The Army inspector basic’s noncommissioned officer of the 12 months for 2019 is dealing with a basic court-martial on expenses associated to intercourse crimes, based on court docket paperwork.
Grasp Sgt. Christopher Dehn, 37, is about to be arraigned June 5 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state on 4 counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual harassment, and different expenses associated to obstructing justice and failure to obey orders and rules.
In 2019, Dehn was chosen because the I Corps Inspector Normal Noncommissioned Officer of the 12 months.
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Army.com tried to achieve out to Dehn’s lawyer however was not capable of make contact earlier than publication. The Army’s Workplace of Particular Trial Counsel famous that Dehn’s docket doesn’t comprise data on his protection lawyer, and suggested Army.com that they might ask the prosecutorial group to contact Dehn’s lawyer.
Inspector basic places of work function “the eyes, ears, voice, and conscience of the Army,” based on the service. Service members working in IG places of work “conduct thorough, goal and neutral inspections, assessments and investigations” and “advise and help Army leaders to take care of Army values, readiness and effectiveness within the promotion of well-being, good order and self-discipline.”
IG places of work are unfold all through the federal authorities and are broadly meant to assist detect fraud, waste and abuse and authorized violations, and to assist promote bureaucratic effectivity.
They don’t typically deal with allegations of undesirable sexual contact, a job that falls to the army’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response places of work and regulation enforcement. Nevertheless, there are particular exceptions below which an IG workplace might examine sexual assault or harassment.
Sexual assault and sexual harassment proceed to be a prime difficulty for the Army and the army on the whole. Nevertheless, for the primary time in nearly 10 years, current knowledge has proven a big lower within the variety of troops who say they’ve skilled undesirable sexual contact.
In line with his LinkedIn web page, Dehn mentioned he was named the 2019 Pacific Regional Inspector Normal of the 12 months. His web page additionally notes that he previously served as an Army Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention, or SHARP, sufferer’s advocate for the first Infantry Division between 2012 and 2014, whereas stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.
In an electronic mail to Army.com, the I Corps public affairs workplace famous that Dehn is a chemical, organic, radiological and nuclear specialist with I Corps; has been stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord since January 2018; and has served for nearly 20 years.
In line with the assertion, his private awards embrace two Meritorious Service Medals, six Army Commendation Medals, 11 Army Achievement Medals, 13 Certificates of Achievement and one Meritorious Unit Commendation.
Upon receiving the 2019 I Corps inspector basic NCO of the 12 months award, Dehn famous that the essay element of the competitors was a key a part of being chosen because the winner.
“The purpose of my essay was to indicate the significance of the inspector basic and the way they will enhance readiness all through the corps,” Dehn mentioned on the time. “My piece is looking for troopers.”
— Kelsey Baker is a graduate pupil at Northwestern’s Medill College of Journalism, and a former active-duty Marine. Attain her on X at @KelsBBaker or bakerkelsey@protonmail.com.
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