobeying a lawful order. However, the jury recommended that he receive no punishment.

But based on those convictions, Vice Adm. Rodney Rempt recently recommended that Owens be expelled from the academy with neither a commission nor a degree.

It's now up to Navy Secretary Donald Winter to decide his fate. The decision could come at any time.

Meanwhile, there's been increasing support for Owens, most recently shown by Annapolis alderwoman Classie Hoyle, who presented a nonbinding resolution Feb. 26 in support of Owens to the Annapolis City Council. The council will vote on that proposal later this month.

"He has paid dearly for his poor judgment," she said. "We allow people to learn from their mistakes, and you just don't shut someone off. The court-martial said he was not guilty. Let him go forward with his life."

At his court-martial, Owens admitted that he and his accuser had a brief sexual encounter but claimed it was consensual.

His accuser, who is scheduled to graduate and be commissioned in May, testified that she was too drunk to remember parts of that evening. She said that she barely knew Owens and never consented, but later she testified that it was possible she had consented to having sex while she was blacked out.

Owens, who testified that he was also drunk that night, said the two exchanged text messages before she invited him to her room. Shortly after he arrived, he said, they began having sex, but she passed out during the encounter. That's when Owens left her room, he said.

A jury eventually acquitted him of the more serious charge of rape and recommended no punishment.

To some, that recommendation showed the jury's opinion of the case and its desire to allow Owens to move forward with his life and Navy career.

"If [the jury's verdict and recommendation that he not be punished] doesn't wipe the slate clean, it comes as close as you can get," said John Nolan, a 1950 Naval Academy graduate and Washington lawyer who worked on Owens' defense team.

But to Rempt, one of the convictions provided at least partial grounds for kicking Owens out.

"Having been convicted of conduct unbecoming an officer as a midshipman, it is disingenuous to commission him as an ensign in the Navy," he wrote in a recommendation to the Navy Department. "Based on his lack of suitability for commissioning, he is not eligible to graduate."

Rempt declined to be interviewed for this report.

Supporters claim Owens is being made a scapegoat in an overzealous attempt to prove the academy is serious about stamping out sexual crimes and harassment.

"Owens was acquitted of the only real charge against him," Nolan said. "They found him guilty of two charges that were added on. Neither of those charges would ever have been sufficient to have been the subject of a general court-martial without the rape charge."

Owens was essentially convicted of violations to orders: one against sex in the barracks and a second to stay away from the accuser after the incident was reported.

Deborah Clark, Owens' sponsor during his time at the academy, said that in the academy's 162-year history, no other midshipman has been criminally prosecuted for having consensual sex.

At the court-martial, a Naval Academy spokeswoman was unable to say how many midshipmen had been administratively punished for having sex in the dormitory but said only a few had been kicked out because of it.

Four midshipmen were granted immunity to testify at Owens' court-martial. They admitted to underage drinking, sneaking off duty to go to a party and keeping an off-campus apartment. Despite those violations of academy rules, all will be allowed to graduate and join the fleet.

"Once we agree that there was no rape, then Lamar's conduct was no different than the other midshipmen who testified," Clark said. "Why is he being asked to pay a price far greater than anybody else?"

Eugene Fidell, a military law expert who teaches at American University, said immunizing witnesses is a common tactic in criminal trials to help build cases against defendants.

"You hate to do it because you are giving somebody else a free ride," he said. "But it is one of the conventional pieces of equipment in the prosecutor's tool kit."

A growing number of supporters - including several Naval Academy alumni - say that since the charges were filed against Owens last February, they have suspected that Rempt was bowing to political pressure to aggressively pursue allegations of sexual misconduct.

Rempt's decision, Fidell wrote, was based on three other factors: pornographic materials found on Owens' computer, the 185 demerits he accumulated while at the academy and his poor academic performance during the semester after he was charged with rape.

Clark said the pornography charge was overblown. And even if Owens did download pornography, she added, he would hardly be the first midshipman to have done so.

Nolan scoffed at the demerits.

"One hundred eighty-five demerits are approximately half the number allowed," he said. "We are talking about 50 demerits per year. That's very modest. To say that 185 demerits would call for seriously considering dismissal is a gross exaggeration."

Clark said Owens had consistently received B's and C's before he was charged with rape. The F he received came after he was charged.

Nolan said the seriousness of the charges would affect any 22-year-old.

"He was potentially facing life imprisonment," he said. "That is a very serious thing."

A retired Navy officer said Rempt was offering up Owens as a sacrifice to women's rights groups.

"There is a vendetta on this kid by a self-righteous, all-powerful group that thinks they are doing right, but what they are doing is a terrible disservice to [Owens} and to the Naval Academy," said retired Cmdr. Gerald Atkinson, who has written opinion pieces in support of Owens.

Clark echoed that sentiment.

