← Back to NCIS / MSC Investigation File Index

Source record / NCIS investigation file / Military Sealift Command sexual misconduct

USNS Sacagawea Gangway Breast-Grabbing Report Was Declined for Insufficient Evidence.

NCIS records say a woman returning by liberty boat to USNS Sacagawea reported that a person walking past her at the gangway grabbed her breast over her clothes. Investigators interviewed witnesses and the accused, who said any contact would have been accidental, and DOJ declined prosecution for insufficient evidence.

Abusive Sexual ContactUSNS SacagaweaYokosukaGangwayDepartment of Justice DeclinationInsufficient Evidence

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

Abusive sexual contact

Location

USNS Sacagawea gangway / FLEACT Yokosuka

Key date

Alleged January 21, 2021

Outcome

DOJ declined for insufficient evidence

What the NCIS File Says

A woman reported to NCISRA Yokosuka that she was the victim of abusive sexual contact aboard or alongside USNS Sacagawea.

She said that after shopping at the Navy Exchange and taking the liberty boat back to USNS Sacagawea, she walked along the bottom of the gangway and saw the accused walking toward her.

According to the executive summary, as he passed, he grabbed her left breast with his left hand over her clothes. She yelled, "What the hell are you doing?" and he continued onto the liberty boat.

NCIS conducted multiple witness interviews and interviewed the accused, who said he did not remember touching her breast and that if he did, it was accidental.

The Department of Justice declined prosecution due to insufficient evidence to believe a crime occurred, and NCIS closed the case.

Case Timeline

January 21, 2021

Alleged Contact

The alleged breast grab occurred near the USNS Sacagawea gangway after the reported victim returned by liberty boat.

January 25, 2021

NCIS Report

The reported victim contacted NCISRA Yokosuka.

January 29, 2021

Interviews

NCIS conducted witness interviews and interviewed the accused.

February 26, 2021

DOJ Declination

USDOJ declined prosecutorial action due to insufficient evidence to believe a crime occurred.

March 3, 2021

Closure

NCIS closed the investigation after stakeholder briefings.

Why This Record Matters

The case includes a clear gangway allegation but still ended in a federal declination.
The accused did not deny possible contact outright but said any contact would have been accidental.
The final report depends on an interim report with Exhibits 1-11 that is not reproduced in the readable transcript.

NCIS Source Document

This is the NCIS Report of Investigation for the USNS Sacagawea 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 Sacagawea Gangway Breast-Grabbing Report Was Declined for Insufficient Evidence.

First page of the NCIS case file.

Source type: NCIS investigation file
Command or vessel: USNS SACAGAWEA (T-AKE-2) /23192
NCIS file number: 25JAN21-FEYK-00020-8SNA/U
Bates range: 0220-0221
Source file length: 2 pages

View NCIS Source PDF for Case 25JAN21-FEYK-00020-8SNA/U

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.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. On 25Jan21, [REDACTED] reported to NCISRA Yokosuka, Japan, that she was a victim of abusive sexual contact, allegedly perpetrated by [REDACTED] According to [REDACTED] 21Jan21, after shopping at the Navy Exchange (NEX), Fleet Activities (FLEACT) Yokosuka, she boarded the liberty boat for the USNS SACAGAWEA, which was anchored off the coast of FLEACT Yokosuka. [REDACTED] recalled when she disembarked the liberty boat and walked along the bottom of the USNS SACAGAWEA's gangway, she observed [REDACTED] walking towards her. [REDACTED] indicated as [REDACTED] walked passed her, he grabbed her left breast with his left hand, over her clothes. As [REDACTED] stepped off the gangway [REDACTED] yelled "What the hell are you doing?" [REDACTED] stop, and he then boarded the liberty boat. On 29Jan21, NCIS conducted multiple witness interviews and interviewed [REDACTED] maintained he did not remember touching [REDACTED] breast, and if he did, it was an accident. On 26Feb21, the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) declined to prosecute [REDACTED] This case is closed.

NARRATIVE

1. This reactive investigation pertains to suspected violations of Title 18 United States Code (U.S.C) Section 2244 (Abusive Sexual Contact). Reference (A) outlines all investigative steps conducted in this investigation.

2. Subsequent to the submission of Reference (A), on 26Feb21, Reporting Agent (RA) received notification from) [REDACTED], CIV, Senior Trial Attorney, MEJA, United States Department of Justice (USDOJ), pertaining to the prosecution of [REDACTED] USDOJ declined to take any prosecutorial action in this matter due to insufficient evidence to believe a crime occurred. Exhibit (12) pertains.

3. [REDACTED] fingerprints, photographs, or DNA was not obtained; therefore, a Final Disposition Report (R-84) was not required to complete.

4. On 01Mar21, [REDACTED], Commodore, MPSRON THREE; [REDACTED] USNS SACAGAWEA; [REDACTED], CIV, Senior Trial Attorney, MEJA and SMTJ Intake Coordinator, USDOJ; and! [REDACTED], Attorney, Military Sealift Command (MSC), were apprised on the closure of captioned investigation. The Special Victims Investigation and Prosecution (SVIP) Team was also briefed, to include)! [REDACTED], Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), MSC NO2; and) (py), [REDACTED], Senior Trial Counsel (STC), Region Legal Service Office Western Pacific. [REDACTED] will be briefed via by ), (bnGaue to her deployment status.