VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Feb. 18 (UPI) -- A U.S. Navy chief petty officer accused of hazing troops under his leadership in Bahrain will be allowed to retire without a reduction in pay grade, officials said.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Michael Toussaint will be allowed to retire with an honorable discharge and at the military pay rate of E-8, The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va., reported Friday.
The Navy also rescinded Toussaint's most recent re-enlistment. It is expected he will leave the Navy in about 30 days.
Navy officials said they documented more than 90 instances of alleged hazing and abuse of junior personnel by Toussaint in 2005 and 2006. Hazing allegations include sailors being tied to chairs, forced to eat dog biscuits and ordered to simulate oral sex.
Toussaint was stationed at a military working-dog kennel in Bahrain when the alleged incidents occurred.
A three-member panel decided that Toussaint should be honorably discharged with no loss in pay. Several high-ranking Navy officials reviewed the case.
