PORTSMOUTH, Va. –The commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area, announced Friday a Coast Guard officer charged with sexual assault and maltreatment will face a court-martial.
Vice Adm. Robert Parker made the decision to convene a court-martial based upon the recommendation from a September Article 32 investigation, which reviewed evidence related to charges of maltreatment and sexual assault made against Lt. Wayne Barfield. The Article 32 investigation does not result in a verdict or a sentence; it only provides a recommendation on how to proceed with the charges.
Barfield is charged with the following Uniformed Code of Military Justice violations:
•Article 93 – Cruelty and Maltreatment
•Article 120 – Sexual Assault
•Article 133 – Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman
•Article 134 – Fraternization and Drunk and Disorderly conduct
Barfield’s court martial is tentatively scheduled to take place in Charleston, S.C., on a date yet to be determined.
At the time of the alleged events, Barfield was assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin, a 378-foot high endurance cutter homeported in Charleston, S.C. Barfield has since been reassigned to while awaiting trial.
