A Coast Guardsmen accused of sexual assault will face a general court-martial expected to begin on March 2, 2015, in Key West, Florida.
The decision by Vice Adm. William Lee, Coast Guard Atlantic Area commander, is based on the recommendation of an Article 32 hearing held on Nov. 14, 2014. The investigating officer found that reasonable grounds exist to try Petty Officer 3rd class Edwin Angulo, 26, for violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice including:
- Article 120 – Sexual Assault
The charges follow a three-month long investigation revealing that Angulo allegedly committed a sexual act upon the reporting victim without consent while in Key West in November 2013. The Coast Guard Investigative Service completed the investigation in June.
Angulo is a Boatswain's Mate who was assigned to the cutter Thetis when the alleged misconduct occurred in off-base housing in Key West. He has since been transferred to Sector Key West.
If found guilty, Angulo could face up 30 years confinement, forfeiture of all military pay and allowances and could receive a dishonorable discharge from the Coast Guard.
The Article 32 Hearing is similar to a grand jury hearing in the civilian court system.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice is a complete set of criminal laws that covers most crimes contained in civilian law in addition to other military-specific offenses such as failure to obey an order, desertion, etc. Additional information about the UCMJ and the military justice system can be found at: http://www.uscg.mil/legal/mj/MJ_Doc/UCMJ12.pdf.
