Marine Corps prosecutors announced Saturday that a second class of Marine recruits may have been subjected to criminally-abusive methods by drill instructors at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.
New charges have been filed, and a special court martial ordered, against Sgt. Mark A. Delarosa, an MCRD drill instructor, a spokeswoman said. She said the new charges are unrelated to an incident revealed a month ago, when a sergeant was charged with 225 counts of violating military law.
Delarosa faces eight counts of violating a general order, seven counts of assault, four counts of making a false official statement, two counts of provoking speech, and one count of cruelty and maltreatment.
His court martial hearing Monday will come moments after Sgt. Brian M.Wendel will be arraigned in connection with the abuse allegations that were made public one month ago, Lasica said. He faces charges of assault, dereliction of duty, maltreatment, making a false statement, concealing serious offenses and damaging personal property.
The North County Times reported that Wendel's prosecution stems from actions by a team of drill instructors that includes Sgt. Jerrod Glass, was arraigned last month on 225 counts of abusing recruits.
Wendel and Glass were on the same team of four drill instructors. Depot commander Brig. Gen. Angela Salinas said a third instructor will also face charges, and the fourth has been administratively punished but absolved of criminal offense, the newspaper reported.
