Military sex offenders rarely punished, while victims are discharged

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/military/article/Military-sex-offenders-rarely-punished-while-4526272.php

Military sex offenders rarely punished, while victims are discharged
By Karisa King, Staff Writer
Updated 6:13 pm, Sunday, May 19, 2013

Marine 2nd Lt. Elle Helmer woke up on a cold floor, lost and surrounded by darkness. Her body screamed with pain, her underwear had been removed and she tasted blood in her mouth. She could hear someone else in the room with her, breathing slowly.

Memories from the past few hours flashed through her mind as she crawled toward a doorway for light. On orders from her command on March 16, 2006, Helmer had joined her fellow officers for a St. Patrick's Day pub run, a night of bar-hopping that ended across the street from the prestigious Marine Barracks Washington, where she was in charge of public affairs.

A major followed Helmer out of the last bar and summoned the petite 25-year-old to his office, saying he needed to speak with her.

As soon as they entered the office, he shut the door and kissed her. She pushed him away and made it halfway out the door when he caught her arm and yanked her back into the room so hard she tripped and went flying forward.