Military hearing officer recommends dropping rape charge against guardsman [View All]

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/state/10655056.htm

Associated Press

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - An Army hearing officer has recommended that a rape charge against National Guard 1st Lt. Michael R. Hall be dropped.

Hall is accused of raping a female soldier at Camp Shelby last year.

Instead of Hall facing such a trial by court-martial, the two remaining charges - adultery and failing to reveal he had a sexually transmissible disease - should be handled administratively, Lt. Col. Mark James recommended, The Clarion-Ledger newspaper reported Saturday.

Frederick Klepp, the attorney for the female officer who accused Hall of rape, told the newspaper that there was enough evidence to support the rape charge.

"I think it would be proper to refer this to the tribunal and let the court-martial make the proper determination," Klepp said.