Rear Admiral Creepy

Captain (then-RDML) Trent Demoss (USN, Ret.)

Bearing more than a passing resemblance to the Creepy Porn Lawyer, former Rear Admiral Trent Demoss was the first Navy flag officer to be relieved for sexual harassment since 1995. He was fired in April 2021, just a few months after assuming his new command. Navy Times has the report on some of the accusations, and they are more than a tad shocking.

From Navy Times;

The former head of the Navy’s fleet readiness centers kissed a subordinate employee on the mouth without consent prior to his ouster in April 2021, according to a report from the Office of the Naval Inspector General obtained by Navy Times.

Then-Rear Adm. Trent DeMoss, who assumed the top job at Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers aboard NAS Patuxent River in Maryland in August 2020, told investigators it was typical for him to hug and kiss those he was friendly with and that he meant the kiss in a “friendship sort of way.”

DeMoss, who has since retired, did not respond to requests for comment from Navy Times, nor did he respond to requests for comment submitted through Navy officials.

But Complainant 1, who identified herself to Navy Times as a civilian public affairs specialist, said the kiss was the final straw following a series of behaviors that made her uncomfortable.

The woman, who records show was not the only one who filed complaints against DeMoss, requested anonymity and Navy Times does not identify victims of sex crimes or sexual harassment.

Despite the physical nature of the interaction, the Navy proceeded to investigate the matter as sexual harassment rather than assault after consulting the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

“The matter was referred to NCIS for a determination whether a criminal investigation was warranted,” Rear Adm. Charlie Brown, the Navy’s chief spokesman, said in a statement to Navy Times. “NCIS advised that the alleged conduct fell below their jurisdictional threshold and declined to open a criminal investigation.”

Although sexual harassment and assault are not uncommon in the military, it is rare for such cases to involve flag officers. DeMoss is the first admiral since 1995 to be relieved following substantiated allegations of sexual harassment, according to Navy officials.

DeMoss was working in his office at Pax River on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, experiencing some technical difficulties accessing a work product when the woman offered to help him since she was already on base running errands, according to the report.

The woman said DeMoss was the only other person in the building at the time, and she knew he frequently worked in the office on weekends, according to the report.

The woman was on her laptop in DeMoss’ office when he came around his desk and stood near her, “kind of hip-to-hip” touching her, the report states. Even after she shifted away from him, he edged toward her, prompting her to step aside once again.

Something “did not feel right” about their interaction, she later told investigators.

As she left the office, DeMoss walked with her out of the flag wing and the two participated in “idle chit chat.” Then, DeMoss placed his arm around her and kissed her on the cheek as he thanked her for her help, the woman alleged.

The woman distanced herself from DeMoss and was eager to exit. But DeMoss came with her to the front door, thanked her again, and then “very deliberately” placed his hands on her cheeks and kissed her lips, she told investigators.

Stunned, she took a step back and then said goodbye before crying in her car, according to the investigation.

More at the source. The IG investigated and substantiated the claims. Demoss retired at the rank of captain.

Category: Dick Stepping, Navy, WTF?