Editor's Note: Click on image below for charge sheet.
MIAMI — A Coast Guard Petty Officer charged with rape, wrongful sexual contact and adultery will face a court-martial in Miami Friday, June 27 at 8 a.m. at the Coast Guard 7th District Headquarters Office Building located at 909 S.E. 1st Avenue, Miami, Florida 33131.
The decision by Rear Adm. Jake Korn, Coast Guard Seventh District Commander, is based on the recommendation of an Article 32 hearing completed Jan. 6, 2014, that reasonable grounds exist to try Petty Officer 1st Class Sheldon J. Bond, 33-years-old, for violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice including:
- Article 120 – Sexual Assault Generally
- Article 134 – Adultery
The Article 32 Hearing is similar to a grand jury hearing in the civilian court system.
The charges follow a four-month-long Coast Guard investigation. The investigation began in March 2013 immediately after the Air Force Office of Special Investigation notified the Coast Guard of the allegations. The crimes allegedly occurred at a private residence in Lexington, S.C., on Oct. 30, 2010 against a prior enlisted member of the Air Force, who is now a civilian. The Coast Guard is not releasing the name of the victim in this case to protect privacy.
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.
Editors Note: The court-martial is open to the public and the media, however space is limited. No cameras or recording equipment of any kind will be allowed inside the building. Those interested in attending the court-martial should R.S.V.P. with the Coast Guard 7th District Public Affairs Office no later than 2 p.m. Thursday June 26, 2014.
The Coast Guard 7th District Public Affairs staff can be reached at 305-415-6683.