Coast Guardsman Convicted of Harassing Female Cadets

A Two Rock U.S. Coast Guard officer responsible for the training and “indoctrination” of young cadets was convicted Wednesday of mistreatment of subordinates and sentenced to 12 months confinement in a military brig.

According to the military court, Chief Petty Officer Carlos Resendez abused his position of authority by sexually harassing female officers and by having sexual relations with a recruit.

The crimes occurred in the spring and summer of 2010 in Cape May, New Jersey, just prior to Resendez being transferred to the Petaluma facility.

In Petaluma, Resendez continued serving as a supervisor and indoctrination instructor. But when allegations against him surfaced in April 2011, brought forward by two female officers, Resendez was reassigned to administrative duties.

An investigation revealed two more victims who said they were sexually harassed by Resendez. Resendez will spend 12 months in a consolidated brig facility in Chesapeake, Virginia and be discharged from the U.S. Coast Guard upon his release.

Capt. Bill Kelly, the commanding officer of Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, New Jersey, said that the facility has gone to “great lengths” to prevent something similar from happening in the future.

That includes improving recruit standard operating procedures, providing more training and oversight for company commanders and educating recruits about Coast Guard civil rights, sexual harassment and sexual assault policies.

“We will not tolerate any actions that violate that trust and confidence or the high moral and ethical standards we demand of our training staff,” Capt. Kelly said in a statement.