thedrifter
04-21-08, 07:36 AM
Group: Marines fell short of vow to protect Lauterbach
Nonprofit says military should have urged Maria Lauterbach to get a civilian protective order.
By Jessica Wehrman
Staff Writer
Monday, April 21, 2008
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Marine Corps argues that it did its best to protect Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach by implementing a military protective order — the military equivalent of a restraining order — on the man she accused of raping her.
But a nonprofit group that helps victims of rape in the military has raised questions about the strength of such an order, saying the Marines failed by not urging Lauterbach to seek a civilian protective order as well.
Anita Sanchez, communications director for The Miles Foundation, which works with victims of domestic and sexual violence associated with the military, argues that a military protective order is difficult to enforce off base and said the Marines should have advised Lauterbach to seek a civilian order — which carried the weight of the judicial system — when she moved off base in the fall of 2007.
"The system failed this young woman," Sanchez said, "and it shouldn't have."
Lauterbach, who grew up in Vandalia, was eight months pregnant when her body was found charred and buried under a fire pit in Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean's backyard in January. Lauterbach accused Laurean of raping her in April 2007. Laurean was apprehended this month in Mexico, where he awaits extradition.
Matthew Freedus, a former Navy lawyer, defended the strength of military protective orders. "It's not a toothless tiger by any stretch," he said.
In a letter to U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, the Marines said the military order, which prohibited Laurean from coming within 1,000 feet of Lauterbach or contacting her, should have sufficed. Lauterbach gave no indication she felt threatened by Laurean, and he did not violate the military protective order before Lauterbach disappeared, they said.
But victims of rape don't necessarily communicate that way, Sanchez said.
"She expressed fear," said Sanchez, referring to a Marine report that Lauterbach sought to be excused from some military events because she believed Laurean would be there.
Merle Wilberding, an attorney for the Lauterbach family, said the service made more of an effort to preserve Laurean's rights than it did to protect Lauterbach.
"Her rights as a victim seemed to be secondary," he said.
Ellie
Nonprofit says military should have urged Maria Lauterbach to get a civilian protective order.
By Jessica Wehrman
Staff Writer
Monday, April 21, 2008
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Marine Corps argues that it did its best to protect Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach by implementing a military protective order — the military equivalent of a restraining order — on the man she accused of raping her.
But a nonprofit group that helps victims of rape in the military has raised questions about the strength of such an order, saying the Marines failed by not urging Lauterbach to seek a civilian protective order as well.
Anita Sanchez, communications director for The Miles Foundation, which works with victims of domestic and sexual violence associated with the military, argues that a military protective order is difficult to enforce off base and said the Marines should have advised Lauterbach to seek a civilian order — which carried the weight of the judicial system — when she moved off base in the fall of 2007.
"The system failed this young woman," Sanchez said, "and it shouldn't have."
Lauterbach, who grew up in Vandalia, was eight months pregnant when her body was found charred and buried under a fire pit in Cpl. Cesar Armando Laurean's backyard in January. Lauterbach accused Laurean of raping her in April 2007. Laurean was apprehended this month in Mexico, where he awaits extradition.
Matthew Freedus, a former Navy lawyer, defended the strength of military protective orders. "It's not a toothless tiger by any stretch," he said.
In a letter to U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, the Marines said the military order, which prohibited Laurean from coming within 1,000 feet of Lauterbach or contacting her, should have sufficed. Lauterbach gave no indication she felt threatened by Laurean, and he did not violate the military protective order before Lauterbach disappeared, they said.
But victims of rape don't necessarily communicate that way, Sanchez said.
"She expressed fear," said Sanchez, referring to a Marine report that Lauterbach sought to be excused from some military events because she believed Laurean would be there.
Merle Wilberding, an attorney for the Lauterbach family, said the service made more of an effort to preserve Laurean's rights than it did to protect Lauterbach.
"Her rights as a victim seemed to be secondary," he said.
Ellie