Once accused of sexual assault, soldier now alleged victim

Once accused of sexual assault, soldier now alleged victim, he tells hearing
By Nancy Montgomery, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Wednesday, February 13, 2008


HEIDELBERG, Germany — Not long ago, Pfc. Kyle Emer was accused of sexual assault when another soldier told authorities she’d awakened from a drunken slumber to find Emer violating her.

Emer said the sex was consensual and the case was dismissed at a preliminary hearing.

On Tuesday, Emer was on the witness stand in another sexual assault case. This time, he was the alleged victim.

Spc. Shawn Sheppard, a military police officer with the 529th Military Police Company, is accused of preying on Emer. Sheppard is charged with indecent assault and making a false statement.

The two were roommates and had gone out drinking Aug. 31 with a group of friends, according to testimony at an Article 32 hearing Tuesday in the Patton Barracks courtroom.

When Emer awoke early the next morning after passing out on his bed, he said, someone was touching him in a sexual manner. He wasn’t sure who it was, he said, because it was dark and he was still drunk. But he thought it was Sheppard.

“I was in a state of shock,” Emer said. “I was paralyzed. I felt like I was helpless.”
go here for the rest
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52430