U.S. naval officer charged with rape

NORFOLK, Virginia (CNN) -- A U.S. Navy officer who commanded a 300-member naval flight cargo squadron has been charged with raping a enlisted sailor under his command.

Cmdr. William S. Petrie, 43, also was accused of disobeying a Navy order not to fraternize with enlisted personnel and of ignoring an order to return to a Navy base while stationed in Greece, Navy spokesman Mike Maus said.

The alleged rape occurred October 7 and Petrie was charged December 11. Because the case was pending, the Navy would release no other details, including the sex of the sailor.

Legal documents in the case were released Friday. Petrie was to appear Tuesday at an Article 32 hearing, similar to a civilian preliminary hearing.

According to the charges, Petrie engaged in an "unduly familiar personal relationship" with the sailor at a naval support facility at Souda Bay on Crete in the Mediterranean Sea.

The charges accuse Petrie of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity with the sailor, who was under his command.

Petrie, a Navy veteran of 23 years, led the "Rawhides" of the Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC-40) at Norfolk Naval Station before he was temporarily reassigned to the Naval Air Force's Atlantic Fleet Command.