THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 5, 1995 TAG: 9512050293
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: SAN DIEGO LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
Investigators recommended criminal charges Sunday against a Navy cook who allegedly groped a female sailor aboard a commercial airline flight from Norfolk, a Navy spokesman said.
At a session similar to a civilian pretrial hearing, Navy officials will consider nine counts against Chief Petty Officer George Powell, said Lt. Cmdr. Bruce Cole, a Navy spokesman in San Diego.
The Article 32 hearing is expected to occur sometime over the next two weeks at Navy Surface Forces Command Pacific in San Diego.
The charges include four counts of indecent assault, two counts of simple assault, and one count each of drunk and disorderly conduct, showing disrespect for a commissioned officer and failure to obey a lawful order, Cole said.
Officials have said Powell, 49, was drunk on the Oct. 27 American Airlines flight from Norfolk to California during which he allegedly groped the woman, a 23-year-old petty officer third class.
The woman cursed and tried to push Powell away, investigators said. At one point, she fell asleep, and awoke with his hands on her breasts, crotch and legs, officials said.
A day after news reports of the incident, Adm. Jeremy M. Boorda, chief of naval operations, ordered a ``stand down'' in which all units take a few hours to discuss regulations and standards of conduct. The stand down is set to be concluded at all installations by Friday.
KEYWORDS: U.S. NAVY SEXUAL HARASSMENT HEARING by CNB