Navy squadron commander charged with attempted rape
The commanding officer of a Guam-based helicopter squadron was in the San Diego jail Monday night, arrested on felony charges of attempted rape and assault.
Cmdr. John Neuhart, commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, was arrested by local police in San Diego where he was attending a conference, according to a Navy report on his arrest that was obtained by Navy Times.
A spokeswoman for Naval Air Forces Pacific confirmed the arrest late Monday.
“[Naval Criminal Investigative Service] has been notified and the allegations are being investigated thoroughly,” said Cmdr. Jeannie Groeneveld.
The squadron’s XO, Cmdr. William Eastham, has assumed temporary command of the squadron while the investigation runs its course, Groeneveld said.
Neuhart, 39, was booked into the jail at 3:30 p.m. PT, according to the county’s online public information system. An arraignment is slated for Wednesday, the site says. Neuhart, callsign "Spike," joined the service in 2000 after graduating from Ohio State University and has over 2,100 hours flying Navy helicopters, according to his official biography. He has logged 36 combat missions in Iraq and has received the Strike Flight Air Medal, as well as other awards.
Follow David B. Larter on Twitter: @DavidLarter