Head of Mass. National Guard faces rape allegation - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Head of Mass. National Guard faces rape allegation

Posted:
By RODRIQUE NGOWI
Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) - The commander of the Massachusetts National Guard has been suspended by Gov. Deval Patrick as the U.S. Army investigates allegations that he raped a subordinate nearly 30 years ago.

Secretary of Public Safety Mary Beth Heffernan told reporters Friday that Maj. Gen. Joseph Carter informed Patrick on Thursday he was the subject of an investigation by the Army's Criminal Investigations Division.

A spokesman for the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Va., declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

Heffernan says Patrick has placed Carter on paid leave. She says the administration was not aware of any investigation before Thursday.

The alleged rape occurred in Florida in 1984, when Carter was a lieutenant and the alleged victim was a private. Carter has denied the charge.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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