Adultery trial for supply officer begins today

[unhappycamper]

Adultery trial for supply officer begins today
By Chris Amos - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday May 21, 2008 6:14:49 EDT

A Navy supply officer formerly with a West Coast-based coastal warfare unit is scheduled to stand trial Wednesday in San Diego on charges that she had an affair with a married junior officer and lied about it later, according to charge sheets.

But the officer says her prosecution is part of a yearlong reprisal by her command after she made complaints about financial misconduct by military officials and civilian contractors within Navy Expeditionary Combat Command.

Lt. Cmdr. Syneeda Penland, 36, is charged with adultery, indecent acts, conduct unbecoming an officer and making a false official statement. She could face as many as 16 years in prison and be dismissed from the Navy if convicted on all counts.

Her defense lawyer, Marine Capt. Patrick Callahan, said it was unusual for an adultery case to be taken to a general court-martial, where any finding of guilt, even on a lesser charge, would be a felony conviction that would follow Penland for life. It’s also unusual, he said, that the adultery charge is not accompanied by more serious charges, and because of his client’s rank and nearness to retirement. Penland has served 19 years.

Penland is single. The man with whom she is alleged to have had an affair is a married lieutenant junior grade, and is a prosecution witness, Callahan said. Penland, in a telephone interview with Navy Times, denied having a sexual relationship with the man.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/05/navy_penland_052008/

[emperor124]

1. So let me get this straight

She has an affair and could get up to 16 years, and those marines involved in the gang rape of a Japanese woman get what, two years? What is wrong with these people??