Three U.S. Naval Academy football players charged with raping unconscious woman

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/06/19/three-u-s-naval-academy-football-players-charged-with-raping-unconscious-woman/

Three U.S. Naval Academy football players charged with raping unconscious woman
By Ian Simpson
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 18:24 EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Three U.S. Naval Academy football players have been charged with raping a female midshipman and making false statements, the school said on Wednesday, the latest in a string of sexual assault allegations in the U.S. military.

The midshipmen will face an Article 32 proceeding, similar to a preliminary hearing in civilian law. The hearing will kick off a process similar to a grand jury to determine if a general court-martial is warranted.

“This case is still in the pre-trial phase, so any further comment on this ongoing investigation would be inappropriate,” said John Schofield, a spokesman for the academy.

Academy Superintendent Vice Admiral Michael Miller reviewed the probe carried out by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and approved seeking the charges, the academy said.