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March 10, 2006

Soldiers arraigned in gay sex scandal

Two of the three 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers from Fort Bragg, N.C., who were charged with having sex for money on a gay porn Web site were arraigned this week, reports the news Web site Fayetteville Online. Pfc. Wesley K. Mitten was arraigned on Monday, and Pvt. Kagen B. Mullen was arraigned on Tuesday. Both pleaded not guilty. Their cases were referred by the 82nd to special courts-martial.

The courts-martial were scheduled for April, but a specific date was not set, said Master Sgt. Christopher J. Fletcher, a division spokesman. The third paratrooper, Spc. Richard T. Ashley, is awaiting arraignment, Fletcher said. No date was given.

All three soldiers were charged with pandering, wrongfully engaging in sexual acts over the Internet for money, and sodomy, the division said in a statement last month. Mullen also was charged with adultery.

Four other soldiers received nonjudicial punishment for the same offenses. The Army is not required to disclose the names of soldiers punished under Article 15. The four unnamed soldiers were reduced to private, forfeited half a month’s pay for two months, performed extra work, and were restricted to Fort Bragg for 45 days. The Army is seeking discharges for all seven men.

According to Fayetteville Online, the porn Web site is registered to Dennis Ashe, owner of three Fayetteville-based production companies—Active Duty Productions, Pink Bird Media, and New Fame Media. The site’s content is protected by a password and is not accepting new members from North Carolina. (Advocate.com)

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