US sailor sentenced to life for raping girl

A U.S. sailor left Guam in Navy custody Wednesday after being sentenced to life in prison for repeatedly raping a girl starting when she was 8 years old. Petty Officer 1st Class Bradford Laurence Lung, 30, had pleaded guilty Monday to 20 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Guam Superior Court, Stars and Stripes reported. He will be eligible for parole in 15 years. The Guam Pacific Daily News reported the military still intends to prosecute Lung on charges originating outside Guam. A plea agreement stated Lung forced the child to have sex monthly from September 2010 to March 2012. "We believe we reached a very good resolution to this very unfortunate case," Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Vasiliades, who prosecuted the case, said in a statement Wednesday. "As a result of the collaboration between the Guam Police Department and [Naval Criminal Investigative Service], we were able to spare the victim the further trauma of a trial." Navy spokesman Lt. Matt Knight said Wednesday Lung has been placed in pretrial confinement pending a possible investigation into violations of Article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Article 120 includes rape and sexual assault. Knight said Lung would be transferred to the Navy brig in Miramar, Calif. Lung, formerly attached to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable, arrived in Guam in March 2009. He, his wife and another person coached a youth soccer team. Knight said a review of Lung's activities found he was never the only adult supervising the children while coaching. After Lung's arrest, a letter and a list of counseling resources was sent to each parent with a child on the team.