Former Navy instructor walks out of hearing on indecent acts

(AP) — A former Naval Academy instructor facing a possible court-martial after a newspaper uncovered new evidence related to his convictions for indecent acts with female midshipmen walked out of his own preliminary hearing Friday.

The hearing continued without him, featuring lurid details of Thompson's alleged sexual misconduct, including testimony about three-way sex with two female midshipmen in 2011 while Thompson was an instructor in Annapolis.

[...] a Post writer reported finding further evidence that Thompson lied about sexual encounters with students and published a lengthy piece on the investigation.

The newspaper piece prompted a renewed criminal investigation by the Marine Corps.

Thompson was convicted in 2013 of committing indecent acts, fraternization and conduct unbecoming an officer while an academy instructor, though he was acquitted of the most serious charge, aggravated sexual assault.

[...] Post reporter John Woodrow Cox unearthed previously undiscovered evidence implicating Thompson, including a cellphone from one of the female midshipmen with incriminating text messages.