Two U.S. Soldiers Arraigned In Germany Sex-Abuse Cases

MANNHEIM, Germany - Two U.S. soldiers were arraigned today on charges of raping, sodomizing or harassing 18 female troops in one of the most serious sex-abuse cases for American forces in Europe.

The military judge, U.S. Army Col. Peter Brownback, automatically entered not-guilty pleas for Sgt. 1st Class Julius Davis and Sgt. Paul Fuller after defense lawyers said they had not had enough time to study all the evidence.

Brownback then sent Davis and Fuller back to their units, freeing them from a military stockade where they have been kept since their arrest Feb. 8, but telling them their commanders will likely restrict their movements.

Brownback scheduled Davis' court-martial to start on June 2 and Fuller's on June 9.

Davis, of the 440th Signal Battalion in Darmstadt, and Fuller, assigned to the 77th Maintenance Company in Babenhausen, are accused of sexual attacks and harassment at the Darmstadt military-training center.

Both men are also accused of intimidating witnesses during a five-month investigation of charges by 21 women that they were sexually attacked or harassed at the Darmstadt training center.

Another suspect, Staff Sgt. Robert Robinson of the 596th Maintenance Company in Darmstadt, has been charged with fraternization and mistreatment of a female soldier at the training center. No decision has been made on whether he will be

court-martialed.