Marine Recruiter Charged With Assaulting Md. Girl

[thedrifter]

Marine Recruiter Charged With Assaulting Md. Girl


By Christian Davenport
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 5, 2003; Page A08


A U.S. Marine Corps recruiter who was a fixture in Howard County high schools, attending proms, sporting events and graduations in search of potential enlistees, was charged yesterday with committing assault and a sex offense against a 17-year-old girl in his recruiting office in Columbia, authorities said.

Staff Sgt. Shawn Potwin, 26, of Glen Burnie had been under investigation since May 20, when the girl, who enlisted in the Marines and was waiting to start basic training, told police about the alleged incident, which she said occurred March 23. The specifics of her complaint could not be determined yesterday. Potwin, who was not arrested, was issued a summons to appear in court on two misdemeanor charges: second-degree assault, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $2,500 fine, and fourth-degree sex offense, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

A Marine Corps spokeswoman, Sgt. Victoria Gross, said Potwin has been suspended from recruiting and assigned to administrative duty "pending the results of the trial and a military investigation." Potwin did not respond to messages requesting comment on the charges.

Seeking recruits, Potwin would spend hours in each of the five Howard County high schools to which he was assigned, spending time outside the cafeterias and speaking, when invited, to classes. During the evening, he would call students at their homes.

In his two years of recruiting, Potwin had become such a fixture in the schools that one of them, Mount Hebron, asked him to serve as a consultant for its production of the military courtroom drama "A Few Good Men."

At the Howard High School prom in April, he served as a chaperon. During a speech to a class at Long Reach High School, he opened his talk by saying: "I understand a lot of you are probably, like, 'You know what? The military isn't for me.' But if you just allow me the time that I'm going to take in this class, it might open up your eyes."

Then he gave an impassioned speech about how the military could change their lives for the better. He had grown up like them, he said, hating school, ambling without direction into the future. But the Marine Crops allowed him to travel the world, to see Scotland, Egypt, Israel and Japan.

"That was just one of the things I was afforded to do in the Marine Corps," he said.

His accuser enlisted last June, after her junior year at Glenelg High School, and was waiting to start basic training under a delayed-entry program. She has changed her mind about entering the Marine Corps, Gross said.

Staff researcher Margot Williams contributed to this report.


© 2003 The Washington Post Company

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2003Jun4.html



Sempers,

Roger

[JChristin]

Imagine that!


semper fi,
jchristin

[firstsgtmike]

Things that catch my attention.

Alleged event took place on 23 March. Investigation started on 20 May, presumably right after it was reported, almost two months later.

Why reported to the police and not to his superiors? (An admitted weak point.)

I thought that a 17 yr. old was still considered a minor. Yet the charges do not reflect that.

No mention of her parents.

This is going to get dirty, because it is a "she said, he said".

23 March was a Sunday. It's doubtful that anyone else was in or around the office.

Two weeks into the investigation, it's doubtful that he had an iron-clad alibi for his time that Sunday.

From the article, the best thing I can see going for him is the fact that he was a "fixture" at five high schools for two years. If his behavior made young girls "uncomfortable", I doubt that he would have the rapport with the schools that he has.

He may beat the civilian charges, but to save his career, he needs to nail her ass to the wall. Any doubts left, and he is finished.l

[Art Petersn]

It sounds like she might have been looking for a way out of not going into the Corp.

It sure doesn't sound quite right.

[wrbones]

Exactly what I was thinkin' Art.

We'll see....

[yellowwing]

4th Degree sex offense in Marlyland does specify a misdeamor crime against a minor. (according to Google-search)

One of our brothers in MCLB Albany was accused of child molestation by his new wife just one month after they got married. NIS knew it was fishy at the start and just confined him to quarters during the investigation.

A faithful Marine 'groupy' in town confronted her and she replied, "How else was I supposed to get rid of him?"

Two day later NIS let him off the hook. Pretty scary stuff!

[thedrifter]

Do wonder why she waited so long........Remember there are always two sides to every story............Could be as firstsgtmike said or maybe he rejected her and she is trying to get back at him...........Seen it happen too many times.......Sexual Harassment is a two way street.............It is coming out that a lot of women in power have sexually harassed males.......

Sempers,

Roger

[JChristin]

First, we don't have all the facts.

Second, until then - he is presumed innocent.

To this day, my recruiter and I are still friends. Heck, he asked me to marry him just a few years ago. We've both been out of the Marine Corps for many years by then. He's a fantastic man with a quality not often found in most. We use to share a lot of stories about our time in the Marine Corps, especially recruiting.

To say that all recruiters are angels would be like saying that all attorneys are good. I don't know anything about this one recruiter. Therefore, I will not act unfairly and say - "he done it." However, if true, it wouldn't shake the leaves off my trees. But this one recruiter deserves the chance and will receive the opportunity to prove his innocence. If he is innocent, I hope his career will not suffer, but most likely it will now anyway. If guilty - will...I'm not the judge and jury. Until all the facts are in - I remain netual on this one.

semper fi,
jchristin

[dyanna10776]

Hi everyone, I am actually the wife of the accused Marine in this story. I came across this just today and boy alot of time has passed. I am happy to say we are over this crazy time in our life! Thank the Good Lord!

