Naval Academy Charges Midshipman With Rape

What can I say about this story, except that Lamar Owens should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This is from The Washington Post:

A star football player at the U.S. Naval Academy has been charged under military law with raping a female midshipman in her dorm room, the school said today.

The charges stem from a Jan. 29 incident in which senior Lamar S. Owens Jr., last season's quarterback and team co-captain, allegedly entered the midshipman's room in Bancroft Hall and raped her, according to charging documents.

Owens, 22, of Savannah, Ga., has been charged with rape, conduct unbecoming an officer and a related count for indecent assault. The female midshipman's name, age and other personal information was being withheld by the academy.

The academy said in a statement that it has assigned the alleged victim a personal advocate "and is doing everything it can to protect the victim, as well as offer support and counseling."

Owens, meanwhile, remains in school while he awaits a preliminary hearing. A date has not been set. He was not available for comment today, said Cmdr. Rod Gibbons, an academy spokesman. Owens has been assigned a military defense lawyer, Gibbons said.

Calls to Owens's parents in Georgia were not immediately returned this morning.

The academy said it is has taken steps to prevent contact between Owens and the alleged victim.

"It's important to emphasize that these are accusations and that he's innocent until proven guilty," Gibbons said.

Academy officials declined to discuss the case further. The charges are based on an investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Owens was voted the football team's most valuable player by his teammates after rushing for 880 yards and 11 touchdowns and throwing for 1,299 yards and six touchdowns to lead Navy to a record of eight wins and four losses after a victory in the Poinsettia Bowl. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Owens set school records this fall for passing yards per attempt (10.6), yards per completion (20.6), passing yards per attempt in a career (10.5) and total offense yards per play in a career (6.0). Owens finished with 1,009 rushing yards during his career, which earned him the school's Joe Bellino Award, which is presented to the varsity football player of the graduating class who amassed the most career rushing yards.

The allegations come amid heightened scrutiny at the military service academies over issues of sexual assault and sexual harassment. That is a response to reports by female cadets at the Air Force Academy of extensive problems in 2003.