Coast Guardsman Found Guilty of Sexual Assault

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CLEVELAND — A Coast Guardsman accused of sexual assault and other charges was found guilty Monday during a general court-martial in Norfolk, Va.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew A. Rogers was convicted of Article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice for committing a sexual assault against a civilian woman at a hotel in Portsmouth, Va., Aug. 15, 2012.

In addition to the sexual assault charge, Rogers was convicted of the following: Article 81, conspiracy, for tampering with a command-directed urinalysis at Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., March 15, 2013; Article 107, false official statements; and Article 134, a general article of the UCMJ, which applies to conduct that is to the prejudice of good order and discipline, and is a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces.

Rogers’ sentence pends, but once announced, that information will be released.

Rear Adm. Fred Midgette, commander of the Coast Guard 9th District, was the court-martial convening authority.

While awaiting court-martial, Rogers served at Sector Sault Ste. Marie and then Coast Guard Station Marblehead, Ohio. He is permanently assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Alder, a 225-foot sea-going buoy tender homeported in Duluth, Minn., having been assigned there since March 2012, and was attending training in Portsmouth, Va., at the time of the sexual assault.

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