Most of what the papers wrote was incorrect. Imagine that the press and media wrong?!? They like to stretch things alot!!! She waited until 9 days before she was to ship out to say anything. She was very upset that Shawn had rejected her, she told him that if he didn't leave me "the wife" he would be sorry....She even put the wrong date on the charge papers, not once , not twice but three times...now if someone assaulted you, would you wait??? Wouldn't you know what day it was??? The DA's office recommendation was no jail time just a fine...if they thought he was guilty, they would have locked him up. He was never even arrested!!!!

She was like 4 days away from her 18th birthday, and her parents even visited Shawn at the office after the incident and said that they would pray for us...now honestly if someone assaulted my daughter, they would be the one praying for sure!!!! Praying for their life!!! There is so much to this story the press left out, I came across this girls myspace page not too long ago and trust me she is not a victim by any means...we like to call her the accuser

She was also on several antidepressants and falsified documents so she could join....oh the story goes on...anyway...since this Shawn and I are still together. We have been together for almost 14 yrs. and it took this to realize how strong we really are. It just amazes me that people change thier story on the stand and lie wth their hand on the bible. That is not for me to judge. The Marines found him not guilty and he stayed in and got out about a year later. He chose not to re-enlist and we are doing better than before!!! I love the Marines and will always be grateful for all his brothers that testified on his behalf, esp the ones who drove miles and miles because they know he could never hurt a fly. I mean honestly after 14 yrs of being together I think if he were this mean vicious guy, he would have assaulted me but never has. God Bless and feel free to contact me. I should write a book LOL

[FistFu68]

I'VE GOT A 3 FT. PIECE OF LUMBER, IN MY HALLWAY;LAZERED WITH THE SLOGAN!YOU MAKE ANY OF MY DAUGHTER'S CRY~I WILL MAKE(YOU) CRY!!! SEMPER-NO-NO!!!

[DWG]

I'VE GOT A 3 FT. PIECE OF LUMBER, IN MY HALLWAY;LAZERED WITH THE SLOGAN!YOU MAKE ANY OF MY DAUGHTER'S CRY~I WILL MAKE(YOU) CRY!!! SEMPER-NO-NO!!!

Ya know, I was going to ask you about those 3 daughters, but,uh, never mind!

Reminds me of the old song "Woverton Mountain". LMAO

(I ain't forgot about BayBee)

[marinefamily5]

ALL I HAVE TO SAY ON THIS ISSUE. IS IF SOMEONE DID WHAT THIS MARINE WAS SAID TO HAVE DONE THEN HELL YEAH I WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. BUT AFTER READING THINGS IN THESE POST I THINK SHE WAS JUST LOOKING TO MESS HIS CAREER UP.

HERE IS SOMETHING THAT WHEN MY LITTLE GIRLS GET OLD ENOUGH TO DATE THAT EVERYONE OF THE GUYS WILL READ AND SIGN IT. I THINK YOU ALL MIGHT GET A KICK OUT OF.





Rules of dating a Marines daughter

Rule One: If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.

Rule Two: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.

Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose his compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.

Rule Four: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a "barrier method" of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.

Rule Five: It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is "early."

Rule Six: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.

Rule Seven: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process that can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?

Rule Eight: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there are no parents, policemen, or nuns within eyesight. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which features chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.

Rule Nine: Do not lie to me. On issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.

Rule Ten: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit your car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.

[DWG]

Response to Marine Family;
If you truly have a daughter, I pity you. Your next few years will age you beyond time. Men have daughters to pay for their evil youth. Every thing you thought or did will be used against you! You will threaten and warn; it will be ignored (remember when YOU were young). Pay back is a bit(h!!! Good luck; I suggest a regimen of downers! I dated a Cols' daughter. I could see the distress in his eyes!

[marinefamily5]

Yes I Do Have 2 Daugthers And That I Have All The Time...i Don't Know If U Have Read Any Of My Other Post About What Was Going On In My Life In The Marine Only Part Of This Forum. But I Have Custody Of My Girls. If Haven't Heard I Would Be Happy To Tell You If You Would Like To Know....

[10thzodiac]

You never met my so-in-law. Both my children have black belts in Japanese [Mas Oyama] full contact Karate and would rather use a weapon than fight him. This guy is completely fearless, he doesn't even respect a gun. As an assistant wrestling coach, he got in a dispute with a full fledge H.S. wrestling coach that was considerably bigger than him and he challenged him in front of 100's of people. His team [coaches] forced him off the mat and reprimanded him. His excuse was he was having a bad day and he wasn't going to be talked too as if he was this guys b-itch !

A few years ago he had a gun pulled on him and he told the guy you don't have the balls to use it He thinks nothing of taking on 2-3 guys on at time. At a birthday party in a bar for my son, he beat the crap out of two guys his size, 6' #200. I'm surprised Mr. Road Rage is still alive. He can't even go to Micky "D" without getting into a fight.

Once a Marine neighbor of his, home on leave was shooting a BB gun and bounced a few off his house and when he got a hold of the Marine, the Marine told him, "I'm government property!"

The funny thing about it, he has a heart valve and ruptured disk. He's also on disability at USPS.

Her divorce lawyer said, "this divorce is very unique." He gets served next week

When you tell your children they are making a mistake, do you know what they do ? "They do it faster."

I'm not going to sit in jail because of this *******, she was warned I even refused to go to the wedding, her second.