"If you wanted to go after a male and you wanted to go after a football player, if you wanted to prove you were tough on this stuff, don't you think the quarterback of the football team is a great way to make an example?" Clark asked.

Nolan said the Navy would be the biggest loser if Rempt's recommendation is not overturned.

"I think the Naval Academy does a good job of producing leaders, but only rarely does it produce someone with the potential for leadership that Lamar Owens has," he said. "He has all the essential qualities for leadership. He has demonstrated that over and again."

Owens' supporters are reluctant to discuss race as an issue in the case, even though Owens is black and his accuser is white.

Clark said that if the Navy upholds Rempt's recommendation, Owens will have to attend another college for as many as two years because most schools limit the number of transfer credits they accept.

And if Rempt's recommendation that he not reimburse the federal government for the $130,000 cost of his education is overturned, Owens could be forced to begin making payments on that debt.

"Do you know how much money the Naval Academy makes from one Army-Navy game?" Clark asked.

Owens was selected most valuable player of the 2005 Army-Navy game.

"This is a travesty," said Jack Shehan, a 1952 academy alum. "Bull Halsey must be spinning in his grave."

I think regardless of wether or not he is going to be denied his commission, if he had completed all his academic requirements, he should be allowed to have his Bachelor of Science degree. An MD who performs malpractice gets stripped of his licence to practice, but his academic MD remains.

So, wether or not he is denied his commission, he should be able to enter the civilan world with at least his BSc., since his punishment is not "academic" in nature.

[roderickyseaton]

MM, I stand corrected. I have no problem with him getting a degree. I have a problem with him leading any of the kids America's Mom's and Dad's send to the military.

Yep. If he wants to work as a fellow taxpaying American civilian and work as an economist, why not? But then, he should be made to pay for his degree, and then be discharged.

[yellowwing]

I'm guessing that the sticky thing is that if they reward him his degree, it will be stamped USNA.

[ggyoung]

Who payed for his education? We did the tax payers did. Noway in hell he should get a commission or a diploma. He just wasted $10,000.00's thousand of your tax dollors.

[english12]

Who payed for his education? We did the tax payers did. Noway in hell he should get a commission or a diploma. He just wasted $10,000.00's thousand of your tax dollors.

He should be given that diploma but FORCED TO ENLIST--and to a plain old Navy to simply twirl his thumb about, doing odd jobs like just cleaning the deck and stuff (not the Marines). Thank god he wasn't a Marine! Now his officer friends get to see him enlisted at E-4, and that would be a great deal fun. To that, he should repay the tax dollars. He is still not as bad as Lt. Watada.

[YLDNDN6]

While stationed in Pensacola, my girlfriend at the time (a WM who later became ex-wife number 1) was sexually assaulted by one of her instructors, a sgt in the Army of one. I led the charge on getting that piece of shiite drummed out of the ranks. It is not clear how he managed to slip under the radar and obtain the position that he had, which allowed him access to young women to manipulate and toy with. Somehow he managed to avoid being recognized for the lowlife scum that he was, and probably still is. What happened at Annapolis, in my opinion, is that a future raper of our children and assaulter of young impressionable women has been called into the light and recognized for what he is...and this could mean that there is one less perverted deviant out there who would otherwise be in some position of authority over our daughters. I say drum him out and let him try to get away with his shiite in the civilian courts...won't happen...

[ese4mc]

the scales of Justice are balanced & Justice herself is blindfolded--he was tried & not convicted & no punishment recommended----end of story----The Admiral in all this is leaving himself open to a lawsuit,since he would in essence be saying "We made a mistake,lets go back & retry"--double jeopardy --its over & time to move on--

[ggyoung]

ese4mc++++++++++That sounds like something the french would do. What is happening to our milatery? Are we getting soft?

[MP5811]

He didnt do anything most people wouldnt do themselves. A easy peice of ass is just that. No one turns down an easy peice. If he violated any rules and regulations then she did also and you dont here anything about her. He went to a court marial and was acquitted which means they could not find him guilty. So now we can kick people out for being acquitted of a crime? thats bull****.

[fmoyer]

I have to agree with you MP5811, If I remember correctly at 22 I didnt have enough blood to run both my brain and and d*** at the same time sounds like this was his problem also. I am sure many others would have to admit to this problem also.

[yellowwing]

Okay, give him his college credits but do not give him the Service Academy graduation credit.

[davecerami275]

:evilgrin: F*C-HIM, JUST LIKE HE F*C'ED HER! HE'S LUCKY IT WASN'T ONE OF MY DAUGHTER'S,OR YOU JUST MIGHT SEE MY HANDSOME AZZ; ON AMERICA'S MOST WANTED?:evilgrin: SEMPER~FIDELIS:iwo:



I already seen your mug on Americas Most Wanted. i am just waiting for the reward to get to $50.00 before i make the call.

