What the NCIS File Says
The case began after a crewmember reported that she had been sexually assaulted aboard USNS Guadalupe while the ship was in port at Naval Station Pearl Harbor.
The NCIS executive summary says the crewmember described meeting the accused, advances he made toward her the first evening, and the alleged sexual assault the following day. The record also says she provided three text messages in which the accused allegedly apologized for what he did, said it would not happen again, and said he wanted to talk to her.
Investigators photographed the alleged victim's stateroom, preserved the text messages from her phone, obtained phone records through her T-Mobile account, interviewed people she spoke with about the incident, interviewed the ship's master and chief mate, and spoke with the three other female crewmembers aboard the ship.
The alleged victim initially agreed to participate in a consensual oral or wire intercept, but later changed her mind and declined further participation. NCIS advised the accused of his rights and interrogated him; the report says he denied culpability and terminated the interview.
A Special Assistant United States Attorney in Honolulu was briefed on the facts and declined prosecution, citing lack of evidence to proceed. NCIS closed the case after the alleged victim declined further cooperation and the completed interviews did not provide enough probative value to continue.
Case Timeline
The alleged sexual assault occurred aboard USNS Guadalupe while the ship was in port at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, according to the NCIS executive summary.
NCIS opened the investigation after receiving the report.
An interim NCIS report with exhibits was listed in the final file.
The closed Report of Investigation was dated.
Why This Record Matters
- The file shows how a case with preserved text messages, a photographed stateroom, witness interviews, and ship leadership interviews could still close after the alleged victim stopped participating.
- The outcome turned on evidence sufficiency and prosecutorial discretion, not a public finding that the allegation was false.
- The record captures a shipboard workplace allegation while the vessel was in port, with Military Sealift Command vessel leadership drawn into the investigation.
