Coronavirus symptoms delays sentencing for midshipman in Naval Academy sexual assault case

By

The Associated Press

A federal judge in Baltimore has ruled that it is premature for her to decide whether to block the U.S. Naval Academy from expelling a midshipman for posting crude messages on social media. U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander agreed Tuesday to dismiss Chase Standage’s lawsuit and denied his request for a preliminary injunction allowing him to graduate from the academy. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A judge has postponed sentencing for a U.S. Naval Academy midshipman found guilty of sexual assault charges because the defendant was showing signs of a COVID-19 infection.

The Capital Gazette reported that Midshipman Third Class Nixon Keago’s sentencing hearing is scheduled to resume on Aug. 14. A seven-member panel that is the military equivalent of a jury found him guilty on Wednesday of two counts of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, burglary and obstruction of justice.

Keago’s sentencing hearing started Thursday with defense and government attorneys questioning witnesses. The panel was expected to hear closing arguments on Friday before starting deliberations.

A prosecutor, Lt. Cmdr. Paul LaPlante, said Keago broke into the rooms of three female midshipmen while they were intoxicated and asleep.