PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Coast Guard Atlantic Area is scheduled to convene a general court-martial at the Coast Guard Legal Service Command Norfolk Tuesday for a Coast Guardsman accused of assault consummated by a battery, aggravated sexual contact and failure to obey a general order or regulation.
Senior Chief Petty Officer James R. Hamilton, 33, is accused of the following violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice:
- Article 80 – Attempts – aggravated sexual contact
- Article 92 – Failure to obey order or regulation
- Article 120 – Aggravated sexual contact
- Article 128 – Assault; assault consummated by a battery
Vice Adm. William Lee, commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area, referred Hamilton’s case to general court-martial on July 24, 2014, following an Article 32 hearing completed on June 1, 2014, which is similar to a grand jury hearing.
The charges follow an investigation, which revealed that Hamilton was engaged in a broad spectrum of sexually related misconduct while assigned to Coast Guard Cutter Northland, which is home-ported in Portsmouth.
Hamilton is an operations specialist and has transferred from the Cutter Northland and is temporarily assigned to Coast Guard Base Portsmouth.
Charges are accusations against the individual and the accused is presumed innocent. The Coast Guard is committed to a fair proceeding in compliance with the UCMJ. It is Coast Guard policy to withhold the identity of reporting victims.
The general court- martial will be open to the public. Members of the media interested in attending should contact the Coast Guard Atlantic Area Public Affairs Office at 757.398.6608.