Posted on 05/20/2019 8:13:06 AM PDT by robowombat
SEAL Sentenced to a Year of Confinement for Hazing Death of Logan Melgar
By: Sam LaGrone May 17, 2019 11:50 AM
A U.S. Navy SEAL pled guilty to charges related to the hazing death of Army Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar and was sentenced to one year of confinement.
On Thursday, Chief Special Warfare Operator Adam Matthews pled guilty to charges related to Melgar’s death in Mali that included conspiracy to commit assault, unlawful entry, obstruction of justice and violating orders related to hazing. He had previously been charged with murder.
Matthews admitted in court that he, along with fellow SEAL Chief Special Warfare Operator Anthony DeDolph and Force Recon Marines Gunnery Sgt. Mario Madera-Rodriguez and Staff Sgt. Kevin Maxwell, broke into Melgar’s room in the house they shared in Bamako on June 4, 2017.
The SEALs, the Marines and Melgar, an Army Green Beret, were part of the same joint special operations detachment attached to the U.S. Embassy in Bamako.
The SEALs and the Marines intended to bind Melgar and humiliate him on video as punishment for perceived slights he committed while living with the SEALs, Matthews said during the appearance before a military judge.
Those included “an incident in which Melgar was driving his motorcycle to a party at a diplomatic embassy in the capital city. Two Marines were following in another vehicle before Melgar drove off, Matthews said,” reported The Associated Press. “Matthews suggested that the Marines felt Melgar had abandoned them in an unsafe city that’s been the target of terrorist activity.”
On the night of the attack, the quartet broke down Melgar’s door with a sledgehammer and bound him with duct tape, according to investigators.
DeDolph had Melgar in a choke hold during the hazing when Melgar lost consciousness and the SEALS and Marines could not revive him, Matthews said.
“I can’t describe how sorry I am for the death of Staff Sgt. Melgar,” Matthews said, reported The AP. “I am truly sorry.”
In addition to a year in the brig, Matthews was demoted to Special Operator 2nd Class and risks a bad conduct discharge that could cost him his medical benefits. Matthews was wounded in combat and earned the Purple Heart during an action in Afghanistan.
“I am tormented by my complacency at a time when my teammates required my guidance and the situation required bold, corrective action,” Matthews said
That’s not hazing.
Saw someone somewhere can’t remember where, had harsh words for “Millennium” SEALs.
Blanket party gone wrong? I’d say it’s hazing.
Voluntary manslaughter at least.
Extremely stupid act.
Except for the bit about op fund money going into the wrong pockets.
We’ll see what the other three get.
I have been following this since the beginning.
According to several articles, the SEALs were carrying on some sort of financial shenanigans — embezzlement or theft of some sort — and Melgar refused to take part. This “hazing” incident was to be punishment or warning. He wrote earlier to his wife of his suspicions and said he’d tell her more when he got home.
They need to rot. This is not a chief Gallagher situation at all.
Strangulation is hazing..?
“In addition to a year in the brig, Matthews was demoted to Special Operator 2nd Class and risks a bad conduct discharge”
Huh? He either got the Big Chicken Dinner or he didn’t. And if he didn’t get busted to E-1, he likely didn’t get a BCD either. Reads like the reporter is ignorant of military justice matters.
It would appear Matthews may be the ‘cooperating witness’ in other trials.
If someone dies for no good reason then criminal charges are justified.
I remember when I was on Active Duty on the Air Base next door an E-9 was busted to E-1 for welding a neighbors BBQ grill with a welder at work. Seemed harsh. I figured there was more to it but who knows?
Not all of us have the same knowledge of the UCMJ that you have. Some of us behaved ourselves (or,at least,didn’t get caught) and therefore have only heard stories about Article 15s,Courts Martial and less-than-honorable discharges.
I was subjected to and later committed “hazing” of an extreme nature, but there was no question about the affection we felt, fundamentally, for the initiate. On one occasion we sent someone to the hospital and it was a long-lasting scar on our organization. It is my opinion that when hazing becomes a life-and-death potentiality it isn’t live-fire training, it isn’t job-related danger, it’s just plain stupid.
Those guys play rough and the voice of reason just didn’t show up that night.
There are many more components to this story that are not being reported. This whole affair was almost covered up and down the memory hole.
Chris Kyle wrote of this activity being very common for those new to the teams.
Mayor Pete Buttboy calls this foreplay.
30 years as a JAG gives a little perspective, I s’pose.
Colonel, USAF (ret)
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