Marine Major found not guilty of rape

Marine major found not guilty of raping mid
Marine Corps Times
By Jacqueline Klimas
Staff writer
Jun. 1, 2013

A Marine officer and former Naval Academy instructor is not guilty of raping a mid at his home in April 2011, a jury determined late Friday night.

However, Maj. Mark Thompson is guilty of committing an indecent act, having an unduly familiar relationship and conduct unbecoming an officer. The officer’s court-martial began Tuesday at Washington Navy Yard and his sentencing is slated for Monday.

Thompson was accused of assaulting the mid on April 30, 2011, along with having consensual sex with another mid that same evening.

It was the day of the academy’s annual croquet match with St. John’s College, and both women had spent the day drinking at the event, according to their testimony. They testified that the night ended at Thompson’s home where they played strip poker and drank multiple tequila shots. After allegedly moving to the bedroom, one woman, now a Marine second lieutenant, testified she was sexually assaulted. The other mid, Sarah Stadler, now an ensign, said she had consensual sex with the major that night, and that it was just the latest of multiple sexual encounters with him.
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