U.S. Naval Academy Removes Instructor Implicated In Misconduct

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- There's a growing scandal at the Naval Academy after a second instructor faces accusations of an inappropriate sexual relationship.

Investigator Mike Hellgren has more.

The Naval Academy tells WJZ Marine Major Michael Pretus---an instructor and mentor on campus---has been reassigned because his past behavior was not in keeping with the academy's standards. It follows a Washington Post investigation into sexual misconduct involving a colleague of Pretus, fellow instructor Marine Major Mark Thompson. Thompson was convicted of having sex with two female midshipmen. One of those same victims alleges she had sex with both men at the same time and she was shocked when she learned earlier this year that Pretus was teaching at the academy. He'd been transferred there from Louisiana after the trial, where he was a key witness on behalf of his friend.

It's a crime in the military for an officer to have any sexual contact with a midshipman.

"Who in their right mind is thinking, `You know, I want to make up this really elaborate lie, that I want the whole world to know all these intimate, embarrassing details about my life?'" the accuser said.

The Naval Academy says Pretus would not have been allowed to teach there if they'd known about the allegations. The Post reports the military's investigation into Pretus ended when he refused to cooperate and he now plans to testify in yet another probe of his friend, Major Thompson, who insists he's innocent.

"People get in binds. People make false allegations but then---once that happens---the system is supposed to be in place to sort those things out and they turned on me to try to publicly hang me in order to protect their image," Thompson said.

The Post says Pretus declined to comment on the allegations. He is being reassigned in May and faces no charges.

In the last academic year, there were 13 reports of sexual harassment at the Naval Academy and 25 reports of sexual assault.