Monday, May 29, 2006

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- The Navy quarterback accused of raping a female midshipman will face a court-martial in the case, the academy announced Friday. Lamar Owens, 22, faces the court martial after a military version of a grand jury review last month. The Savannah, Ga., native led Navy's football team to an 8-4 record this season and was the team's most valuable player. He is accused of raping the 20-year-old female midshipman in the academy's dorm. All 4,000 midshipmen live in Bancroft Hall. Owens' court martial means he will remain a midshipman until the case is resolved, said academy spokeswoman Deborah Goode. "The accused and his family have been advised that it is unlikely he will graduate on time," Goode said. If convicted of rape in a court-martial, a midshipman can face life in prison, though lawyers have said that punishment would be unheard of. Along with the rape charge, Owens is accused of conduct unbecoming an officer. Naval Academy Superintendent Admiral Rodney Rempt made the decision to order a court martial. The academy released a statement that said, "The American people expect the very best of all our midshipmen. ... "As prospective Navy or Marine Corps officers, midshipmen must set the example, and accusations such as these are contrary to all the Academy works to achieve." Also Friday, the Naval Academy announced a second, unnamed midshipman would go to special court martial for charges of indecent acts, indecent assault and conduct unbecoming an officer. A special court martial is less serious than a general court martial. Penalties for a special court martial are forfeiture, fines, restrictions or reprimands. Academy officials would not elaborate on the alleged behavior that caused the special court martial.

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