Two Naval Academy athletes under rape investigation

Midshipmen may face charges after complaint from female classmate

July 3, 2000
Web posted at: 2:40 p.m. EDT (1840 GMT)

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (CNN) -- Two U.S. Naval Academy football players could find out as soon as Monday if they will be charged with rape, following allegations from a female classmate that she was sexually assaulted at a drunken party.

The incident allegedly occurred Thursday night at an off-campus party in Arnold, Maryland, a suburb of Annapolis.

Authorities said no charges have been filed pending the investigation by the Anne Arundel County State's Attorney's Office and the Navy Criminal Investigative Service.

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A Pentagon official familiar with the case confirmed to CNN that the two midshipmen under investigation are members of the Naval Academy football team. The party involved "a lot of alcohol," the source said.

Police in Anne Arundel County said they responded early Friday morning to a call from a local hospital, where officials said they were treating a woman who said she had been raped at a party.

Police said they determined the party was attended by 11 people, some of whom were students at the Naval Academy.

It was not immediately clear how the two midshipmen under investigation were identified as the alleged attackers.

Police said the evidence they have gathered was being presented Monday to prosecutors who will decide if charges will be brought against the two Naval Academy students, who have not been publicly identified.

They were at the Academy for summer school and are not part of the freshman or "plebe" summer training, which began Friday, said Naval Academy spokesman Cmdr. Mike Brady.

Last year, a Naval Academy midshipman accused of having sex in a dormitory against academy rules was expelled.

In that case, Midshipman 1st Class Michael Pilson Jr. was charged in 1998 with rape, burglary and conduct unbecoming an officer. A military judge later dismissed all the charges, but the academy's superintendent recommended that Pilson be removed from the military college.

Pilson claimed he had consensual sex on July 30, 1998, with then-Midshipman Hannah Kessler. Kessler said she had been intoxicated and could not recall events.

Pilson, who is black, argued he was treated unfairly because of his race, a charge the academy denied.

Kessler, who is white, graduated last year.

CNN Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre contributed to this report.

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The United States Naval Academy
US Naval Criminal Investigative Service
U.S. Department of Defense
Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Office

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