A chief boatswain’s mate from an East Coast assault craft unit pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and battery and one count of drunk and disorderly conduct on Monday, down from 21 original charges.
BMC Ramon Bernal of Assault Craft Unit Four, a landing craft air cushion detachment, entered a plea agreement in lieu of a court-martial
for multiple charges of misconduct between March and August 2014, according to Navy Region Mid-Atlantic spokesman David Todd.
Bernal was sentenced to nine months in the brig and a rank reduction to E-4, but he may not receive that full punishment.
“Per a pre-trial agreement, all confinement in excess of 60 days will be suspended and reduction in rate below E-6 will be suspended pending a 12-month good behavior probation period,” Todd said.
An attorney for Bernal did not return multiple phone requests for comment.
According to Bernal’s charge sheet, he was originally accused of 21 separate counts, which were whittled down to nine following his pre-trial Article 32 hearing.
Those charges included attempted indecent exposure, indecent exposure, drunk and disorderly conduct, disorderly conduct and three counts of abusive or aggravated sexual contact and two counts of battery, for allegedly pinning an unidentified woman up against a cabinet and lying on top of her while touching her arms, thighs and breasts.
In the end, his pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and battery — admitting only to touching her arms — and the charge of drunk and disorderly conduct.
Chief charged with sexual assault pleads down
