In a recent incident, a woman who was on the verge of becoming a sergeant major has been relieved of her duties as the top enlisted Marine for a training battalion in Quantico, Virginia. The reason behind her dismissal is a serious charge of driving under the influence and hitting two teenagers with her car on Wednesday night.
A 39-year-old Marine 1st Sgt. named Beth Ellen Abbott has been charged with multiple offenses, including driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of maiming while driving under the influence.
According to a news release by the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, police responded to a report of two pedestrians being struck in Stafford, Virginia. Upon arriving at the scene, they found Abbott with glassy, bloodshot eyes and the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath. She admitted to consuming alcohol before driving.
In recent news, it has been confirmed by Marine spokeswoman Maj. Danielle Phillips that Abbott, the senior enlisted leader of the combat instructor battalion at The Basic School, was relieved of her position last Friday. This information was disclosed in a statement to Marine Corps Times on Monday.
Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia - The Basic School, which is the officer training institution of the Corps, is located in Stafford County.
According to a press release, Abbott stayed at the scene following the incident.
In a recent development, police in Aquia Harbour, Virginia have charged Abbott with driving under the influence. As per the official release, she has been held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.
The suspect's identity has been confirmed by the sheriff's office spokesman Ryan Wilbur, according to Marine Corps Times and other news outlets. However, no names were provided in the news release. The suspect in question is Abbott.
In a recent press release, it was reported that two pedestrians, both 14 years old, were airlifted to a nearby hospital to receive treatment for serious injuries. The press release also stated that the teens are expected to make a full recovery.
Abbott was arrested for the second time on the following day, this time on three additional counts. According to Wilbur, the Stafford County, Virginia, sheriffs have conducted an investigation into a crash and concluded that two counts of maiming while driving under the influence were warranted.
According to a statement made to Marine Corps Times by Wilbur, suspected controlled substances were found in the vehicle being driven by the individual during the crash, as two new warrants were being served.
According to Wilbur, Abbott has been charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance and was detained on a $6,000 secured bond. According to U.S. law, alcohol is not considered a controlled substance.
As of Monday, the Rappahannock Regional Jail in Virginia has not listed Abbott as a current inmate, according to reports.
According to information obtained from her service record, provided by Phillips, Abbott has been identified as a "frocked" sergeant major. In a recent development, it has been reported that Abbott has taken on the responsibilities of the E-9 paygrade while still holding the rank of E-8. This was made possible as Abbott donned the uniform of the higher paygrade and fulfilled the duties associated with it. However, it is important to note that Abbott is still awaiting an official promotion to the E-9 rank.
According to her service record, she has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan after enlisting in the Marine Corps in 2003.
Retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Abbott has been recognized with numerous awards for his service. Among his accolades are a Purple Heart, six Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Combat Action Ribbons, six Good Conduct Medals, two Iraq Campaign Medals, and a Drill Instructor Ribbon.
The Marine Corps is currently coordinating with local authorities in light of the charges against Abbott, according to a statement made by Phillips. The organization is aware of the situation and is working to support the ongoing investigation during this challenging period.
The arrest of Abbott has been reported by the Stafford Daily Voice, following the incident that gained attention on social media.
The Marine Corps Times made an effort to contact Abbott through an email address that has been associated with her, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
According to Wilbur, as of the latest update he received, the teenagers were still recuperating from their injuries on Monday.
In a statement given to Marine Corps Times, Wilbur, a representative of the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, expressed their hopes for a quick recovery for two juveniles.
Edited by Newsbreak Contributor Denys Shybinskiy
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