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| {{short description|United States Army general}} | |||
| {{Recentism|date=June 2021}} | |||
| {{Infobox military person | {{Infobox military person | ||
| | name =James Grazioplene | | name =James Grazioplene | ||
| | image = James Grazioplene portrait.jpg | | image = BG James J. Grazioplene portrait.jpg | ||
| | caption = | | caption = Portrait of BG Grazioplene, 1997 | ||
| | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|07|19}} | | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|07|19}} | ||
| | death_date = | | death_date = | ||
| Line 12: | Line 14: | ||
| | placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | | placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | ||
| | nickname = | | nickname = | ||
| | allegiance ={{ |
| allegiance ={{flagu|United States}} | ||
| | branch = ] | | branch = ] | ||
| | serviceyears = 1972–2005 | | serviceyears = 1972–2005 | ||
| | rank = ]{{efn|Grazioplene retired as a ] in 2005, but his rank was subsequently reduced in 2021, after his conviction for sexual battery and an investigation by the U.S. Department of Defense into the misconduct. Though the demotion was retroactive, it was entered into Grazioplene's official service record and reduces the amount he is entitled to collect in annual pension payouts.<ref name="miltimes">{{cite web|first=Todd|last=South|title=Retired Army major general reduced to second lieutenant for sex crime conviction|work=]|date=June 7, 2021|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2021/06/07/retired-army-major-general-reduced-to-second-lieutenant-for-sex-crime-conviction/|accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref>}} | |||
| | rank = ] | |||
| | unit = | | unit = | ||
| | battles = ] | | battles = ] | ||
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| |signature = | |signature = | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''James Joseph Grazioplene''' (born July 19, 1949) is a |
'''James Joseph Grazioplene''' (born July 19, 1949) is a former general officer in the ] and convicted sex offender. A graduate of the ], he was commissioned into the Army and rose to the rank of ] before retiring in January 2005. After an Army investigation that began in 2015 resulted in him being charged with incest and multiple counts of raping a minor,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-army-general-incest-rape-charges-trial-virginia-james-grazioplene-jennifer-elmore-a8703436.html|title = Retired US Army general charged with rape and incest to face trial in Virginia| website=] |date = 29 December 2018}}</ref> a decision by the ] imposed a five-year ] on rape, and caused the case to be dismissed. In December 2018, he was charged by prosecutors in ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Dan|last=Lamothe|title=Retired general faces rape charges in Virginia following dismissal of Army case|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/retired-general-faces-rape-charges-in-virginia-following-dismissal-of-army-case/2018/12/10/0c0204e2-fc97-11e8-ba87-8c7facdf6739_story.html|date=December 10, 2018|accessdate=December 18, 2018}}</ref> The judge denied Grazioplene bail and ruled that he would remain in jail until he either affirmatively proved his innocence or pled guilty, at which point he would be transferred from jail to the Commonwealth prison system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ewsocis1.courts.state.va.us/CJISWeb/MainMenu.do|title=Virginia Court Case Information}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> After his conviction, Secretary of Defense ] changed Grazioplene's retired grade from major general to second lieutenant, determining that "second lieutenant was the highest grade in which he served on active duty satisfactorily,” according to a Pentagon spokesperson.<ref>{{cite web|first=Todd|last=South|title=Retired Army major general reduced to second lieutenant for sex crime conviction. He currently lives in Georgetown, TX. He is a registered sex offender in Georgetown, Texas. |work=]|date=June 7, 2021|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2021/06/07/retired-army-major-general-reduced-to-second-lieutenant-for-sex-crime-conviction/|accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> | ||
| ==Early life and education== | ==Early life and education== | ||
| Grazioplene was born in ] and attended ].<ref>{{cite web|first=Howard B.|last=Owens|title=Retired general from Batavia accused of rape by daughter in Virginia|url=https://www.thebatavian.com/howard-b-owens/retired-general-from-batavia-accused-of-rape-by-daughter-in-virginia/526302|work=The Batavian|date=December 17, 2018|accessdate=December 18, 2018}}</ref> |
Grazioplene was born in ], and attended ].<ref name="Owens">{{cite web|first=Howard B.|last=Owens|title=Retired general from Batavia accused of rape by daughter in Virginia|url=https://www.thebatavian.com/howard-b-owens/retired-general-from-batavia-accused-of-rape-by-daughter-in-virginia/526302|work=The Batavian|date=December 17, 2018|accessdate=December 18, 2018}}</ref> | ||
| In 1967, he received an appointment to the ] from Congressman ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Two from Batavia Among West Point Nominations Advanced by Rep. Conable|date=January 18, 1967|page=25}}</ref> While at West Point, Grazioplene designed the class of 1971's crest, which adorns the ] of all the cadets who graduated that year.<ref>{{cite book|title=Howitzer, 1971|publisher=]|year=1971|page=464}}</ref> | In 1967, he received an appointment to the ] from Congressman ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Two from Batavia Among West Point Nominations Advanced by Rep. Conable|date=January 18, 1967|page=25}}</ref> While at West Point, Grazioplene designed the class of 1971's crest, which adorns the ] of all the cadets who graduated that year.<ref>{{cite book|title=Howitzer, 1971|publisher=]|year=1971|page=464}}</ref> | ||
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| ==Military career== | ==Military career== | ||
| ===Assignments=== | ===Assignments=== | ||
| In |
