Coast Guardsman Sentenced to 7 Years Confinement for Sexual Assault

A U.S. Coast Guardsman was sentenced in Alameda to seven years of confinement Friday for sexually assaulting a crewmate while moored in Tahiti earlier this year, according to the Coast Guard. Seaman Koda Harpole was sentenced and dishonorably discharged at Coast Guard Base Alameda for the Feb. 27 assault aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star.

The Polar Star, based in Seattle, was making a port of call in Pape’ete, Tahiti, when Harpole entered a woman crewmate’s quarters without permission and sexually assaulted her while she slept, Coast Guard officials said. The victim reported the assault after the vessel left Pape’ete and it returned to port. She was taken back to the U.S. for medical treatment and to be interviewed by investigators.

In the meantime, Harpole was reassigned to Seattle, Coast Guard officials said. Harpole will serve his seven-year sentence at the U.S. Naval Consolidated Brig in Miramar in Southern California.

By Bay City News

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