Pubdate: Thu, 09 Aug 2001
Source: Fayetteville Observer-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2001 Fayetteville Observer-Times
Contact:  http://www.fayettevillenc.com/foto/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/150
Author: Tanya S Biank

TWO MPS TO FACE COURT-MARTIAL

Fort Bragg's commanding general on Wednesday referred drug charges against 
two military police officers to court-martial.

Spc. Robert Ybarra and Spc. Christina Nettles, both MPs in the 16th 
Military Police Brigade, will go to trial this fall, a Fort Bragg 
spokeswoman said. Dates have not been set.

Lt. Gen. Dan K. McNeill, commander of Fort Bragg and the 18th Airborne 
Corps, followed the recommendations of investigating officers and others 
following July evidence hearings for Ybarra and Nettles.

Nettles will be arraigned today. She is charged with two counts of using 
Ecstasy, obstruction of justice and dereliction of duty. She is 21 and 
serves in the 118th Military Police Company.

Ybarra will be arraigned Monday. He is charged with three counts of 
distributing Ecstasy, using Ecstasy, LSD and marijuana and communicating a 
threat.

Ybarra is 22 and is in the 65th Military Police Company.

Ybarra and Nettles face the most serious of charges among the 13 Fort Bragg 
MPs facing punishments for drug activity.

Two other MPs, Spc. Kevin Whitehead and Spc. Lisandro Grullon will be tried 
in September by a special court-martial empowered to award a bad conduct 
discharge.

Whitehead is charged with two counts of using Ecstasy and making a false 
official statement.

He is 24 and is in the 118th Military Police Company.

Grullon is charged with using Ecstasy and LSD and distributing Ecstasy.

Others charged

Grullon, who is 24, is assigned to the 42nd Military Police Detachment.

A fifth MP, whose name has not been released, refused an Article 15 
nonjudicial punishment and will also face the possibility of court-martial.

Eight others will receive lesser punishments for using Ecstasy, LSD or 
marijuana.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart