Investigative hearing starts in Alaska for Coast Guard officer charged with indecent acts

Coast Guard sex charge hearing starts in Alaska

FORT RICHARDSON, Alaska — A military investigative hearing began Tuesday for a senior Coast Guard commander facing numerous charges, including indecent acts and conduct unbecoming of an officer.

Capt. Herbert M. Hamilton III, 48, is charged with 31 violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. He will have the right to question witnesses at the formal hearing at Fort Richardson in Anchorage. The hearing is expected to last no more than two days.

The alleged offenses filed in November are sexual improprieties involving multiple women, including enlisted Coast Guard personnel in numerous locations around Alaska and outside the state.

Military charging documents state that Hamilton, who is known as Mark, used a government cell phone to send and receive sexual and amorous text messages, committed sodomy with some of the women, downloaded and stored sexually explicit material on his government-issued laptop, and photographed sexual acts.

Hamilton also is accused of fraud, adultery, indecent language and soliciting another to commit an offense. The alleged offenses cover a period between November 2004 and shortly before Hamilton was relieved of his duties as the Coast Guard’s commander for the Anchorage sector in May.

At the time, the Coast Guard cited alleged misconduct and a loss of confidence in Hamilton’s ability to command.

During the Coast Guard’s preliminary investigation, Hamilton was temporarily assigned to the staff of the Seventeenth Coast Guard District, which covers Alaska.

Officials have said an investigating officer at the hearing will look into the allegations and recommend how the case should proceed. Possibilities include trying those or other charges at a general court-martial or dropping the charges altogether.

The final determination will be made by Rear Admiral Christopher Colvin, district commander.

Hamilton took the Anchorage position in August 2008 and previously served as deputy commander for Coast Guard operations in the Los Angeles area.