Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca Dickinson told federal prosecutors at U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., that she had sex with nearly every client she met while working for Deborah Jeane Palfrey from October 2005 until April 2006.
Navy spokesman Capt. Jack Hanzlik told Navy Times that Dickinson, 38, was fired from her position as an instructor at Naval Supply Corps School in Athens, Ga., earlier this month after she gave detailed information about her involvement in the case to superiors.
After her statement, Dickinson also received nonjudicial punishment and was given a punitive letter of reprimand. Hanzlik said she could face additional punishment in the future and has been placed on leave. When she exhausts her accumulated leave time, Dickinson will revert to unpaid leave status and remain there until she is separated from the Navy.
“We expect the men and women who serve in our nation’s Navy to adhere to a standard of conduct that reflects our core values of honor, courage and commitment,” Hanzlik said. “Lt. Cmdr. Dickinson’s conduct will prevent her from wearing this uniform again in the service of our country.”
Dickinson’s civilian lawyer said she understands her career is over.
“She told the truth on the stand and really regrets this episode in her life. Even if she is not prosecuted, she will be paying a price for the rest of her life. We are trying to preserve what we can,” attorney Jonathan Gladstone said Thursday afternoon. “We aren’t expecting her back in uniform. All things considered, we are happy with that.”
Hanzlik said the Navy first found out that Dickinson was a potential witness in the case in May 2007 and began sharing information with federal prosecutors, but in deference to federal prosecutors, the service declined to launch an investigation at that time.
Palfrey told Navy Times last year that Dickinson worked for her company, Pamela Martin and Associates, under the stage name Renee for nearly two years while she was stationed at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
While at the academy, Navy officials say, Dickinson worked as food services officer, responsible for feeding more than 4,000 midshipmen each day, from 2004 until 2007. She also taught one class — Naval Leadership — for a semester, Navy officials said.
A Navy officer familiar with the case said Dickinson had an exemplary Navy career until the allegations surfaced last year; Dickinson had two Navy/Marine Corps Commendation medals and four Navy/Marine Corps Achievement medals, according to records provided by Navy Personnel Command. The officer said Dickinson’s decision might have been motivated by financial issues — she had filed for bankruptcy in the months before she responded to an advertisement placed by Palfrey in a local newspaper. Palfrey told Navy Times the woman had difficulty caring for her three children, missed work frequently because one had been sick, and had marital problems.
Palfrey, who ran her business from her Northern California home, said she never met Dickinson or many of the people she called “independent contractors” but said she spoke to Dickinson several times each week by telephone.
Phone records released by Palfrey show more than 200 calls between her office and a cell phone registered to a Rebecca Dickinson of Atlanta. Dickinson did two tours in nearby Athens before serving at the academy.
“She was very pleasant, very nice,” Palfrey said of Dickinson, whom she described as a tall brunette of medium build based on a picture Dickinson sent her as part of an application for work. “She might talk about a rough day at work, but we really didn’t have much of a personal relationship.”
The last time Palfrey heard from Dickinson, she said, was when Dickinson sent her an e-mail in October 2006 asking to be put back to work after she had resolved personal issues that caused her to take time off.
“If you need some extra help, I would be glad to work for you again, as a backup or regularly. ... If you are interested, please just let me know, and if not, I understand,” the e-mail read.
By that time, Palfrey had learned she was under investigation and her company had folded. Palfrey said she never responded to the e-mail.
A Navy lawyer familiar with the case said that the Navy can not prosecute Dickinson under the Uniform Code of Military Justice based on anything that she said during the trial because she had been granted immunity by federal prosecutors. She still could be prosecuted, they said, but only if they uncover evidence independent from her testimony. Also, Dickinson’s immunity does not extend to administrative actions, which could include removing her from the military.
Dickinson joined the Navy in 1986 and served as an aviation electronics technician for three years before attending Auburn University. After she was commissioned in 2003, Dickinson attended Naval Supply Corps School and then served aboard the cruiser Bunker Hill, the fast combat support ship Camden and the ammunition supply ship Santa Barbara.
Dickinson has 19 years of service time. Hanzlik said no decision has been made on whether she will be allowed to retire, but said if she is, it could be at a lower rank because a retirement grade determination might find that her service as a lieutenant commander was not honorable.
“We would look at what was the last grade in which the officer honorably served,” he said.
2 comments:
I'm not condoning her actions.
I don't see a privilieged, entitled woman who was lazy and decided to make some easy money.
I see a woman struggling to maintain her family.
I don't know if there was a selfish, greedy, or class-envy element to her behavior.
It sounds like she was barely keeping her and her family's head above water.
Now, if she bought Manolo Blahnik Mary Janes with her illicit earnings, I wouldn't have much compassion for her.
I feel sorry for people who are without resources, financial, familial, intellectual, moral, to stay the straight&narrow course.
Something, or many things, went very wrong for this woman.
I'm not the judge, I can't see her demeanor. I don't know if she feels remorse.
Given what I've read, without actually having a look at her myself, I wouldn't be harsh with her. She needs help.
Would punishment help?
Second Change I understand your comment but we have a case of a woman who defied a contract and had sex for yes extra money. A choice she made. Plus cooperation with the Prosecutor so no charges will be filed against her. A choice she had to make. She signed a contract with the Navy and with Ms. Palfrey. This is sad so it was with the Enron retirees, companies allowed to withdraw retirement money and so much more.
But I also give thought to Jean who had a signed contract from these ladies and trusted they would follow the business rule. As each looked to protect themselves and lie for the Prosecutor it leaves an innocent victim Jean facing 55 years in jail. These ladies did nothing different then Wal Mart executives by collecting extra money for personal gain. Many woman have done this and never got caught. All the parties of this case will be hurt, there are no winners. The Prosecutor had to have this trial or get caught doing selective prosecutor. There is no crime or grounds for a Rico Act charge. A first year law student knows this so I know the Judge knows it. As for the Prosecutors they put themselves in a corner and this is their only way out to show face.
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