Aberdeen scandal
Encyclopedia
The Aberdeen Scandal was a military sex scandal in 1996 at Aberdeen Proving Ground
, a United States Army
base in Maryland
. The Army brought charges against 12 commissioned and non-commissioned male officers for sexual assault
on female trainees under their command.
Delmar Simpson and Nathanael Beech were accused of participating in the Army's biggest sex abuse scandal on record. Robertson and Simpson faced rape
charges and Beech was charged with adultery
.
Army Secretary Togo West accused those charged of abusing their power, and ordered all soldiers to undergo sexual harassment
training so they could learn the Army's "zero tolerance
" policy towards sexual harassment.
The men accused felt that statements made by West and other officials within the army were prejudging the case and would result in an unfair trial. Robertson's attorney, Jerome Murphy, asked the judge, Military Judge
Linda Webster, to enact a gag order
on West and others, but she deferred judgment. However, she did order prospective jurors not to follow media coverage of the case to avoid interference with their judgment.
Others charged included Staff Sergeants Loren Taylor and Anthony Fore, Sergeant George Blackley, a captain, two other sergeants, and four other non-commissioned officer
s.
, adultery
, communicating a threat, obstructing justice and disobeying orders, was sentenced to six months in prison, demoted to private, forfeited all benefits and expelled from the Army with a dishonorable discharge.
Robertson was sentenced to four months in prison after pleading guilty to adultery, sodomy and other offenses.
The heaviest punishment was brought against Simpson. A military trial
found him guilty of 18 counts of rape
against six women trainees and 29 other offenses. He was sentenced to 25 years in military prison. The key to the conviction was "constructive force", in which even seemingly consensual sex can be considered rape, given the power differences between the participants.
to take reports of sexual harassment in the military. It has also made available many resources for soldiers who feel they have been harassed or assaulted.
Supervisors were also barred from having romantic relationships with the soldiers they trained. The Army cited the fact that they cannot be sure if all relationships are consensual due to the nature of a supervisor's power over their trainees.
Aberdeen Proving Ground
Aberdeen Proving Ground is a United States Army facility located near Aberdeen, Maryland, . Part of the facility is a census-designated place , which had a population of 3,116 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, a United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
base in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. The Army brought charges against 12 commissioned and non-commissioned male officers for sexual assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
on female trainees under their command.
Charges brought against the officers
Captain Derrick Robertson and SergeantsStaff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
Delmar Simpson and Nathanael Beech were accused of participating in the Army's biggest sex abuse scandal on record. Robertson and Simpson faced rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
charges and Beech was charged with adultery
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
.
Army Secretary Togo West accused those charged of abusing their power, and ordered all soldiers to undergo sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
training so they could learn the Army's "zero tolerance
Zero tolerance
Zero tolerance imposes automatic punishment for infractions of a stated rule, with the intention of eliminating undesirable conduct. Zero-tolerance policies forbid persons in positions of authority from exercising discretion or changing punishments to fit the circumstances subjectively; they are...
" policy towards sexual harassment.
The men accused felt that statements made by West and other officials within the army were prejudging the case and would result in an unfair trial. Robertson's attorney, Jerome Murphy, asked the judge, Military Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
Linda Webster, to enact a gag order
Gag order
A gag order is an order, sometimes a legal order by a court or government, other times a private order by an employer or other institution, restricting information or comment from being made public.Gag orders are often used against participants involved in a lawsuit or criminal trial...
on West and others, but she deferred judgment. However, she did order prospective jurors not to follow media coverage of the case to avoid interference with their judgment.
Others charged included Staff Sergeants Loren Taylor and Anthony Fore, Sergeant George Blackley, a captain, two other sergeants, and four other non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
s.
Sentencing
Staff Sergeant Vernell Robinson Jr., who had been accused of 19 counts involving the abuse of five women under his command, including sodomySodomy
Sodomy is an anal or other copulation-like act, especially between male persons or between a man and animal, and one who practices sodomy is a "sodomite"...
, adultery
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
, communicating a threat, obstructing justice and disobeying orders, was sentenced to six months in prison, demoted to private, forfeited all benefits and expelled from the Army with a dishonorable discharge.
Robertson was sentenced to four months in prison after pleading guilty to adultery, sodomy and other offenses.
The heaviest punishment was brought against Simpson. A military trial
Trial
A trial is, in the most general sense, a test, usually a test to see whether something does or does not meet a given standard.It may refer to:*Trial , the presentation of information in a formal setting, usually a court...
found him guilty of 18 counts of rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
against six women trainees and 29 other offenses. He was sentenced to 25 years in military prison. The key to the conviction was "constructive force", in which even seemingly consensual sex can be considered rape, given the power differences between the participants.
Aftermath
Since the charges were filed, the U.S. Army set up a hotlineHotline
In telecommunication, a hotline is a point-to-point communications link in which a call is automatically directed to the preselected destination without any additional action by the user when the end instrument goes off-hook...
to take reports of sexual harassment in the military. It has also made available many resources for soldiers who feel they have been harassed or assaulted.
Supervisors were also barred from having romantic relationships with the soldiers they trained. The Army cited the fact that they cannot be sure if all relationships are consensual due to the nature of a supervisor's power over their trainees.
See also
- Sexual assault in the United States military
- 2003 U.S. Air Force Academy sexual assault scandal
- Military dischargeMilitary dischargeA military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve.-United States:Discharge or separation should not be confused with retirement; career U.S...