December 27, 2005

Formal Charges Filed in Alleged Rape Incident Involving U.S. Marines

 

The Office of the City Prosecutor of Olongapo City formally filed charges on December 27, 2005, against Staff Sergeant Chad Carpentier, Lance Corporal Dominic Duplantis, Lance Corporal Keith Silkwood, and Lance Corporal Daniel Smith for the crime of rape. The charged U.S. Marines remain in U.S. custody in the Philippines.

The complaints against the other U.S. military personnel involved in this alleged incident were dismissed.

The U.S. worked with Philippine authorities under the precepts of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) throughout the investigation of the alleged incident. The U.S. will continue to cooperate with Philippine authorities in accordance with the VFA as the case moves to trial under Philippine jurisdiction.

It is a principle of Philippine and American law that anyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The U.S. remains committed to seeing that justice is served, and looks forward to a fair and impartial process that can provide for a just outcome.

 

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