ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 13, 1996 TAG: 9611130067
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: FORT LEONARD WOOD, MO.
SOURCE: Associated Press
In the second Army sex scandal in less than a week, a male drill sergeant at one of the nation's biggest basic-training posts pleaded guilty Tuesday to having sex with three female soldiers.
Two other male sergeants officers at Fort Leonard Wood faced charges of improperly touching female trainees, and seven drill sergeants were suspended, but not charged, as the Army investigates allegations ranging from giving cigarettes to trainees to improper touching or kissing.
The accused non-commissioned officers face dishonorable discharge if found guilty.
The charges were announced five days after a sex scandal broke at the military's Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. The Army said the two cases are unrelated.
At his court-martial Tuesday, Staff Sgt. Loren B. Taylor pleaded guilty to failing to obey a general regulation by having consensual sex with three female recruits and trying to have sex with another. He also admitted having improper contact with a fifth woman recruit.
Army regulations ban sexual relationships between commanders and subordinates. The recruits were 21 years old on average and were undergoing basic training.
``Once it happened, it was so much easier for it to happen again,'' Taylor said.
``I'm glad you didn't shoot somebody. You'd be dangerous if you shot somebody,'' Judge Gregory Varo said.
Angelia Shirley, 19, testified that she had consensual sex with Taylor in his office.
``I don't know why I did it,'' said Shirley, who was discharged from the Army in 1995 because of a knee injury. ``It was a spontaneous act. If I would have thought about it, I wouldn't have done it.''
Taylor also admitted to dropping his pants to show tattoos on his thigh to one trainee. ``I was under brainlock again, your honor,'' he said.
As part of Taylor's plea, the Army dropped charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, for allegedly offering a potential female witness $500 to change her sworn statement. He's to be sentenced today.
Trials for Sgt. George W. Blackley Jr. and Staff Sgt. Anthony S. Fore are scheduled next month. Both are charged with failing to obey a general regulation, indecent assault and maltreatment for allegedly offensively touching trainees.
At the Army Ordnance Center at Aberdeen, the Army last week charged four drill instructors and a captain with raping, sexually harassing or otherwise having improper relationships with at least a dozen young women recruits in their first weeks of training at Aberdeen.
The men were suspended along with 15 other instructors.
Authorities have set up a hot line for reports of sexual misconduct, said Lt. Col. William Harkey, a Pentagon spokesman.
The Army said trainees at Fort Leonard Wood are told during their first day on the base how to report harassment or uncomfortable situations involving other soldiers.
On Tuesday, the Army let reporters speak with a group of Fort Leonard Wood trainees who have been in the military for about six weeks. No woman said she had felt sexual pressure or harassment.
``My drill sergeants are very, very helpful to us,'' said Pvt. Sheila Stanton, 20. ``They train us hard, they treat us as equals to the males. They've never done anything to make us feel uncomfortable.''
Pvt. Eric Beckham, 21, angrily said the accusations had tarnished others: ``Our drill sergeant has a black mark on him because of what some people did or they did not do. It's not right.''
Women make up 25 percent to 30 percent of each class of trainees.
When the Aberdeen scandal broke last week, the Army asked that anyone who had been a victim of sexual misconduct call a special toll-free number at the base. More than 2,400 calls had poured in by Tuesday afternoon.
Gen. John Shalikashvili, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Army had to assume such improper conduct was taking place elsewhere. He said officials are looking all across the Army, particularly its training centers, to root out sexual wrongdoing.
About 10 percent of the calls to the hot line were deemed serious enough to refer to the Army's Criminal Investigative Division.
The Army hot line is (800) 903-4241.
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Staff Sgt. Mike McInnish answers calls at theby CNBAberdeen Ordnance Hot Line at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland
Tuesday. color.