2nd DI to be arraigned Monday in abuse case
By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Sep 7, 2007 17:25:20 EDT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — A drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego will be arraigned Monday on charges of abusing recruits, dereliction of duty and violating orders, Marine Corps officials said.

Sgt. Brian M. Wendel is charged with 18 counts, including two counts of assault, three counts of maltreatment, three counts of dereliction of duty and two counts of making false official statements, depot officials said in a statement. Wendel also is charged with damaging personal property and seven counts of concealing serious offenses, they said.

Wendel, who is facing a special court-martial, is one of three drill instructors charged with mistreating recruits with Platoon 2167 in the depot’s Hotel Company.

He served on the same drill instructor team as Sgt. Jerrod M. Glass, who is facing 225 separate counts of alleged violations under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Glass was charged in May with 91 counts, or specifications, of assault; 27 counts of cruelty and maltreatment; 90 counts of failing to obey a lawful order; and 17 counts of destruction of personal property. His general court-martial is scheduled to begin Nov. 8, officials said.

A third drill instructor, Sgt. Robert C. Hankins, is awaiting arraignment on separate charges in connection with the alleged incidents, officials said last week.

The commanding officer of 2nd Battallion, Recruit Training Regiment, Lt. Col. Robert R. Scott, referred both Wendel and Hankins to special court martial.

Ellie