Sailor Who Alleged Abuse Is Convicted

Sailor Kimberly Bowles, one of four women who filed sexual harassment allegations against her supervisors, was found guilty of two out of four charges brought against her by the Navy on Thursday.

At a summary court martial at China Lake Navy base in the Mojave Desert, Bowles, 25, was found guilty of showing disrespect for a commanding officer and of taking more than $1,200 of monthly housing assistance money she was not entitled to, said Capt. Craig Weideman, commanding officer of the air squadron known as VX-9.

Bowles, who was stationed at Point Mugu Navy base when the sex harassment allegations were made, was also charged with leaving the base without permission and fraudulently using a phone calling card, but she was found not guilty on both counts.

Bowles had said that the Navy was bringing charges against her in order to discredit her and punish her for making sexual harassment allegations, a charge the Navy denies.

Bowles had accused several noncommissioned officers of grabbing her buttocks and making lewd comments. None of those accused were ever charged.

She is scheduled to begin a 10-day jail sentence Monday for the two offenses and will be discharged from the Navy after her time is served, Weideman said. She will also be fined two-thirds of her monthly salary.

Weideman said he is recommending to commanding officers that Bowles receive an other than honorable discharge.