Teen testifies she had sex with soldier at age 12

[unhappycamper]

Teen testifies she had sex with soldier at age 12
By Kent Harris, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Friday, February 8, 2008

VICENZA, Italy — A 13-year- old girl testified Wednesday that she willingly had sex with a 30-year-old soldier because she “liked” him.

The girl — who was 12 at the time of the alleged incident — was one of two key witnesses in the government’s case against Staff Sgt. Daniel H. Gaskins.

At his general court-martial, Gaskins, now 31, has pleaded not guilty to charges of carnal knowledge and indecent acts with a child under 16, as well as an indecent assault charge against a fellow noncommissioned officer.

In all, 20 witnesses testified in the Caserma Ederle courtroom over the first two days of the trial. The military judge, Col. Greg Marchessault, adjourned until Friday morning after the prosecution and defense rested their cases.

During her testimony, the girl — whose name is being withheld because Stripes does not identify alleged victims of sexual crimes — said she and the defendant had brief sexual intercourse in February 2007 while they were attending a party at the house of another servicemember. The party took place in a community near Naples where Gaskins and the girl’s father were stationed at the time.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52303



uhc comment: Today's thread on Gaskins --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=11115