Private First Class (PFC) Julian T. Mendez, a member of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), was sentenced to a bad-conduct discharge and 270 days of confinement after pleading guilty to a series of disturbing crimes targeting a fellow Soldier in his unit.
Court records reveal that between March 21 and March 23, 2024, Mendez engaged in a pattern of stalking behavior toward a female PFC.
His actions included attempting to unlawfully enter her barracks room, stealing her clothing, and even masturbating with stolen underwear — conduct that was deemed both indecent and prejudicial to good order and discipline in the armed forces.
Mendez also attempted to assault the Soldier by kissing or touching her while she slept. He used an entrenching tool (“E-tool”) to force open her barracks door, causing damage to government property valued under $1,000. Following the unlawful entry, he committed burglary with the intent to steal personal items, all valued under $1,000.
Charges preferred against Mendez included violations under multiple articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ):
- Article 130 (Stalking)
- Article 80 (Attempted Simple Assault and Attempted Unlawful Entry)
- Article 121 (Larceny)
- Article 108 (Damage to Military Property)
- Article 129 (Burglary)
- Article 134 (Indecent Conduct)
At his general court-martial, Mendez pled guilty to nearly all charges. Although the stalking, damage to military property, and indecent conduct charges were initially dismissed “without prejudice” to allow for possible appeal review complications, the underlying misconduct was largely admitted to by the accused.
Ultimately, the military judge sentenced Mendez to:
- Reduction to the rank of Private (E-1)
- Bad-conduct discharge
- 270 days confinement
- No forfeitures or fines were adjudged.
Mendez’s actions, especially targeting a fellow Soldier within the tight confines of barracks life, drew sharp concern from leadership at Fort Campbell. His conviction also qualifies as a felony under federal law, restricting future firearm possession under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). However, no sex offender registration requirement was triggered under current Department of Defense or federal standards.
Just last month, a Staff Sergeant at Fort Cavazos, Quadarrius J. McCray, was sentenced at court-martial after being convicted of sexually assaulting two sleeping subordinates during a unit trip to Austin. Despite the severity of the offenses, McCray avoided jail time and left the Army with his rank intact, raising broader concerns about how sentencing is determined when it comes to sexual misconduct.
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