THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 7, 1995 TAG: 9511070260
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
The U.S. Naval Academy will initiate an Article 32 investigation - the military equivalent of a grand jury - of five midshipmen who are suspected of possessing, using or distributing illegal drugs, officials announced Monday.
Up to 19 other midshipmen, the academy said, will face administrative inquiries that could lead either to more formal charges or private hearings and discipline by the academy's commandant.
The names of those involved have not been released; a spokesman said all will remain in school and in good standing while the investigations are pending.
The announcement came as the academy disclosed that mid-October drug screenings on each of the more than 4,000 midshipmen produced no evidence of illegal drug use within the brigade. Evidence developed independent of the screenings is the basis of the Article 32 proceedings.
Academy officials ordered drug testing of each midshipman after two members of the brigade were arrested and charged Oct. 15 with possession of LSD and marijuana. The two mids charged then are among the five who will be targets of the Article 32 inquiry, an acacdemy spokesman said.
In the Article 32 cases, a lawyer will be assigned to investigate each suspect and make a recommendation on whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant a court-martial.
An academy spokesman said the drug tests, administered Oct. 15 and 16, covered cocaine, marijuana, LSD, and amphetemines. by CNB