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USNS Mercy Deployment Sexual Assault Report Reached NCIS Months Later. The Case Closed After the Victim Declined to Participate.

A Sexual Assault Response Coordinator told NCIS that a person at Naval Medical Center San Diego had made an unrestricted report of sexual assault aboard USNS Mercy during an August 2015 deployment. NCIS provided victim resources and ran database checks, but the reporting person declined to give details, and investigators had no known offender or scene to pursue.

Sexual AssaultUSNS MercyDeploymentVictim Declined Further ParticipationVictim's Legal CounselNo Investigative LeadsNo SAFE Exam Confirmed

This page summarizes one Naval Criminal Investigative Service case file. The source PDF and optical character recognition transcript appear below so readers can compare the summary against the record.

Allegation

Sexual Assault

Location

USNS Mercy / Naval Medical Center San Diego

Key date

Reported March 22, 2016

Outcome

Closed after victim declined to participate

What the NCIS File Says

A Sexual Assault Response Coordinator notified NCIS that a person at Naval Medical Center San Diego had made an unrestricted report of sexual assault aboard USNS Mercy during an August 2015 deployment.

When NCIS later met with the reporting person, the person declined to participate and did not provide details about what happened. The record says the reporting person declined to identify the type of assault, date, time, onboard location, offender identity, alcohol involvement, or whether a Sexual Assault Forensic Examination had occurred.

NCIS provided a DD Form 2701 victim and witness pamphlet, information about legal assistance, Victim's Legal Counsel, and local victim resources. The reporting person had retained Victim's Legal Counsel before the interview process moved forward.

Investigators ran database checks through multiple systems but had no known offender, no known scene, and no incident details to pursue. A military protective order was not issued because the offender was unknown.

NCIS closed the case because the reporting person declined to participate and no investigative leads were available.

Case Timeline

August 2015

The reported assault allegedly occurred aboard USNS Mercy during deployment.

March 22, 2016

A Sexual Assault Response Coordinator notified NCIS of the unrestricted report.

April 20, 2016

NCIS conducted database checks.

April 27, 2016

NCIS met with the reporting person, who declined to participate.

May 2, 2016

NCIS received a signed Victim Preference Statement and issued the closed report.

Why This Record Matters

The file shows the formal response system around a delayed shipboard deployment report: victim resources, legal counsel, database checks, and command/legal updates.
It also shows the practical limit of that system when the reporting person does not provide details and the alleged offender and location remain unknown.
OCR damage makes pronouns and roles inconsistent, so public language should stay neutral unless the source PDF is reviewed.

NCIS Source Document

This is the NCIS Report of Investigation for the USNS Mercy file. MLAA has preserved the source PDF, Bates range, and NCIS file number so readers can inspect the record directly.

First page preview for USNS Mercy Deployment Sexual Assault Report Reached NCIS Months Later. The Case Closed After the Victim Declined to Participate.

First page of the NCIS case file.

Source type: NCIS investigation file
Command or vessel: NAVMEDCEN SAN DIEGO CA/00259
NCIS file number: 02MAY16-SWND-00281-8SNA/C
Bates range: 0010-0011
Source file length: 2 pages

View NCIS Source PDF for Case 02MAY16-SWND-00281-8SNA/C

Readable OCR Transcript

The transcript below reproduces the substantive report text from the NCIS file in readable form, including the executive summary when one appears in the source. Paragraph numbers come from the original report. Redactions are shown as [REDACTED]. Because the text was generated from OCR, verify exact quotations against the source PDF.

NARRATIVE

1. This reactive investigation pertains to suspected violations of Article 120 (Sexual Assault) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

2. On 22Mar16, investigation was initiated after notification by Sexual Assault Response Coordinator [REDACTED], regarding an allegation of sexual assault of [REDACTED], Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA. [REDACTED] Indicated [REDACTED] ¢made an unrestricted report of a sexual assault onboard USNS Mercy (T-AH-19), in Aug15, while on deployment. At the time of notification [REDACTED] leave until 01Apri1é6 [REDACTED] retained Victim's Legal Counsel (VLC) [REDACTED] JAGC, USN, established a tentative interview date for 19Apr16 or 20Apr16. On behalf of cancelled the interview fox [REDACTED] rescheduled for 27Apri1é.

3. On 27Apr16, Reporting Agent (RA) met with [REDACTED] NCISRA San Diego, CA, in the presence of [REDACTED] obtained [REDACTED] personal data and provided him with a DD Form 2701, Initial Information for Victims and Witnesses of a Crime pamphlet, information regarding her right to legal assistance, VLC, and local victim resources [REDACTED] stated he did not want to participate in the investigation [REDACTED] leclined to provide details regarding the type of assault, date, time or location of the assault, identity of the offender, if alcohol was involved, or if he received a Sexual Assault Forensic Examination. RA explained the investigative process, the Victim Preference Statement (VPS) and the subsequent 24-hour waiting period to [REDACTED] [REDACTED] reiterated his desire not to participate. On 002May16 [REDACTED] signed a VPS. Exhibit (1) pertains.

4. On 20Apr16, database checks offp}[REDACTED] were conducted utilizing the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), Defense Central Index of Investigations II), ( ), NCIS Knowledge Network (KNET), Department of Defense Law Enforcement Data Exchange (DDEX), Telecommunications System LETS), National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS), and Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS). JPAS queries disclosed [REDACTED] cwas eligible for a Secret clearance. Database checks for [REDACTED] crevealed no derogatory information; Exhibit (2) pertains. No crime scene examination will be completed because the location of the incident is unknown. A Military Protective Oder was not issued as the offender is unknown.

5. On 02May16 [REDACTED] JAGC, USN, Region Legal Service Office Southwest [REDACTED], Executive Officer, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, and Victim Advocate (VA) [REDACTED], was updated on the status of the investigation. As no investigative leads were provided, this investigation is closed.