Coast Guardsman to Face Court-Martial over Sexual Assault Allegations

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PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Coast Guard Atlantic Area is scheduled to convene a general court-martial at the Coast Guard Legal Service Command Norfolk March 14, 2016 for a Coast Guard member accused of sexual assault, assault, communicating a threat, and making false official statements.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Jerry W. Clifft, 27, the sole subject of a Coast Guard Investigative Service investigation that began in July 2014 at Maritime Security Response Team, Chesapeake, Virginia, is accused of the following violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice:

  • Article 107 – False statement
  • Article 120 – Sexual assault
  • Article 128 – 4 specifications of assault
  • Article 134 – Communicating a threat

Vice Adm. William Lee, commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area, referred Clifft’s case to general court-martial Oct. 1, 2015.

The charges follow an eight-month investigation by CGIS revealing that Petty Officer Clifft allegedly committed a sexual act, while off duty, upon the reporting victim without consent in July 2014, and allegedly assaulted the reporting victim several times between 2011 and 2014.

Clifft was assigned to MSRT Chesapeake and Maritime Force Protection Unit in Bangor, Washington, when the alleged misconduct occurred. He is currently assigned to MSRT Chesapeake.

Charges are accusations against the individual and the accused is presumed innocent unless proven guilty by the military justice system.

It is Coast Guard policy to withhold the identity of the reporting victim.

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