SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan – A U.S. sailor was charged by Guam authorities Friday with trying to kill a fellow servicemember by cutting her throat during a domestic dispute in an apartment complex off base, according to the Guam Police Department and Attorney General’s Office.
Bernard Alan Jennings, 41, was charged with attempted murder, possession and use of a deadly weapon in commission of a felony, aggravated assault and family violence in a magistrate’s complaint filed Friday by Guam prosecutors, according to a copy of the document obtained by Stars and Stripes.
He was being held on $250,000 bail, Attorney General spokesman Bryan Cruz said.
The alleged victim is an active-duty servicemember and was in fair condition at Naval Hospital Guam on Friday, said Coleen Perez, spokeswoman for U.S. Naval Forces Marianas.
The woman had a relationship with Jennings, according to the magistrate’s complaint.
The Navy did not release Jennings’ rank but confirmed he works in the support staff for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5.
Jennings remained in Guam police custody Friday afternoon, according to U.S. Naval Forces Marianas officials.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service was working with Guam police on the case Friday, Perez said.
Police said they were called to an apartment in Ladera Towers in Mangilao on Thursday following reports of a disturbance.
Officers found the victim with a laceration on her throat and she was transported to the naval hospital, Guam police spokesman Officer A.J. Balajadia said.
Jennings was found in a vehicle in the vicinity and was arrested, he said.