In June 1971,<ref>Howitzer, 1971. United States Military Academy. 1971. p. 464.</ref> Grazioplene was commissioned as a ] in the ] of the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Deputy Commanding General Brigadier General James Grazioplene|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000531200901/http://www.knox.army.mil/school/dcg.htm|archive-date=May 31, 2000|url=http://www.knox.army.mil:80/school/dcg.htm|work=knox.army.mil|accessdate=December 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He served until January 2005, retiring at the rank of ]. | ||
| After |
After his conviction, Secretary of Defense ] changed Grazioplene's retired grade from major general to second lieutenant, determining that "second lieutenant was the highest grade in which he served on active duty satisfactorily,” according to a Pentagon spokesperson.<ref name="miltimes"/> | ||
| ===Awards and decorations=== | ===Awards and decorations=== | ||
| Line 63: | Line 65: | ||
| |] (with ] 2) | |] (with ] 2) | ||
| |} | |} | ||
| ==Gallery== | |||
| <gallery> | |||
| BG James J. Grazioplene portrait.jpg|BG Grazioplene in 1997 | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| ==Child molestation conviction== | ==Child molestation conviction== | ||
| Grazioplene's daughter, Jennifer Elmore, first reported to Army officials in 2015 that her father had repeatedly molested and raped her throughout her childhood. The military launched an investigation and found enough evidence to move toward a trial in 2017. Grazioplene was indicted by a grand jury in Prince William County on three counts of rape, incest, and indecent liberties following a four-month investigation. Jennifer Elmore's mother and the retired major general's wife, Ann Marie Grazioplene's letters to a relative detailing how she had found her husband preparing to sexually molest her daughter were used by the prosecution as evidence of the crimes. Two weeks before the trial was set to begin a top military appeals court found a five-year statute of limitations existed for sexual assault in the military if the assault occurred before 2006. The Supreme Court has accepted a Justice Department appeal to review that decision. Grazioplene pleaded guilty to one charge of aggravated sexual battery in exchange for 20 years of probation. |
Grazioplene's daughter, Jennifer Elmore, first reported to Army officials in 2015 that her father had repeatedly molested and raped her throughout her childhood. The military launched an investigation and found enough evidence to move toward a trial in 2017. Grazioplene was indicted by a grand jury in Prince William County on three counts of rape, incest, and indecent liberties following a four-month investigation. Jennifer Elmore's mother and the retired major general's wife, Ann Marie Grazioplene's letters to a relative detailing how she had found her husband preparing to sexually molest her daughter were used by the prosecution as evidence of the crimes. Two weeks before the trial was set to begin a top military appeals court found a five-year statute of limitations existed for sexual assault in the military if the assault occurred before 2006. The Supreme Court has accepted a Justice Department appeal to review that decision. On July 8, 2020, Grazioplene pleaded guilty to one charge of aggravated sexual battery in exchange for 20 years of probation.<ref name=pleadeal /> As part of the plea deal, he was also released from prison after being incarcerated for 18 months.<ref name=pleadeal>{{cite news|url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/07/08/retired-general-accepts-plea-deal-avoids-more-jail-time-rape-case.html|title=Retired General Accepts Plea Deal, Avoids More Jail Time in Rape Case|publisher=Military.com|date=July 8, 2021|accessdate=November 8, 2021}}</ref> James and Ann Marie Grazioplene remain married.<ref name="Owens"/> | ||
| In June 2021, Secretary of Defense ] determined that the last rank Grazioplene satisfactorily served in was second lieutenant. He then demoted Grazioplene to that rank, reducing his retirement pay.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kalmbacher |first1=Colin |title='He Put Me on a Washing Machine and Pleasured Himself While Molesting Me': Retired Army General Demoted After Conviction for Sexually Assaulting His Daughter Starting When She Was 3 |url=https://lawandcrime.com/crime/he-put-me-on-a-washing-machine-and-pleasured-himself-while-molesting-me-retired-army-general-demoted-after-conviction-for-sexually-assaulting-his-daughter-starting-when-she-was-3/ |access-date=June 9, 2021 |date=June 8, 2021}}</ref> | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| {{notelist}} | |||
| == References == | == References == | ||
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| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 11:03, 2 December 2024
United States Army general | This article appears to be slanted towards recent events. Please try to keep recent events in historical perspective and add more content related to non-recent events. (June 2021) |
| James Grazioplene | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of BG Grazioplene, 1997 | |
| Birth name | James Joseph Grazioplene |
| Born | (1949-07-19) July 19, 1949 (age 75) Batavia, New York, U.S. |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1972–2005 |
| Rank | Second lieutenant |
| Battles / wars | Iraq War |
| Awards |  Legion of Merit Meritorious Service Medal (3) Commendation Medal (2) |
James Joseph Grazioplene (born July 19, 1949) is a former general officer in the United States Army and convicted sex offender. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, he was commissioned into the Army and rose to the rank of major general before retiring in January 2005. After an Army investigation that began in 2015 resulted in him being charged with incest and multiple counts of raping a minor, a decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces imposed a five-year statute of limitations on rape, and caused the case to be dismissed. In December 2018, he was charged by prosecutors in Prince William County, Virginia. The judge denied Grazioplene bail and ruled that he would remain in jail until he either affirmatively proved his innocence or pled guilty, at which point he would be transferred from jail to the Commonwealth prison system. After his conviction, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin changed Grazioplene's retired grade from major general to second lieutenant, determining that "second lieutenant was the highest grade in which he served on active duty satisfactorily,” according to a Pentagon spokesperson.
