Prosecutor disputes reprisal allegations in adultery case

[unhappycamper]

Prosecutor disputes reprisal allegations in adultery case
By Chris Amos - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Jun 14, 2008 7:11:34 EDT

A Navy prosecutor is speaking out against accusations that he was part of a command reprisal against a female lieutenant commander who reported what she believed were improper financial transactions by her command.

The female supply officer was convicted of adultery and other related charges in late May at general court-martial, more than a year after she made the allegations and shortly after she learned she was being charged.

Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Messer, senior trial counsel at Regional Legal Service Office Southwest, said the case against Lt. Cmdr. Syneeda Penland was about more than adultery — it was about an officer who used her rank to try to persuade an enlisted woman to divorce her husband so the two could be together. And a member of the jury, who also spoke to Navy Times, said the prosecution “more than met its burden of proof.”

The two men agreed to speak with Navy Times two weeks after a military jury convicted Penland of adultery, conduct unbecoming an officer, making a false official statement and violating a lawful order. The judge refused to admit any of the financial allegations during the trial, saying they weren’t relevant.

The jury May 24 sentenced her to 60 days’ confinement, fined her $9,000 and issued her a punitive letter of reprimand. Although Penland is single, she was convicted of having a sexual relationship with a then-married officer, Lt. j.g. Mark Wiggan.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/06/navy_penland_061408w/



uhc comment: Previous threads on Penland -->

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=15074
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=15123
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=15332