Florida man sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting Fort Polk officer

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a Florida man was sentenced Thursday to 121 months in prison for sexually assaulting a female officer stationed at the Fort Polk Military Base.

Maurice Antuan Speights, 32, of Tallahassee, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald Walter on one count of sexual abuse. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release, ordered to pay $3,570 in restitution and is required to register as a sex offender. According to testimony and evidence admitted at the two-day trial, which ended September 20, 2016, the defendant, a civilian, was an acquaintance of the victim who was temporarily residing at a relative’s home in Leesville. Speights, the victim and a female friend went out for a night of drinking on October 20, 2013. At trial, the female friend testified about the events of the evening. She stated that the victim was so intoxicated that by the time the three returned to the female friend’s home, the victim passed out. The female friend and Speights had to carry the victim to an upstairs bedroom. An FBI agent testified that during an interview, Speights acknowledged engaging in sexual intercourse with the victim but claimed it was consensual. The victim took the stand during the two-day trial and testified that she had no memory of anything that occurred until she woke up in the middle of the night with the defendant sexually assaulting her.

“Our military keeps us safe here and around the globe,” Finley stated. “Its members should not have to face violence on any military installation. We take these cases seriously and will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”

The case was brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the crime occurred on the Fort Polk Military Base where the United States has exclusive jurisdiction.

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Luke Walker and David C. Joseph prosecuted the case.