Page 12 - Sergeant Davis News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

>> yes, sir! >> staff sergeant davis retired from the marine corps in 1998 after 20 years of service. when we met up with him, he was giving orders to his recruits in a weekly afterschool program that teaches kids about the marine corps. what is it about the marines that you like? >> of the pride, honor, commitment, courage. you can pretty much trust another marine. >> that's why, davis says, when bennett asked davis' 13-year-old daughter to baby-sit, it seemed just fine. but in the weeks that followed, his daughter seemed anxious, withdrawn. and when davis brought bennett by the house one aft...

Been substantiated? well, davis says that the finding was made by a social worker, not a criminal investigator, and that the burden of proof in that office is lower. colonel davis says that without strong evidence, the commander may have chosen to spare a young child the trauma of a courtroom ordeal. >> you really have to be there and see the look in the eyes of a victim when an individual whom they have brought charges against is acquitted and walks out of the courtroom a free man. no one is served by that. >> so you let it go? >> staff sergeant bennett was redirected into the family services...

>> it was horrifying until i got up on that stand. >> this is davis' daughter kaylynn, today, out of the shadows speaking publicly about her ordeal in yuma, where she told the court bennett drugged and raped her when she was just 13 years old. >> i looked at him, and when he realized that i could look him straight in the face, point him out, and that i was going to be the one telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, he started to shake. i was so happy that this time i wasn't the scared child. he was. >> and bennett had good reason for fear. if convicted of those charges a...

Of a century in jail. now the marine corps followed the rules again. since bennett was dead, the corps officially closed the rape and molestation cases against him. after reviewing staff sergeant bennett's service record, his commander ruled that his "term of service" had been honorable and that he was entitled to all the benefits that would result from an honorable discharge. the body was cremated and staff sergeant bennett didn't get just any funeral. he was laid to rest with full military honors. it was all done by the book. >> i was absolutely livid. the fact that we would do that, having ...

Apology to davis' daughter, an apology to his own children. >> the military owes them that. >> they do. and not a form letter either. >> and the briscos would like to see something else -- a change in policy. they suggest that when a child accuses a soldier of sexual abuse, the base commander shouldn't have the power to dismiss the charges without a trial. >> i understand the system. that commanding officer needs to have a certain amount of authority. but it should not be absolute. i mean, there are some things that should be out of his hands. >> for answers, we went to marine corps attorney c...