THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 15, 1997 TAG: 9702150356
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: THE WASHINGTON POST
DATELINE: BELTON, S.C. LENGTH: 65 lines
The woman who went public with allegations that a drill sergeant at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland sexually harassed her said this week that Army prosecutors pressured her into signing a statement that clears the way for criminal charges against him to be dropped.
Jessica Bleckley, 18, whose allegations initiated the servicewide investigation into one of the military's worst scandals, said in the statement prepared this week by the Army that she wants to be ``spared the emotional trauma and intense scrutiny associated with a public trial.''
The Army confirmed that commanders at the Aberdeen maintenance training facility north of Baltimore are considering whether to continue with court-martial proceedings against Sgt. Nathanael Beach or offer him an administrative hearing, which is not a criminal trial.
But Maj. Susan Gibson, deputy staff judge advocate at Aberdeen, said the Army was unaware that Bleckley felt pressured to sign the statement and will ask her whether she wants to withdraw it.
``All we want is her opinion. . . . We have no pull over her, no power,'' said Gibson, who is the military equivalent of a civilian prosecutor. ``Her opinion isn't the deciding factor'' as to what kind of hearing Beach will receive.
Beach, a former drill sergeant, is accused of having had sex with Bleckley, a violation of Army rules that prohibit sex between instructors and recruits. He also was accused of threatening Bleckley, who was a trainee at Aberdeen. In all, seven instructors at Aberdeen have been charged with sexual crimes - including rape, adultery and forced sodomy - since the scandal became public in November.
Beach, 32, has denied having sex with Bleckley or threatening to kill her if she told anyone that he had.
Bleckley, who moved back to her hometown in South Carolina after being discharged two weeks ago, said Wednesday that Army prosecutors had ``talked'' her into signing the statement. Officials were required to obtain such a statement under a federal program for crime victims. The statement is supposed to contain her opinion about what should happen to the accused.
``I told them that I wanted Drill Sergeant Beach to have a court-martial, but they talked me out of it,'' Bleckley said in an interview. ``It doesn't matter. . . . They are going to do what they want anyway.''
According to the statement she signed, Bleckley has ``dealt with a great deal of hostility and resentment and . . . felt the need to defend myself to the public. However, I now feel that the most fair way to resolve this matter is in a private hearing.'' In the interview, Bleckley expressed no wish to recant the statement.
Bleckley accused another instructor of sexual assault. He faces charges stemming from accusations made by several trainees.
Beach is scheduled to appear next month before a general court-martial, the most serious criminal proceeding in the military. If convicted, the 13-year Army man could receive a dishonorable discharge and a sentence of life in prison.
On the other hand, if Beach is granted an administrative hearing, called an Article 15 proceeding, he cannot be sentenced to prison or be dismissed from the Army. The most severe penalty he could receive would be a suspension of pay, reduction in rank or confinement to the barracks.
According to the statement that Bleckley signed, Beach had requested that his charges be dealt with in an Article 15 proceeding. Beach referred questions to his attorney, who would not comment.
KEYWORDS: SEXUAL MISCONDUCT SEX SCANDAL ARMY SEXUAL
HARASSMENT