Thursday, July 24, 2008

USCGA Cadets In Brawl At Strip Club Early Morning.

Two Coast Guard Academy cadets were arrested early Sunday morning 20 July 2008 by Groton Town Police. The police refused to provide details concerning the incident that prompted the charges.

Female cadet Leanna R. Minton, 21, of Antoich, Calif., was charged at 3:30 a.m. with third-degree assault and breach of peace. Male cadet Keenan R. Prather, 21, was charged at the same time with breach of peace, according to the Groton Town police logs.

Coast Guard Public Affairs Officer Ryan Doss confirmed that the pair are cadets at the Coast Guard Academy. Coast Guard Academy officials have not receive a police report with details of the incident from Groton Town Police.

The two Coast Guard Academy cadets were arrested Sunday morning after a domestic squabble outside a strip club, police said.

The third-year cadets, Leanna R. Minton and Keenan Prather, were held overnight and presented in New London Superior Court on Monday. The prosecutor Peter A. McShane said the State of Connecticut would not be prosecuting the case.
Police said the pair were involved around 3:30 a.m. in a “domestic dispute” in the parking lot of the Gold Club on Route 12, police said.
Minton, 21, had been charged with third-degree assault and breach of peace. Prather, 21, was charged with breach of peace.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Ryan Doss said the cadets have not been suspended or expelled.

Doss said the strip club was not on a list that restricts where cadets can go. He also said that juniors and seniors are allowed to date within their own class. The Coast Guard, he said, would conduct its own internal investigation.

Anytime anybody gets in trouble off base they are subject to punishment on the military side of things,” said Doss. After the Academy has had a chance to investigate the charges, a decision will be made concerning whether action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice is warranted.

The Coast Guard Academy Commandant of Cadets will be working with local police to determine “how things will be handled,” Doss said.

According to the police logs, both students are being held on $10,000 bond.