SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- The name of the man accused of killing two police officers in Santa Cruz, 35 year old Jeremy Goulet, has become a political hot topic because of his violent past. Rape charges were dropped when he was serving in the Army. U.S. Senators and Representatives now want an explanation. They say if those charges would've stuck, the events that took place in Santa Cruz may never have happened.
No one can knows the specifics of why Goulet's charges were dropped. But the Don Wilkerson, the attorney who represented Goulet in 2006, said it was most likely because Goulet was fairly high ranking, and commanders did not want rape charges to tarnish the Army's image.
Senator Barbara Boxer is using Goulet's case as an example of why the military judicial system is flawed. Boxer wants to take rape cases outside the chain of command so that charges like those against Goulet's aren't overlooked.
"They plea bargained him out of the military and there he is and he kills 2 police officers. Because rape is a violent crime, and a person who rapes is capable of killing," said Boxer.
Senator Boxer said this legislation is essentially challenging a culture in the military that many fear, simply because its so complex, and are afraid to speak up.
Goulet was stationed in Hawaii in 2006. Just days after getting there, Goulet was charged with climbing into a female soldier's bedroom, and raping her after a night of drinking. Goulet was then confined on base and was assigned to watch over barracks of soldiers that were being deployed. Again, while watching over the barracks he was charged for the second time. This time the he was charged for getting into bed with a female soldier and raping her.
Wilkerson said both rape charges were dropped before the case went into trial. Wilkerson said, Goulet made a deal with Commanders, the charges were dropped in exchange for an other than honorable discharge in 2007.
Later that year, Goulet was caught peeping into a woman's bedroom in Portland, Oregon. Those charges were dropped in 2010.
Goulet moved again, this time to Santa Cruz in November of 2012. On February 23, Goulet was fired from his job for sexual assault allegations. On February 26, Detectives Baker and Butler were following up on those allegations when Goulet shot and killed them.
