A sailor remains in custody at the U.S. Naval Forces Marianas, Guam, Support Activity detention center after being charged with manslaughter and operating a vehicle while drunk.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Jenkins, 24, a machinery repairman assigned to the Guam-based submarine tender USS Frank Cable, was charged Tuesday in naval court under Articles 119 and 111 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
He has yet to face an Article 32, or preliminary hearing, Lt. Thurraya Kent, a base spokeswoman, said Thursday. It has not been scheduled.
During an Article 32 hearing, a military investigating officer will review evidence presented by prosecutors and defense attorneys and determine if a crime was committed. The officer then recommends or dismisses charges.
Jenkins is accused of causing the death of his passenger Perla Mendiola, 33, of Mangilao, and injuring six others in three cars — all Nissan Sentras — in a head-on collision.
Police say alcohol was likely a factor.
Jenkins was northbound in his Sentra on Route 4 in Sinajana, Guam, when he crossed the center line at about 4 a.m. Saturday and slammed into two oncoming Sentras, police told the Pacific Daily News. His other passengers, Mendiola’s 34-year-old husband, Joseph Mendiola of Mangilao, and Jessica Castro, 18, of Agana Heights, sustained injuries.
Jenkins and Mendiola’s husband were taken to Naval Hospital; Castro was transported to Guam Memorial Hospital, the newspaper said. The husband is being treated for a broken hip, right ankle and ribs.
Details were not available Thursday on Castro’s condition.
Kent said the Navy is not releasing other information in the case because it remains under investigation by Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Guam police.
