Okinawa Marine jailed, discharged for child abuse

[unhappycamper]

Okinawa Marine jailed, discharged for child abuse
By David Allen, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, May 30, 2008

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — A Marine was sentenced to prison and a dishonorable discharge Wednesday for participating in the sexual abuse of his 2-year-old step-grandson.

Lance Cpl. Falepa M. Martin, 33, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in a case that involved Martin watching an Internet web-cam broadcast of his wife molesting the boy.

However, under the terms of a pretrial agreement, all but 48 months of the sentence will be suspended. Martin also was reduced in rank to E-1 and ordered to forfeit all of his pay and allowances.

Martin, of the 7th Communications Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Headquarters Group, pleaded guilty to two counts of Article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice — aggravated sexual assault of a child and taking indecent liberties with a child.

According to evidence presented at the brief court-martial, Martin watched the boy touch his wife while instructing her on what to have the child do.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=55178