A recruit at the Parris Island Marine Corps Training Depot awaits extradition to Nevada after police in Las Vegas accused him of sexually assaulting at least one child, according to a Beaufort County Sheriff’s report.
Taejon Manning, 19, of Las Vegas, was picked up at Parris Island on Jan. 19 after Beaufort County Sheriff’s deputies confirmed he had warrants out for his arrest from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Manning is wanted on three counts of sexual assault with a minor under 14 years old, two counts of attempted sexual assault on a child under 14, and one count of child abuse, the report said.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
As of Tuesday, Manning remained in custody on a fugitive from justice charge at the Beaufort County Detention Center.
Recruits are screened during the application process, Parris Island Station spokesperson Philip Kulczewski said, and the admissions office continues that process “more robustly” when recruits arrive. Asked whether a felony disqualified a recruit, Kulczewski said, “it’s always case by case.” Applicants who are denied entry can begin an appeals process, he said.
This comes months after the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Command Line of Duty Investigations was called to investigate the September 2021 deaths of a recruit, Anthony Muñoz, and a Marine who graduated in May, Brandon Barnish. Another recruit, 19-year-old Dalton Beals, died just three months before in June while completing the famously grueling 54-hour Crucible training exercise.
The investigation into the three deaths is ongoing, Kulczewski said.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, help can be reached at the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-4673.
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