{"id":22422,"date":"2019-04-15T22:27:06","date_gmt":"2019-04-15T22:27:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/04\/15\/naval-academy-midshipman-found-not-guilty-on-sexual-assault-other-charges\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:56:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:56:42","slug":"naval-academy-midshipman-found-not-guilty-on-sexual-assault-other-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/04\/15\/naval-academy-midshipman-found-not-guilty-on-sexual-assault-other-charges\/","title":{"rendered":"Naval Academy midshipman found not guilty on sexual assault, other charges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A U.S. Naval Academy<\/a> student was found not guilty of sexual assault and obstruction of justice charges at a court-martial Friday, according to academy officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Midshipman 1st Class Michael Wallace, 23, faced the charges in connection with an alleged incident<\/a> involving a Navy reservist in Pensacola, Florida, in March 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the week-long trial, a panel of Navy and Marine Corps officers deliberated for about seven hours before delivering their verdict, according to Antoinette O\u2019Neill<\/a>, Wallace\u2019s civilian attorney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe military takes allegations of sexual assault more seriously than anywhere else, but when they also ensure throughout the process that the presumption of innocence is preserved, you have proof of a fair system,\u201d she said in an email to Navy Times. \u201cIn this case, fairness and justice succeeded.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wallace testified at the trial, O\u2019Neill said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Before he drew criminal charges, Midshipman 1st Class (senior) Michael Wallace was an Honors Operations Research major and Mandarin Chinese minor who served as the Academics Officer for 12th Company, Vice President of the USNA Finance and Investment Club and played starting forward on the Brigade\u2019s champion intramural soccer team. (U.S. Naval Academy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He was slated to graduate with the class of 2018, but his graduation was held up as the case proceeded, according to academy spokeswoman Jenny Erickson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The academy\u2019s superintendent still needs to review the trial and issue a promulgating order, which validates the court\u2019s findings, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erickson said she could not speculate on the final status of Wallace until the record is finalized, which should take place in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\t