Marine Faces Rape Charges

A Marine staff sergeant at Camp Pendleton has been charged with raping a woman subordinate while they served in Saudi Arabia, a military spokesman said Friday.

Staff Sgt. Maurice Knight, 30, is free while awaiting court-martial on charges of rape, adultery and maltreating a person under his command, according to the spokesman, Gunnery Sgt. Dave Marriott.

The native of Jacksonville, Fla., was serving with the Headquarters Battery, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, in Manifa, Saudi Arabia, on March 22 when the alleged crime occurred.

Knight is accused of demanding sex from the female Marine in exchange for not disclosing some purported misconduct on her part, Marriott said. The military is withholding the woman’s identity.

After an investigation by his unit, Knight was charged with the offenses April 26 and will undergo an Article 32 hearing, which is similar to a civilian grand jury indictment. A hearing date hasn’t been determined.