82nd Abn. Div. Soldier charged

Paraglide

An 82nd Airborne Division Soldier is in custody at Fort Bragg for two alleged burglaries and an alleged sexual assault that occurred last December in the Ste. Mere Eglise neighborhood on Fort Bragg.

According to Maj. Brian Fickel, 82nd Abn. Div. public affairs officer, Spc. Aaron M. Pernell, an indirect fire infantryman assigned to 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne

Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Abn. Div. was charged Monday for the alleged burglaries and the alleged sexual assault.

The alleged assault occurred during one of the alleged burglaries.

Fickel stressed the importance of allowing the legal system to perform their role concerning the case.

“Specialist Pernell met with his defense counsel yesterday and this morning an officer was appointed to conduct an Article 32 hearing within the next week,” Fickel said Tuesday at a press briefing.

An Article 32 pretrial hearing is conducted to determine whether there is enough evidence to place the accused on trial.

According to special agents from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, the suspect was apprehended as a result of cooperative investigative work between U.S. Army CID and local civilian police agencies. 

According to U.S. Army CID special agents said, they are working very closely with local law enforcement officials on this case. 

Pernell, 22, and a native of Tulsa, Okla., joined the Army in March 2006 and completed initial entry training at Fort Benning, Ga. In July 2006, he was assigned to 1-325 AIR and deployed twice.

CID is asking anyone who may have information related to this case to contact the Fort Bragg CID Office at 391-3542 or the Military Police at 396-0392.  They can also email CID with information at crimetips@conus.army.mil.

Individuals wishing to remain anonymous will be honored to the degree allowable under the law, and information will also be held in the strictest confidence allowable under the law. 

Any questions regarding alleged incidents off Fort Bragg should be directed to the Fayetteville Police Department at 483-8477.