Cpl. Jose Araujo Jr. of the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan, was found guilty of sexual assault and sexual harassment last week and sentenced to six years in prison, Monday, Dec. 17, 2018. (Courtesy of Facebook)
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — A member of the III Marine Expeditionary Force on Okinawa was sentenced to six years in a military prison Monday after being convicted last week on sexual assault and sexual harassment charges.
Cpl. Jose Araujo Jr., of Fitchburg, Mass., was found guilty at a general court-martial of sexually assaulting a female Marine and sexually harassing two others, according to 2nd Lt. Tori Sharpe, a spokeswoman for the 3rd Marine Logistics Group. He was originally charged with harassing seven Marines.
Araujo’s sentence also includes a reduction in pay grade from E-4 to E-1, forfeiture of $1,630 in pay per month for 72 months and a dishonorable discharge.
An unnamed female Marine from the 3rd Marine Logistics Group alleged that Araujo, an administrative specialist with the logistics group, had raped her on or about March 31, “causing great bodily harm,” the charge sheet said.
Araujo was arrested on April 2 and held for trial.
He was also charged with sexually harassing other Marines by “engaging in unwelcome sexual advances and requests for sexual favors, which created an intimidating, hostile and offensive working environment,” according to the charge sheet.
The offenses happened between July 21, 2017, and April 2018, the charge sheet states.
He was convicted at the conclusion of a five-day trial.
Araujo enlisted for four years in October 2015 and arrived on Okinawa shortly thereafter, according to the charge sheet and his Facebook page.
