Army's Top Sex Assault Prosecutor Accused of Sexual Assault, Suspended

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Last month, the Army prosecutor in charge of investigating sexual assault cases was reportedly suspended after a subordinate accused him of sexually assaulting her at a legal conference two years ago.

Lt. Col. Joseph "Jay" Morse supervised more than 20 Army special victim prosecutors—the lawyers in charge of prosecuting sexual abuse cases, as well as domestic and child abuse cases—before he was suspended in February, according to Stars and Stripes.

Sources told Stars and Stripes that the Army lawyer alleged that Morse attempted to kiss and grope her against her will. The alleged assault reportedly took place in a hotel room at a 2011 sexual assault legal conference attended by special victims prosecutors in Alexandria, Va., before he was appointed as chief of the Trial Counsel Assistance Program.

The lawyer reported the incident in mid-February and Morse was suspended shortly thereafter, according to one source.
"We can confirm that this matter is currently under investigation and that the individual in question has been suspended from duties pending the outcome of the investigation," an Army official who wasn't authorized to speak publicly told Stars and Stripes. "Given that this is still an open case, we are precluded from providing any additional information at this point."

This marks the third time in nine months a military officer in charge of sexual assault prevention has been accused of sexual assault: In May, the head of the Air Force's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program was arrested for sexual assault. Just eight days later, the Army sergeant in charge of sexual assault prevention at Ft. Hood was investigated on sexual assault charges, including allegations that he forced subordinates into prostitution.

http://www.stripes.com/army-s-top-sex-assault-prosecutor-suspended-after-assault-allegation-1.271461

This is a HUGE problem in our armed forces. It's a real shame that women that serve us in the military have to worry about being treated like this and it has gone on for so long that I'm not sure if they will ever change without something drastic happening. I served in the Navy and although my ship only had female officers on board there were always rumors flying about. I heard many horror stories about the goings on onboard other ships that were not segregated. How are things going to change when the people who are supposed to be fighting the situation are doing the same things they are supposed to be combating?

 

[NickNitro]

Ohhh World, you never cease to amaze me. I love you.

 

[Teelie]

On top of that the Senate voted against a comprehensive reformation on how sex crime accusations are handled. So nothing there has changed despite a concerted effort to affect one.

The U.S. Senate on Thursday defeated an impassioned legislative push to reduce the growing problem of sex assault in the armed forces by overhauling the way the military prosecutes serious crimes.

By a vote of 55 to 45, a bill championed by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand failed to get the 60 votes needed for passage.

The measure would have removed military commanders from deciding whether most serious allegations of wrongdoing by their subordinates should be prosecuted. The responsibility would have been shifted to prosecutors outside the chain of command.

 

[Feenix]

Its hard to have faith in the military when they allow sexual assault within their ranks. If they turn a blind eye to this, I wonder what else they turn a blind eye to? What about those people from other countries that they detain and/or question?

Those pictures that came out of Iraq are a good idea.

The thought of the US policing the world with their military is terrifying.

 

[Teelie]

The thought of any single country policing the world is terrifying. That's why we have the United Nations, which is toothless and ineffective but it should be the primary recourse to handling international situations.

 

[charl_huntress]

http://www.stripes.com/army-s-top-sex-assault-prosecutor-suspended-after-assault-allegation-1.271461

This is a HUGE problem in our armed forces. It's a real shame that women that serve us in the military have to worry about being treated like this and it has gone on for so long that I'm not sure if they will ever change without something drastic happening. I served in the Navy and although my ship only had female officers on board there were always rumors flying about. I heard many horror stories about the goings on onboard other ships that were not segregated. How are things going to change when the people who are supposed to be fighting the situation are doing the same things they are supposed to be combating?

When I joined the military the ratio for men to women was like 7:1. It's the nature of the beast. I wonder what the stats are fraternization...lol

F.Y.I. For those who don't know this is common in any integrated military. It's not just prevalent in the U.S. I wish folks would stop trying to put the blame on the United States military like we are beginning and end of all evil.

 

[Victarion]

The irony goes on.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

On my ship there was an enlisted guy that got out and a week later he was married to one of the female officers. Everybody kind of knew they were fooling around but the never got caught and once he was out she couldn't get in trouble for anything.

And when we were ported in Iraq partying on the Army base there at the little club a few guys on the ship got hooked up with this Army chick that had a dude pumping her out charging all the guys a nominal fee for her services. Needless to say a day or so later they all had to stop by medical to get penicillin shots haha

 

[charl_huntress]

The irony goes on.

And what irony would that be?

On my ship there was an enlisted guy that got out and a week later he was married to one of the female officers. Everybody kind of knew they were fooling around but the never got caught and once he was out she couldn't get in trouble for anything.

Yeah...I heard a story about an enlisted girl who married a warrant officer, but the rumor was they were engaged while she was still enlisted.

And when we were ported in Iraq partying on the Army base there at the little club a few guys on the ship got hooked up with this Army chick that had a dude pumping her out charging all the guys a nominal fee for her services. Needless to say a day or so later they all had to stop by medical to get penicillin shots haha

I hate to say it, but prostitution is very common in the Navy. That happens when you stick a bunch of guys on ship with very few girls.

 

[Teelie]

The irony of a man in charge of sexual harassment investigations is arrested for sexual harassment I think. There was another where the education officer was arrested for it too last year.

 

[Victarion]

Yep. We had one thread on some anti-porn guy that was busted for child porn.

 

[charl_huntress]

Oh...that irony...lol

The reality is there are bad people who do good things and good people who do bad things. That's been the way of the world for years and years.