Chaplain to be court-martialed for adultery and cyberstalking

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Chaplain to be court-martialed for adultery and cyberstalking

Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Thursday, June 28, 2007

CAMP ZAMA, Japan — The Army chaplain disciplined for adultery and conduct unbecoming an officer now will face charges in a court-martial, officials said Tuesday.

The decision comes after an Article 32 hearing in May on whether to proceed with charges against Capt. Mike Myers, according to U.S. Army Japan spokesman Maj. James Crawford in an e-mail.

No trial date has been set, he said.

Myers earlier received nonjudicial punishment under Article 15, which stripped him of his chaplain duties.

Myers is now charged with five counts of cyberstalking and one count each of adultery and conduct unbecoming of an officer. The cyberstalking charges are covered under federal law, and not the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Crawford said.

During the Article 32 hearing, Joanne Ruffner, a 33-year-old Arizona woman, claimed she was romantically involved with Myers until discovering he actually was a chaplain — and married with two teenage children.

After the Army launched its investigation last fall, Ruffner testified that she received an e-mail that threatened that compromising photos of her would be posted on the Internet.

She also testified that she later discovered several e-mail accounts in her name and that photos and information about her had been posted on several adult Web sites.

Ruffner testified via telephone at the Article 32 hearing that she suspected Myers of sending the e-mail and reported it to the FBI.

After the FBI conducted an investigation into the alleged cyberstalking incidents, the Army requested that it be allowed to prosecute Myers and federal prosecutors agreed.

If convicted on all charges, Myers could face a maximum sentence of up to 27 years in prison, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and dismissal from the Army, Crawford said.