Petty Officer Found Guilty of Sexual Assault and Child Abuse | Article

FORT SILL, Oklahoma – On Nov. 8, Staff Sgt. Maneul A. Erb, 39, was convicted of sexually assaulting a family member and sentenced to 11 years in prison by a military judge.

The abuse occurred while the victim was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, between September 2021 and September 2022, when he was 12 years old.

The investigation into this case was initiated after the victim told her friend about the abuse and the friend’s mother reported it to local law enforcement in Lawton, Oklahoma. Authorities immediately contacted the Army Department of Criminal Investigation and together they conducted a thorough investigation. investigation.

“The U.S. Army and the prosecution team have been committed to achieving justice in this case from day one,” said Maj. Wayne Janoe, the Army Special Counsel’s Office of Fourth Circuit Solicitor General. “If the mother of the victim’s best friend had not had the courage to raise the alarm to law enforcement, we may not have had the opportunity to hold the perpetrator accountable.”

Specifically, Erb was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault on a child, two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, and one count of making a false official declaration.

In addition to the prison sentence, the military judge issued Erb with a dishonorable discharge, demoting him to the rank of E-1. He will be required to register as a sex offender upon release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements.

“Army CID Special Agents work diligently to prevent and investigate serious crimes while holding accountable those who prey on children and engage in criminal conduct,” said Maria E. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge, Department of the Central Texas Field Office, Army Criminal Investigation Division. . “CID is committed to keeping Army communities safe while working closely with OSTC to increase trust and confidence in the judicial process.”

Oklahoma Interviewing Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization specializing in child forensic interviews, played a crucial role in this case by helping obtain information just days after the victim disclosed the abuse.

“We would not have achieved this conviction without their high-quality work,” Janoe said.

“Keeping these children safe requires vigilance from the entire community, and we are grateful for the opportunity to secure justice for this child so he can continue on his path to recovery,” he added.

The investigation was conducted by the Lawton Police Department and the Army CID’s Fort Sill Resident Field Agency. The case was prosecuted by Janoe and Cpt. Griffin Pardales, Staff Judge Advocate Office, U.S. Army Center of Excellence and Fired Fort Sill.

The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel consists of specially trained military attorneys, legal experts, and support staff responsible for the expert and independent prosecution of murder, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, kidnapping, and other serious crimes. Headquartered in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, OSTC has eight regional headquarters that oversee 28 field offices located throughout the country, including Europe and Korea.