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Lithuania Nightclub Complaint From a USNS Comfort Liberty Stop Found No Witness Corroboration.

A public-safety worker deployed with USNS Comfort reported that a coworker fondled her over her clothing during liberty at a nightclub in Klaipeda, Lithuania. NCIS interviewed witnesses and the accused, who denied intentional contact, then closed the case and referred it to legal officials for possible administrative or judicial action.

Indecent AssaultUSNS ComfortLithuaniaPort LibertyNightclubConflict Of InterestNo Corroboration

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

Indecent Assault / Unwanted Touching

Location

Klaipeda, Lithuania / USNS Comfort liberty

Key date

Reported August 15, 2002

Outcome

No witness corroboration; referred to SJA

What the NCIS File Says

A woman assigned with USNS Comfort reported that another public-safety employee fondled her vagina over her clothing while they were on liberty at a nightclub in Klaipeda, Lithuania.

The National Naval Medical Center Public Safety Office asked NCIS to investigate because both people were assigned within public safety, creating a possible conflict of interest.

Witnesses who accompanied the reporting person to the nightclub did not see inappropriate contact. The accused admitted he may have brushed his hand against the outside of her clothing near her vagina during a greeting hug, but said it was not intentional.

NCIS closed after finding no corroborating witness information and referred the matter to the Staff Judge Advocate Office for a decision on administrative or judicial action.

Case Timeline

August 15, 2002

National Naval Medical Center Public Safety requested NCIS assistance.

August 28, 2002

The reporting person was interviewed and provided a statement.

September 12-18, 2002

NCIS interviewed witnesses who had been at or connected to the nightclub outing.

September 23, 2002

The accused was interrogated and fingerprinted.

September 24, 2002

NCIS closed and referred the matter to legal/administrative authorities.

Why This Record Matters

The case involves port-liberty conduct connected to USNS Comfort, not an incident aboard the ship.
The Public Safety Office conflict-of-interest concern is part of why NCIS became involved.
The readable transcript does not reveal the final Staff Judge Advocate decision.

NCIS Source Document

This is the NCIS Report of Investigation for the USNS Comfort. Interviews Conducted Developed No Information To Corroborate file. MLAA has preserved the source PDF, Bates range, and NCIS file number so readers can inspect the record directly.

First page preview for Lithuania Nightclub Complaint From a USNS Comfort Liberty Stop Found No Witness Corroboration.

First page of the NCIS case file.

Source type: NCIS investigation file
Command or vessel: Not listed
NCIS file number: 15AUG02-DCBE-0051-8DNA/C
Bates range: 0117-0118
Source file length: 2 pages

View NCIS Source PDF for Case 15AUG02-DCBE-0051-8DNA/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.

1. This investigation was initiated following a request from the Public Safety Office (PSO), National Naval Medical Center (NNMC), Bethesda, MD, to investigate an Assault complaint(u[REDACTED] ¢)filed against [REDACTED] request stem from the department's desire to preclude a conflict of interest dilemma providing PSO conducted the inquiry [REDACTED] andiu[REDACTED] Cjare assigned within the realm of public safety. The complaint entailediys [REDACTED] alleging [REDACTED] fondled her vagina. The incident occurred while together on liberty at a nightclub in Lithuania. They were assigned deployed at the time to the USNS Comfort. Interviews conducted developed no information to corroborate [REDACTED] allegation [REDACTED] interrogated and admitted he "may have brushed his hand against [REDACTED] outer clothing in the area of her vagina in greeting her but did not do so intentionally". Information developed reflected on Comfort crew members arrival at the club each person or party was greeted with a hug. It was during such greeting [REDACTED] tributes his possible inappropriate contact occurred with [REDACTED] Exhibits (1) through (10) provide details regarding this matter. A technical investigative aid was considered during the course of this investigation. Because of a lack of additional substantive investigative lead(s), this case is referred to the NNMC Staff Judge Advocate Office (SJAO) for a decision regarding appropriate administrative or judicial action with the judgment returned to PSO. Investigation is closed.

2. On 15Aug02 [REDACTED] Chief Of Police, Acting, NNMC PSO advised 24) _ (ol), / Director, NNMC PSO, requested the assistance of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) to investigate an Assault complaint (i), [REDACTED]filed against [REDACTED] Chief Burrier related the request stem from the department's need to preclude a conflict of interest dilemma providing PSO conducted the inquiry [REDACTED] and(u[REDACTED] jare assigned within the realm of public safety. The complaint entailedis [REDACTED] alleging [REDACTED] fondled her vagina while together on liberty at a nightclub in Klapeida, Lithuania. ICWTSTEANG) and[REDACTED] bywere assigned deployed to the USNS Comfort. The ship was docked for a port visit in Lithuania at OREECTA of the incident. 15AUG02 -DCBE-0051-8DNA/C 24SEP02 [REDACTED]

3. A review was conducted of § [REDACTED] Service record book (SRB). The review resulted in the finding [REDACTED]maintains a Final Secret security clearance. Also, information derived reflected [REDACTED] completed training regarding military rules as it pertains to "sexual harassment" and "fraternization and sexual misconduct". For subs bo. By 09.042 UNCLASSIFIED//LES UNCLASSIFIED//LES

4. On 28Aug02 [REDACTED] interviewed and a statement obtained detailing the alleged Indecent Assault committed by [REDACTED]

5. On 12Sep02, [REDACTED] were interviewed. Both 7 jto the nightclub in Lithuania. However, neither accompanied(bh) , (b)/ KS witnessed [REDACTED] touchiW)6), [REDACTED] é)in any inappropriate manner.

6. On 18Sep02, [REDACTED] interviewed. Also, [REDACTED] accompanied [REDACTED] y(G) and to the nightclub. As well, she did not witness any contact considered inappropriate between [REDACTED] 0) and [REDACTED]. On 23Sep02 [REDACTED] DUTNG) was interrogated. During the interrogation [REDACTED] admitted he "may have brushed his hand against [REDACTED] outer clothing in the area of her vagina in greeting her but did not do so intentionally". Information developed reflected on Comfort crew members arrival at the club each person or party was greeted with a hug. It was during such greeting [REDACTED] attributes his possible inappropriate contact occurred with [REDACTED] Sworn statement is appended to this report. After [REDACTED] interrogation, he was fingerprinted. Exhibits (1) through (10) provide details regarding this matter. A technical investigative aid was considered during the course of this investigation. Because of a lack of additional substantive investigative lead(s), this case is referred to the NNMC SJAO for a decision regarding appropriate administrative or judicial action with the judgment returned to PSO. This investigation is closed. (1) IA: Contact - PSO/15Aug02... (Orig 0023B/Copy DCWA Only) (2) IA: SRB Review/19Aug02... (Orig 0023B/Copy All) (3) (u[REDACTED]Statement /28Aug02... (Orig 0023B/Copy All) (4) IA: Results of Interview [REDACTED] onicl2sepo02.. (Orig 0023B/Copy All) (5) IA: Results of Interview - ep02... (Orig 0023B/Copy All) IA: Results of Interview - (©) MMO TEsepo2... (Orig 0023B/Copy All) IA: Contact [REDACTED] 23Sep02... (Orig 0023B/Copy Al11) (8) IA: Contact [REDACTED] j23Sep02... (Orig 0023B/Copy All) (9 [REDACTED](G) Military Rights Waiver/23Sep02... (Orig 0023B/Copy All) (10 [REDACTED] Statement /23Sep02... (Orig 0023B/Copy All)