Early life and education
Grazioplene was born in Batavia, New York, and attended Notre Dame High School.
In 1967, he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy from Congressman Barber Conable. While at West Point, Grazioplene designed the class of 1971's crest, which adorns the class rings of all the cadets who graduated that year.
Military career
Assignments
In June 1971, Grazioplene was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Armor Branch of the United States Army. He served until January 2005, retiring at the rank of major general.
After his conviction, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin changed Grazioplene's retired grade from major general to second lieutenant, determining that "second lieutenant was the highest grade in which he served on active duty satisfactorily,” according to a Pentagon spokesperson.
Awards and decorations
|
Senior Parachutist Badge |
|
|
Legion of Merit |
|
Meritorious Service Medal (with two bronze oak leaf clusters) |
|
|
Army Commendation Medal (with one bronze oak leaf cluster) |
|
Army Achievement Medal |
 
|
National Defense Service Medal (with two bronze service stars) |
|
Army Service Ribbon |
 
|
Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral 2) |
Child molestation conviction
Grazioplene's daughter, Jennifer Elmore, first reported to Army officials in 2015 that her father had repeatedly molested and raped her throughout her childhood. The military launched an investigation and found enough evidence to move toward a trial in 2017. Grazioplene was indicted by a grand jury in Prince William County on three counts of rape, incest, and indecent liberties following a four-month investigation. Jennifer Elmore's mother and the retired major general's wife, Ann Marie Grazioplene's letters to a relative detailing how she had found her husband preparing to sexually molest her daughter were used by the prosecution as evidence of the crimes. Two weeks before the trial was set to begin a top military appeals court found a five-year statute of limitations existed for sexual assault in the military if the assault occurred before 2006. The Supreme Court has accepted a Justice Department appeal to review that decision. On July 8, 2020, Grazioplene pleaded guilty to one charge of aggravated sexual battery in exchange for 20 years of probation. As part of the plea deal, he was also released from prison after being incarcerated for 18 months. James and Ann Marie Grazioplene remain married.
In June 2021, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin determined that the last rank Grazioplene satisfactorily served in was second lieutenant. He then demoted Grazioplene to that rank, reducing his retirement pay.
Notes
- Grazioplene retired as a major general in 2005, but his rank was subsequently reduced in 2021, after his conviction for sexual battery and an investigation by the U.S. Department of Defense into the misconduct. Though the demotion was retroactive, it was entered into Grazioplene's official service record and reduces the amount he is entitled to collect in annual pension payouts.
References
- ^ South, Todd (June 7, 2021). "Retired Army major general reduced to second lieutenant for sex crime conviction". Army Times. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- "Retired US Army general charged with rape and incest to face trial in Virginia". Independent.co.uk. 29 December 2018.
- Lamothe, Dan (December 10, 2018). "Retired general faces rape charges in Virginia following dismissal of Army case". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- "Virginia Court Case Information".
- South, Todd (June 7, 2021). "Retired Army major general reduced to second lieutenant for sex crime conviction. He currently lives in Georgetown, TX. He is a registered sex offender in Georgetown, Texas". Army Times. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- ^ Owens, Howard B. (December 17, 2018). "Retired general from Batavia accused of rape by daughter in Virginia". The Batavian. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- "Two from Batavia Among West Point Nominations Advanced by Rep. Conable". January 18, 1967. p. 25.
- Howitzer, 1971. United States Military Academy. 1971. p. 464.
- Howitzer, 1971. United States Military Academy. 1971. p. 464.
- "Deputy Commanding General Brigadier General James Grazioplene". knox.army.mil. Archived from the original on May 31, 2000. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- ^ "Retired General Accepts Plea Deal, Avoids More Jail Time in Rape Case". Military.com. July 8, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- Kalmbacher, Colin (June 8, 2021). "'He Put Me on a Washing Machine and Pleasured Himself While Molesting Me': Retired Army General Demoted After Conviction for Sexually Assaulting His Daughter Starting When She Was 3". Retrieved June 9, 2021.