Five solidiers from the 10th Mountain Division were arrested on charges of raping two women outside Fort Polk, Louisiana. Police say the five soldiers drugged them women's drinks then had sex with them while they were "incapacitated." Photo by Andri Tambunan / AFP via Getty Images.
This article was originally published on Military.com Dec. 2, 2022. Follow Military.com on Twitter.
Five junior-enlisted soldiers stationed in Fort Polk, Louisiana, were arrested this week, facing rape charges, Military.com confirmed with Army officials Friday.
The soldiers, all infantryman with the 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, which is based at Fort Polk, are accused of being involved in the drugging and raping of two women on Nov. 24.
"The Vernon Parish Sheriff's office is conducting an on-going investigation regarding the circumstances," a Fort Polk spokesperson told Military.com in a statement. "The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division is providing support. The Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk leadership continue to work closely with law enforcement officials."
Police say one of the two women attacked was "acquainted" with one of the soldiers who showed up to her Rosepine, Louisiana, home just outside of Fort Polk. That woman told authorities the soldier showed up with the other four soldiers the two women didn't know.
Both women said they felt unwell quickly after drinking with the soldiers and felt exaggerated impacts of intoxication and suspected their drinks were spiked, according to a statement from local authorities. Police say once the women were "incapacitated," each soldier "engaged in non-consensual sexual contact" with both victims.
Five soldiers were arrested at Fort Polk, Louisiana on charges of raping two women. All five were infantry soldiers with the 10th Mountain Division, which maintains a brigade at Fort Polk. Photo from Fort Polk Facebook.
Law enforcement added that forensic testing on the victims showed injuries consistent with sexual assault.
The arrests have not appeared on any public-facing law enforcement databases, and therefore information on lawyers for the accused was not immediately available. As such, Military.com was unable to request comment from any representatives for the accused before publication.
The following soldiers are facing charges and are being held at the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office jail. Bond has not yet been set, according to Army officials.
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Steve Beynon is a reporter for Military.com.
