FORT BLISS SOLDIER AWAITS COURT-MARTIAL

An Army warrant officer with 26 years of service has been charged by the
military with drug possession, bribery and threatening a family, Fort Bliss
officials said Thursday.

Army officials said Warrant Officer Luis R. Rodriguez-Martinez is scheduled
to face trial by court-martial Oct. 16 at the post.

The warrant officer, who's assigned to the 546th Personnel Services
Detachment, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Fort Bliss spokeswoman Jean Offutt said the soldier is still on duty at
Fort Bliss and -- as in civilian courts -- is presumed innocent until
proved guilty.

"The investigation began in 1998, but did not focus on Rodriguez until much
later," Offutt said.

"Former Sergeant Major Juan Rosario, who is currently serving time for his
role, allegedly was part of the same drug-trafficking
organization-conspiracy," she said.

Last year, Rosario, 44, was convicted of attempting to bribe a U.S. Customs
Service inspector. He was sentenced to 57 months in a federal prison after
he pleaded guilty to the charge on Oct. 2, 1999.

Initially, Rosario was charged with importing marijuana and trying to bribe
a customs officer at one of the international bridges in El Paso.

Offutt said the military has charged Rodriguez-Martinez with six
violations: Conspiring with members of a Juarez drug-trafficking
organization to import marijuana into the United States.

Importing marijuana.

Possessing marijuana with intent to distribute it.

Bribing U.S. customs officials.

Threatening an individual and his family.

Soliciting another to import marijuana. Military officials expect the trial
of Rodriguez-Martinez to last several days.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com