The top Army prosecutor for sexual assault cases has been suspended after being accused of sexual assault.
Sources told the paper Stars and Stripes that an Army lawyer has alleged that Lieutenant Colonel Joseph “Jay” Morse attempted to kiss and grope her against her will. The alleged assault reportedly took place in a hotel room at a 2011 sexual assault legal conference in Alexandria, Va.
Morse is notable as the lead prosecutor in the case against Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, who pleaded guilty at Joint Base Lewis-McChord last year to the mass murder of 16 Afghan civilians.
The report in Stars and Stripes says Morse is suspended pending an investigation. An Army official who was not authorized to speak publicly confirmed the investigation to the paper.
No charges have been filed.
Earlier this year the Pentagon reported a 50-percent increase in reports by service members of sexual assault from the previous year.