[yellowwing]

$50 is rightous cash. Two cases of beer, eh?

[David Jameson]

The problem I have with this is that it is so out in puplic now that the P.C crowd will have to swing this guy.He was found not guilty of rape.Correct me if I'm wrong if has a conduct unbecoming ,what about hotsy totsy?She did bring the charges right.If she really can't figure out if she was raped she can't be to stable.

[ggyoung]

By law all she has to say is "no" or "stop" just once.

[MP5811]

You are correct. All she had to say is NO once, but did she say NO at all? Women get just as horney as men. and sometimes even more so. The fact of the matter is that he was acquitted. He wasnt found guilty. To my knowledge once a person is found not guilty then he cant be tried again for the same crime. Im not sure what the argument is. He was tried before his peers and acquitted. Im not saying he didnt doit but I am saying her lawyers didnt do there job to help the jury find him guilty.

[english12]

You are correct. All she had to say is NO once, but did she say NO at all? Women get just as horney as men. and sometimes even more so. The fact of the matter is that he was acquitted. He wasnt found guilty. To my knowledge once a person is found not guilty then he cant be tried again for the same crime. Im not sure what the argument is. He was tried before his peers and acquitted. Im not saying he didnt doit but I am saying her lawyers didnt do there job to help the jury find him guilty.
Well, if he is not founded guilty, than graduate him with the degree, but to save our reputation, not give him the commission. (Free education with the degree should be the settlement). He still had sex when he shouldn't have.

[MP5811]

What if a woman accuses you of raping her? You go to trail and are found not guilty should you be kicked out for something you didnt do? So much for the innocent until proven guilty.

[ggyoung]

He, you are in the milatery, not out in the world didity bopin down the street He was in the U S Navy. A hole bunch of different laws governering you, him and me. The way we used to say was "you are in a dicktatership(bad spelling day) protecting a democreacy". And yes this was a P.C. deal like it or not.

[MP5811]

Military law also state you are innocent until proven guilty supposedly.

[ggyoung]

The key word SUPPOSEDLY.

[MP5811]

Under the UCMJ you are Innocent until proven guilty.

[ggyoung]

ununiaform code of milatery injustus

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Point of note here, yes, he was found "Not guilty" of the rape charges. He was, however, CONVICTED of "Conduct Unbecoming an Officer".

[yellowwing]

Annapolis is all about bearing conduct and character. If Owens falls short, then it is his gaff.

[MP5811]

But you and I both know that the Conduct Unbecomin of an Officer is the when all else fails charge that the military can always fall back on when they cant get you on anything else. And do we Know it isnt a bull**** charge just like the rape charges against the Duke lacrosse team. Women can be evil and not always honest when things dont go their way. That has been proven before. There have been guys serve alot of time in prison because of crazy ***** yelling rape when it didnt happen.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

I'll agree with what you are saying in regard to that particular charge, however, officers are usually held to a higher standard than us enlisted guys/gals. That's why they get all sorts of things 'we' don't. Therefore, when they screw up, the price to be paid should be greater, simply for that fact alone.

Look at the other case, of the mid who just got 2 years for a similiar offense!

Note that both are football players.

That having been said, I'm well aware that women can, and do, place false allegations against men all the time. I'm also aware that a jury of his peers found him "Not Guilty".

However, the "Conduct Unbecoming an Officer" charge is not as easy to prove as you might think. The actual charge (out of my MCM) reads "Article 133: Conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman..."

Paraphrasing from the text of the article: "....Conduct violative of this article is action or behavior in an official capacity which, in dishonoring or disgracing the person as an officer, seriously compromises the officers' character asa gentleman, or action or behavior in an UNOFFICIAL or private capacity which, in dishoonoring or disgracing the officer personally, seriously compromises the persons standing as an officer. There are certain moral attributes common to the ideal of an officer and the perfect gentleman, a lack of which is indicated by acts of dishonesty, unfair dealing, indecency, indecorum, lawlessness, injustice, or cruelty. "

I think he was found guilty of that charge based on a simple reading of the statute.

Consequently, he is unfit to command. If they want to give him his degree, fine. But, he shouldn't be commissioned as an officer in ANY branch.

[David Jameson]

This place is getting PC to .My question is What about her.If on one has the balls to give her a C. U.O charge for her performance that then what do you do with her ?Make her C.N.O or what. One thing for sure ,she won't have a lot of drinking buddies if they put her with the fleet.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

True, and I'll agree. If she violated the academy rules (which as I understand it, she did, by drinking and sex in Bancroft Hall), then boot her out as well. However, the prosecution chose instead to offer her a deal; if she'd testify, they dropped the charges.

Not my call, and not what I would have done.

And, no, I wouldn't want to serve with her either.