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VALPARAISO, Ind. — REAL News has learned a high ranking member of the Indiana Army National Guard was demoted from the rank of Sergeant Major to Private AND was also kicked out of the military with an Other Than Honorable Discharge following an investigation into rape allegations from earlier this year. Prior to his discharge, 42-year-old SGM David Yates was one of the leaders of the Indiana Army National Guard’s Recruiting Battalion. The OTH discharge more than likely prevents Yates from receiving his pension or any other benefits, such as healthcare through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

THE ASSAULT

According to court documents obtained by REAL News, a low-ranking male soldier claimed Yates sexually assaulted him at his home in Valparaiso, Indiana. The soldier, who REAL News will not name, was under Yates’ direct command in the Recruiting Battalion. According to court documents, the assault happened as Yates claimed he wanted to discuss “plans regarding (the soldier’s) position.” Yates talked the soldier into getting drinks with him outside of work, and then, under duress, convinced the soldier to go back to his apartment where the alleged sexual assault occurred.

In February, the victim petitioned the court for an Order of Protection against Yates. A judge awarded the PO to the alleged victim on February 9th. Yates did not dispute the order or the victim’s testimony in court. The PO is still active.

COVER-UP ENSUES

In the Months since the alleged sexual assault, high ranking members of the Indiana Army National Guard began what can only be described as mass intimidation in an attempt to cover-up the alleged crime, which was detailed in a REAL News investigation in July.

You see, the day the PO was signed by the judge, another member of the Indiana Army National Guard’s Recruiting Battalion reached out to a former Indiana Guard member, Staff Sergeant Aaron Watson. Watson is a police officer as a civilian in Southern Indiana. The reason the Guard member reached out to Watson was to ask for advice on how to handle the situation.

“I was able to validate the protection order was signed and in effect and provided publicly available information to the First Sergeant.” Watson told REAL News. “I then advised him to contact the Porter County Clerk of Courts to verify the complete record. I also gave him the publicly available documents showing evidence of a sexual assault so he could report it to his chain of command in accordance with Army policy.”

Watson had recently moved to Kentucky and had transferred to the Kentucky Army National Guard. He tells REAL News, after he provided the publicly available information to his former superior in Indiana, he assumed his role in the situation was over. However, three months later, he was called in to have a meeting with his National Guard leadership in Kentucky.

“I was being flagged for a commander’s investigation.” Watson said. “That was on May 9th. They would not tell me the charges and made me sign a counseling statement promising not to investigate the reason I was under investigation.”

It took another month before Watson realized he was being targeted for his role in helping to report information regarding the sexual assault involving SGM Yates.

“This whole time I’m baffled. I truly had done nothing wrong.” Watson said. “I just happened to make a phone call to a former colleague in Indiana. I said ‘Do you happen to know why I’m being investigated?’ He said, ‘Oh my God, you don’t know. We all assumed they had talked to you first and you must have done something wrong because soldiers up here are being questioned, interrogated and negatively counselled and being specifically directed not to speak with you.'”

According to Watson, at least 10 members of the Indiana Army National Guard, who had received these publicly available documents regarding the alleged assault, were forced to write apology letters addressed to the sexual assault victim AND the suspect, SGM Yates.

At that point, Watson discovered the highest leadership of the Recruiting Battalion in Indiana had concocted a story claiming he used his position as a police officer to illegally access “confidential police reports” that he then sent along to members of the Indiana Army National Guard. However, all of the documents sent were publicly available. Further, the National Guard never contacted the police department Watson works for, and, according to Watson, refuses to contact them to this day.

However, the Indiana Recruiting Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Mandi Alain Samples, did contact Watson’s command in the Kentucky Army National Guard where she detailed her investigation and her fabricated findings regarding “confidential police reports”.

“This is where I realized I had to be guilty in order for this to work. There was no choice but to make me guilty, because If I was innocent, all of the other soldiers who LTC Samples had already disciplined were also innocent.” Watson said.

On July 10th, Watson was finally officially notified about the details involving the charges and investigation into him.

“The day I’m notified officially about what’s going on, I’m being handed a document recommending I be fired from the Recruiting Battalion in Kentucky.” Watson said. “They never interviewed me in Indiana or Kentucky. They simply took the fabricated story from LTC Samples as fact.”

“The entire reason for all of these actions is to cover up the sexual assault of a soldier. LTC Samples and SGM Yates are friends.” Watson continued.

BOLO ISSUED

In a fight for his career, Watson has now filed Inspector General complaints in both Indiana and Kentucky. He and his wife have also decided to become vocal about the sexual assault cover-up. Watson’s wife made a public Facebook post on July 13th detailing the scandal.

On the same day Watson’s wife made the post to Facebook, a Brigadier General for the Indiana Army National Guard, Justin Mann, had a ‘Be on the Lookout (BOLO)” issued for Watson, banning him from all Indiana National Guard installations claiming he was “Dangerous.”

“I was speechless.” Watson told REAL News. “I’m starting to get phone calls and pictures of my photo plastered on the doors of different armories across the State of Indiana claiming I’m dangerous.”

Watson is now in the process of exploring legal options to take against all of those involved.

REAL News reached out to the Indiana Army National Guard in July. As of publication, we have not received a response.

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