U.S. Army charges a retired general with six specifications of rape

The U.S. Army has charged Major General James Grazioplene, who retired in 2005, for sexual assault of a minor as long ago as 1983, according to this report. The Uniform Code of Military Justice applies to retired regulars, although such trials are infrequent.

Two other two-star retirees have been prosecuted in the past: Major General David Hale of the Army in 1999 and Rear Admiral Selden G. Hooper of the Navy in 1957.

Was there no other forum that could prosecute these charges? It will be interesting to learn where the offenses are said to have been committed and whether civilian authorities could have pressed charges.