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| ==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, 30 years later, to move toward a trial in 2017. Grazioplene was indicted by a grand jury in Prince William County on three specifications each 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 was eentered as evidence. Two weeks before the trial was set to begin, as Elmore sat in a courtroom preparing with prosecutors to testify, the top military appeals court defied three decades of precedent and found a five-year statute of limitations existed for sexual assault in the military, if the assault occurred before 2006. The US 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 and his wife remain married. | 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, 30 years later, to move toward a trial in 2017. Grazioplene was indicted by a grand jury in Prince William County on three specifications each 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 was eentered as evidence. Two weeks before the trial was set to begin, as Elmore sat in a courtroom preparing with prosecutors to testify, the top military appeals court defied three decades of precedent and found a five-year statute of limitations existed for sexual assault in the military, if the assault occurred before 2006. The US 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 and his wife remain married. <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> | ||
| == References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 08:10, 10 July 2020
| James Grazioplene | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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 | Major general |
| Battles / wars | Iraq War |
| Awards |  Legion of Merit Meritorious Service Medal (3) Commendation Medal (2) |
James Joseph Grazioplene (born July 19, 1949) is a retired American military officer. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, he rose to the rank of major general in the United States Army before retiring in January 2005. After an Army investigation dating back to 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.
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 March 1972, 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.
Awards and decorations
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Senior Parachutist Badge |
|
|
Legion of Merit |
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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) |
Gallery
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BG Grazioplene in 1997
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, 30 years later, to move toward a trial in 2017. Grazioplene was indicted by a grand jury in Prince William County on three specifications each 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 was eentered as evidence. Two weeks before the trial was set to begin, as Elmore sat in a courtroom preparing with prosecutors to testify, the top military appeals court defied three decades of precedent and found a five-year statute of limitations existed for sexual assault in the military, if the assault occurred before 2006. The US 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 and his wife remain married.
References
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-army-general-incest-rape-charges-trial-virginia-james-grazioplene-jennifer-elmore-a8703436.html
- Lamothe, Dan (December 10, 2018). "Retired general faces rape charges in Virginia following dismissal of Army case". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- http://ewsocis1.courts.state.va.us/CJISWeb/MainMenu.do
- 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.
- "Deputy Commanding General Brigadier General James Grazioplene". knox.army.mil. Archived from the original on May 31, 2000. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- Owens, Howard B. (December 17, 2018). "Retired general from Batavia accused of rape by daughter in Virginia". The Batavian. Retrieved December 18, 2018.