Coast Guard Academy cadet found guilty of sexual assault, dismissed from service
New London — A former member of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Class of 2016 was found guilty Friday of sexual assault and dismissed from the service, according to a Coast Guard Academy news release.
Michael Shermot of Shillington, Pa., also was sentenced to one year in prison at his court-martial trial, which began Monday in Norfolk, Va.
Shermot was charged with sexual assault by impairment on Dec. 28, 2015. He was suspended from the corps of cadets the following day at the recommendation of academy Superintendent Rear Adm. James Rendon.
His suspension came after police in Westchester, Pa., began investigating the assault, which occurred there on either Sept. 4 or 5 last year.
The Coast Guard took over jurisdiction of the case after people expressed concerns about Shermot's military status and about some of the witnesses involved in the case.
Shermot, who was a member of the academy's wrestling team, originally faced up to 30 years in prison. He has the right to appeal his conviction and sentence.
He had been reassigned to the Coast Guard's yard in Baltimore, Md., while he awaited court-martial. He had been assigned work comparable to what a lower-grade enlisted member does.
Because the military has much more control over the movements of its members, pretrial confinement is usually not used unless the person is a flight risk or poses an imminent threat.
Shermot is one of two cadets the academy announced last week would be facing court-martial proceedings because of sexual assault charges.
Court-martial proceedings for Anthony Livingstone of Plainfield, N.J., are scheduled to begin Oct. 26.
Livingstone is facing charges of sexual assault by lack of consent, extortion and conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman.
"The Coast Guard remains committed to creating a culture intolerant of sexual assault, and the behaviors that enable it, and will continue efforts to eliminate sexual assault from its ranks through a strong culture of respect and prevention," the release stated.
Day Staff writer Lindsay Boyle contributed to this report.
