Marines to Try Stufflebeam for Fraternization

Staff Sgt. Robert S. Stufflebeam, a former Marine embassy guard, has been ordered to stand trial on charges of improper fraternization with Soviet women while stationed in Moscow, the Pentagon said today.

The decision to order the court-martial of Stufflebeam, 25, of Bloomington, Ill., was made by the commanding general at the Quantico, Va., Marine Base, the Pentagon said.

Stufflebeam, who worked at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow during much of the same period as another guard who has been charged with espionage, will stand trial on nine charges, the Pentagon said.

Also Accused of Lying

The charges range from violating standing orders involving fraternization to making “false official statements” and lying about his conduct under oath.

If convicted on all nine counts, Stufflebeam could be sentenced to a maximum 14 1/2 years in prison, a dishonorable discharge, loss of all pay and allowances, and a reduction in rank to private.

No date has been set for the start of the court-martial.

Unlike Sgt. Clayton J. Lonetree, the Moscow guard who is scheduled to go on trial July 22, Stufflebeam has never been accused of espionage. He was arrested and charged, however, as a result of the continuing investigation of Lonetree’s activities.

Most Serious Charges Dropped

The corps has dropped the most explosive charges against Lonetree, that he escorted Soviet agents through the embassy building late at night. Lonetree still is accused of passing classified information to the Russians.

Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen, the commander at Quantico, had wide authority to amend the charges against Stufflebeam or to order other disciplinary sanctions short of a court-martial.

Stufflebeam is accused of meeting Soviet women on three different occasions at various hotel bars while stationed in Moscow and, in each instance, of leaving the bar to travel to an apartment to have sex.

The charges do not specify whether different women were involved in each of the incidents, but allege the incidents occurred in the summer and fall of 1985.