Guard Faces Trial Over Contacts With Soviets

A Marine staff sergeant who formerly commanded U.S. Embassy guards in Moscow, including two arrested on espionage charges, will be court-martialed for alleged improper contacts with Soviet women, the Defense Department announced Thursday.

Staff Sgt. Robert S. Stufflebeam, 25, of Bloomington, Ill., was ordered to trial by Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen, commanding general of the Quantico, Va., Marine Base.

Petersen made his decision after reviewing the record of Stufflebeam’s pretrial hearings, which concluded June 8, the Pentagon said. No date has been set for the start of the court-martial.

The decision to try Stufflebeam is the latest chapter in a sex and spying scandal that enveloped the Marine Corps last January.

Admits Evidence Lacking

Last Friday, the corps dropped all charges against one of two Marines accused of espionage, Cpl. Arnold Bracy, admitting it lacked sufficient evidence to prosecute.

The first Marine arrested in the case, Sgt. Clayton J. Lonetree, still faces a court-martial on an espionage charge. But the corps also was forced by lack of evidence to drop its most explosive accusation against him--that he escorted Soviet agents through the embassy building in Moscow.

Stufflebeam served in Moscow for a year--from May 10, 1985, to May 24, 1986--overlapping the tours of Lonetree and Bracy. He had previously worked as a guard at two other U.S. embassies.

Before Stufflebeam left for a new assignment at Camp Pendleton, Calif., he was the No. 2 man in charge of the Moscow security detachment.

The Pentagon has repeatedly stressed there was no evidence suggesting that Stufflebeam was aware of Lonetree’s alleged activities or was involved in espionage himself. Stufflebeam was arrested in late March, however, as a result of the continuing investigation of Lonetree’s activities.

Faces Nine Charges

The Pentagon said Stufflebeam would stand trial on nine different charges, ranging from violating standing orders involving fraternization to making “false official statements” and lying about his conduct under oath.

Stufflebeam is specifically accused of meeting Soviet women on three occasions at hotel bars in Moscow that were off limits to the Marines, and in each instance of leaving the bar to travel to an apartment.

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