Former Coast Guard officer faces rape trial

[unhappycamper]

Former Coast Guard officer faces rape trial
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Feb 3, 2009 8:11:45 EST

BARNSTABLE, Mass. — A former Coast Guard officer charged with rape is scheduled to go to trial this week.

The Cape Cod Times reports that a jury in the trial of David Pierce was selected Monday and opening statements are scheduled for Tuesday in Barnstable Superior Court.

Pierce was indicted in January 2006 on five counts of rape based on charges brought by the alleged victim in November 2005. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $10,000 bail.

At the time of his arrest, the 44-year-old Pierce was a 20-year Coast Guard veteran and the officer in charge of Coast Guard Station Provincetown.

His attorney, James Merberg, said on Monday he plans to argue that the sex was consensual.


Article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_coast_guard_trial_020309/%2e