Marine recruiters face sex charges in CaliforniaWed Jun 8, 2005 4:16 PM ET
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Two U.S. Marine Corps recruiters in California face courts-martial on charges of sexual misconduct with potential teenage recruits, Marine officers said on Wednesday.
A third Marine has been accused of providing liquor to the recruiting office.
Staff Sgt. Joseph Dunzweiler and Sgt. Brian Fukushima, who worked at the recruiting office in Ukiah, abut 100 miles north of San Francisco, each face 11 counts of violating the military code of conduct, including having sex with two females aged 17 and 18 who were thinking about joining the Marines.
Fukushima will be arraigned on Friday and Dunzweiler on June 20, said Lt. Carolyn Nelson, a Marine public information officer.
If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of up to six months confinement, loss of two-thirds of their pay, and a bad conduct discharge, Nelson said.
The charges also include failure to obey orders and regulations and making false statements.
Staff Sgt. Francisco Ngayan, who worked in the Marine recruiting office in Santa Rosa, has been charged with providing liquor to the nearby Ukiah office in violation of military regulations, Maj. Michael Samarov said.
Barry Vogel, a lawyer representing the 18-year-old woman, said there was partying and alcohol at the Ukiah office and the two Marines had sex with several women who were potential recruits, according to his client.
"If the allegations are found to be true, this stands as a stark violation of what the Marine Corps is all about," Samarov said.
Regulations forbid any sexual contact between recruiters and potential recruits and enlistees.
Dunzweiler, Fukushima and Ngayan were not immediately available for comment.
Samarov said the Ukiah incidents first became known in February, prompting a military investigation. There were no discipline problems before with the Ukiah recruiters, he added.
The allegations come as the Marine Corps and Army struggle to attract new recruits amid the Iraq war.
Military recruiters have said potential recruits and their parents were expressing wariness about enlisting during the war and that improving job opportunities also were affecting recruiting.