JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA – A 20-year-old soldier has become the first to be convicted in a disturbing case of barracks sexual assault involving four service members and a female college student—an incident that has shaken the ranks at one of the Army’s largest installations.
Pvt. Deron J. Gordon, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 94th Field Artillery Regiment, pleaded guilty Friday to multiple charges stemming from the October 2024 assault. In exchange for reduced sentencing, Gordon turned on his fellow soldiers—agreeing to testify against them in upcoming courts-martial.
The Assault and the Snapchat Recording
Gordon admitted in court that he and another soldier followed a heavily intoxicated ROTC cadet into a bedroom after a night of drinking in the barracks. According to his own testimony, the victim was limp, unresponsive, and appeared to be asleep when they removed her pants and underwear.
“She did not move or speak,” Gordon told the court. “I should have known she could not say ‘no.’”
Gordon and the other soldier filmed themselves sexually assaulting her and shared clips on Snapchat.
Though his defense claimed Gordon was not pleading guilty to assaulting an unconscious person, he described the victim as non-responsive with eyes closed—clear signs of incapacitation.
Army officials clarified that Gordon was charged with sexual assault, not rape, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), because the victim was deemed incapable of consent due to voluntary alcohol intoxication, not physical force or drugging. According to Article 120 of the UCMJ, a sleeping or unconscious person cannot consent, and voluntary intoxication by the victim does not mitigate culpability.
The Plea Deal and Immunity Glitch
Gordon originally faced up to 42 years in confinement on charges including sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, indecent recording, and conspiracy. But under the plea deal, he pled guilty to only three charges—sexual assault, abusive sexual contact, and indecent recording—and received 75 months (just over 6 years) in prison.
He was also busted down to E-1, dishonorably discharged, and will register as a sex offender upon release.
A technical hiccup delayed sentencing. The military judge, Col. Matthew Fitzgerald, discovered that Gordon had been under an immunity grant since July. That meant his courtroom statements couldn’t be used unless the plea was re-entered outside of the immunity terms. On Friday, Gordon was forced to repeat the entire process to make the plea stick.
Despite the reset, the sentence remained the same.
Snitching to Save Himself
As part of his plea agreement, Gordon agreed to testify against the three remaining soldiers charged in the same assault:
- Pfc. Kallon Curiel, 19 – Also of B Battery, 1-94 FA. Charged with sexual assault, indecent recording, obstruction of justice, and separately with sexual assault of a child in Arizona. Currently confined.
- Spc. Jadon Bosarge, 24 – Communications repair specialist with the 125th Forward Support Company. Charged with sexual assault and conspiracy. Not confined pretrial.
- Cpl. Pedro Angel Ruiz, 29 – Small arms and artillery repairer in the same unit. Faces similar charges. His trial is scheduled for November.
Gordon will remain at the Northwestern Joint Regional Correctional Facility at JBLM until his testimony is complete. He will then be transferred to the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth—where the military’s most dangerous inmates are housed.
Army’s New Sex Crimes Office on the Case
This case is being prosecuted by the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, an entity created in 2023 to handle major crimes like sexual assault, murder, and kidnapping—removing command influence from prosecution decisions. The office is based at Fort Belvoir but oversees regional circuits like the one at JBLM.
“Pvt. Gordon committed egregious sexual acts upon a vulnerable and unconscious victim,” said Maj. Ryan Keeter, chief prosecutor for the Sixth Circuit. “His punishment reflects both his culpability and his cooperation.”
The Victim and the Fallout
The victim, who was not publicly named, was a visiting ROTC cadet at the time of the assault. She has since commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army, according to Army officials.
The case has drawn scrutiny not just for the crime itself, but for the culture of recklessness in the barracks that allowed it to happen—where underage drinking, sleeping arrangements, and digital voyeurism collided with predatory behavior and poor judgment.
Commentary: Justice or Just a Deal?
While Gordon will spend the next six years behind bars, many will argue that the deal he received was far too lenient considering his role in what was described as a gang-style assault of an incapacitated peer. That he turned on his so-called brothers in arms to lessen his own time may not sit well with soldiers who believe in accountability without compromise.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, help is available. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit RAINN.org.
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