Without proof, military targets man assumed to be gay

Lack of Don't Ask Don't Tell evidence doesn't stop prosecution.

A decorated soldier with an exemplary service record may have been targeted for dismissal by his Army superiors because they think that he is gay.

by Julie A. Weisberg
After enduring months of homophobic harassment and slurs, a decorated soldier with an exemplary service record may have been targeted for dismissal by his Army superiors because they think that he is gay. PFC Christopher Mastromarino, pictured, a military policeman and member of the Army's prestigious Old Guard -- a regiment that serves as an honor guard at White House functions, services at Arlington Cemetery and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as well as security at private functions for top Pentagon officials in Washington, D.C. -- was court-martialed in May after indecent assault charges were filed against him in February.
The charges alleged that Mastromarino sexually harassed other male soldiers in his unit with unwanted touching and verbal comments. He was ultimately convicted of three counts of simple assault. The military court's ruling, however, has yet to be approved by the regiment's commanding general, and Mastromarino has appealed the decision.
But the Maryland native told PageOneQ during a recent interview that he is innocent of the charges. And that the prosecution's case was filled with conflicting testimony, here-say and rumors, and a questionable timeline.
In addition, according to sworn testimony during the trial, two prosecution witnesses said that they did not consider the physical contact between themselves and Mastromarino to be an assault, although the command chose to bring those charges forward against him.

"You are supposed to have some kind of credible evidence," Mastromarino said. "That leads me to believe that they were on some kind of agenda." After requesting interviews with Mastromarino's regimental commander, as well as his equal opportunity officer, PageOneQ was told by The Old Guard's public affairs office that Army officials cannot comment on "a pending case." Lack of Don't Ask Don't Tell evidence doesn't stop prosecution.