Four soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., have been charged with sexually assaulting a victim in a barracks at the Army-Air Force base. (Gary Warner/Stars and Stripes)
Four soldiers have been charged with sexually assaulting the same victim in a barracks at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., the Army said Wednesday.
Private 2nd Class Deron J. Gordon, Cpl. Pedro Angel Ruiz, Spc. Jadon Bosarge and Pfc. Kallon Curiel are being prosecuted by the Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel, based at Fort Belvoir, Va., said Michelle McCaskill, communications director for the special trial counsel. They also face a charge of conspiracy to commit the sexual assault.
The special trial counsel handles most sex crimes involving Army personnel, as well as charges of murder and kidnapping.
McCaskill said the soldiers are accused of assaulting the victim on Oct. 27, 2024.
The special trial counsel did not release information on the gender, age or military status of the victim. It also did not release information on the ages and specific units of the soldiers accused of the sexual assault.
“All four cases are in various stages of the legal process,” McCaskill said.
Gordon faces a general court-martial on 12 counts of rape, two counts of sexual misconduct, and one count each of conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Gordon’s case docket posted on the website of the Army Judge Advocate General shows he pleaded guilty Aug. 5 during a preliminary hearing. Gordon also waived his right to a trial by jury and requested to have his case decided by a judge alone. No judge has been assigned to the case, according to the docket record. His arraignment and trial are scheduled for Sept. 3.
Ruiz faces a general court-martial for sexual assault, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at Lewis-McChord on Sept. 26, with a trial scheduled to begin Nov. 3.
No military case docket has been posted yet by the Judge Advocate General for Bosarge or Curiel.
McCaskill said additional information, if available, would be released by her office later this week.
