DA: Marines at Fort Sill had sex with girl, 12 - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

DA: Marines at Fort Sill had sex with girl, 12

A Marine in training at Fort Sill, Okla., has been charged with first-degree rape in connection with a relationship with a 12-year-old girl that is expected to lead to charges against at least two other Marines, authorities said.

Lance Cpl. Logan Byron Combs, 19, was arraigned Wednesday in Comanche County Court in Oklahoma, with bail set at $30,000. The charge was filed in connection with a series of parties that Marines allegedly attended with the girl and a woman whose husband is deployed to Iraq, said District Attorney Fred Smith.

That woman, Amy Rivera, 33, of Fletcher, Okla., was charged Monday with procuring a child for lewdness or other indecent acts. It was unclear which branch of service her husband belongs to.

Authorities said Rivera befriended the group of Marines after her husband deployed, supplying them with alcohol and partying with them regularly. She began bringing the girl to parties with them in March, with several Marines having sex with her until recently, Smith said.

Detective Nancy Lombardo, who is spearheading the local investigation for the Lawton Police Department, said up to 20 Marines could be involved, although many of them were merely witnesses. Two civilians also could face charges, but police would not go into details, citing the open investigation.

“We’re working on more arrests as we speak,” Lombardo said.

Local authorities have enlisted the help of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Army’s Criminal Investigative Command to find other suspects, who have since rotated out of Fort Sill to other commands, Lombardo said. No soldiers are expected to be charged.

Fort Sill is used by the Corps as a training facility for artillerymen. Combs joined the Corps in September 2008, and is currently listed as a “0800” basic artilleryman, said Maj. Shawn Haney, a spokesman for Manpower & Reserve Affairs.

Army officials at Fort Sill referred questions to an officer with Quantico, Va.-based Marine Corps Training Command, which oversees MOS training. First Lt. Joy Crabaugh said the Corps is cooperating with the investigation.