CAMP ZAMA, Japan – A non-commissioned officer pleaded guilty to domestic violence by strangulation during his court-martial June 20 at the Camp Zama Courtroom.
Staff. Sgt. David J. Rollings, 34, a combat medic with the U.S. Army Medical Activity-Japan, was sentenced by the military judge to 75 days in prison, reduction in rank to E-4 and a bad conduct discharge from the Army.
Per the terms of the plea agreement, the government dismissed the charges of wrongful damage to nonmilitary property and wrongful use and possession of a controlled substance.
On April 21, 2024, Rollings strangled his wife, a third-country national, in their off-post residence. The victim escaped their home, ran to Camp Zama and reported the incident to the gate guard and the military police.
She provided investigators numerous injury photos documenting repeated incidents of physical abuse by Rollings throughout the course of their 10-month marriage. The couple met on a dating website and were married three months later in June 2023. Shortly thereafter, the physical abuse began.
During his interview with agents from the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Rollings admitted to strangling his wife on April 21 and abusing her on other occasions. He also admitted to using steroids and punching holes in the walls of their apartment. He began using steroids in early 2024, prior to the April 21 incident.
During the trial, the victim declined to participate in person, rather opting to provide a victim impact statement asking the court for leniency for her husband.
“Domestic violence has no place in our ranks, and this outcome reinforces our commitment to protecting victims and ensuring abusers are held accountable,” said Maj. Megan Herriford, prosecutor, Seventh Circuit, Army Office of Special Trial Counsel.
“This sentencing underscores Army CID’s dedication to thoroughly investigating allegations of domestic violence and ensuring justice for victims,” said Special Agent Michael DeFamio, Special Agent in Charge Army CID’s Far East Field Office. “We encourage anyone who has been the victim of a crime to contact us.”
Rollings will serve his prison sentence at the Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Brig on Honshu, Japan.
The case was investigated by Army CID’s Far East Field Office and prosecuted by Herriford, Maj. Christina Lowry, chief of justice, U.S. Army Japan, and Capt. Brenda Lin, 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Sagami Depot, Japan.
The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel is comprised of specially trained military lawyers, legal professionals and support staff responsible for the expert and independent prosecution of murder, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, kidnapping and other serious criminal offenses. Headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Va., OSTC has eight regional headquarters that oversee 28 field offices located across the country to include Europe and Korea. For more information visit https://www.army.mil/ostc.
If you would like to report a crime, have information about a crime, or have been the subject or survivor of a crime, you can submit anonymous tips to Army CID at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=325.
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