Trial Begins For Marine Charged in the Death of a Green Beret in Mali sofrep.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sofrep.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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(U.S. Army photo)
In a case that continues to embarrass both the Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) and Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC), military prosecutors are seeking to add rape charges in the plethora of indictments that have pilled up against a Marine Raider and Navy SEAL accused of murdering a Green Beret.
More specifically, Gunnery Sergeant Mario Madera-Rodriguez and Special Warfare Operator 1
st Class Anthony DeDolph are suspected of seeking to sexually harass Staff Sergeant Logan Melgar during the assault that left the Special Forces operator dead in Bamako, Mali in 2017. The idea behind their sexual assault was to embarrass Staff Sgt Melgar beyond all measure – they intended to record the incident on tape after they had beat the Green Beret unconscious.
Published: 21 January 2021
Alun Pugh remembered the moment he tried to push back on the hazing plan that would result in Staff Sergeant Logan Melgar s death. But someone in this group of Marines and Navy SEALs dismissed his concerns. Why do you have to choke him out? Pugh asked. That s stupid. No, no, we do this to each other all the time. That s the answer someone gave him. The person mentioned that choking people out was part of their training.
Pugh relayed this story in court to investigators, who played a recording of the interview this week in the trial of Navy Chief Special Operator Tony DeDolph. DeDolph pleaded guilty to charges including hazing, involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy in the incident. He now faces more than 22 years in prison and a dishonorable discharge. This week a jury of eight Navy personnel will hear the testimony of witnesses in the case to determine DeDolph s sentence.