A US Marine Corp who was convicted of molesting a fellow officer’s six-year-old daughter was quietly removed from his post in Australia after reports of ‘lewd and drunken behaviour’, secret files have reportedly revealed.
Colonel Daniel Hunter Wilson had been deployed in Darwin, but his superiors moved him to a second important command role in the US following the complaints – a change of scenery which ultimately led to the assault of a child.
Col. Wilson’s quiet transfer was discovered in ‘secret’ Marine Corp files obtained by The Australian, which allegedly reveal how the convicted child molester was able to move from his posting in Australia without any formal investigation.
Colonel Daniel Hunter Wilson (pictured) had been deployed in Darwin, but his superiors moved him to a second important command role in the US following the complaints – a change of scenery which ultimately led to the assault of a child (pictured right)
Col. Wilson’s move was discovered in ‘secret’ Marine Corp files which allegedly reveal how the convicted child molester was able to move from his posting in Australia without any formal investigation
The files also stipulate how US commanders justified the lack of investigation into Wilson’s wrongdoings because no formal complaint was ever lodged at a high level.
Washington-born Wilson, 56, was removed from his post in Darwin after only 10 days following complaints from Australian officers.
He had been given the liaison posting in 2016 and almost immediately began a campaign of appalling behavior, the court heard during his conviction.
The complaints concerned claims of heavy drinking, inappropriate texts to a female officer, flaunting a photograph of another marine’s half-naked wife and using an ADF civilian’s computer to send a fake email asking out his Australian counterpart.
Washington-born Wilson, 56, (far right) was removed from his post in Darwin after only 10 days following complaints from Australian officers.
It was the US Commander’s belief that by removing Wilson from his post in Darwin and transferring him to Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, (pictured) he had ‘placated’ the Australians
Five months into his new role in the US, Wilson was charged with molesting his fellow officer’s young daughter.
He was convicted of the offence and sentenced to to five-and-a-half years in jail.
The US Marine Corps Inspector-General has since launched an investigation into why the US Commander did not take the complaints further.
The only step the commander had reportedly taken to resolve the low-level complaints was to speak with Wilson, who claimed he was the victim of personality clashes and that his sense of humour was being misunderstood.
The investigation has also reportedly revealed that the commander did not take the complaints made from Australian officers seriously.
The US Marine Corps Inspector-General has since launched an investigation into why the US Commander did not take the complaints further (Stock image)
‘Upon learning of this officer’s actions in Australia, he was fired and promptly recalled to Okinawa,’ the commander told The Australian:
‘I accept responsibility for not taking follow-on administrative actions, and for not placing this officer on the Officer Disciplinary Notebook.’
It was the US Commander’s belief that by removing Wilson from his post in Darwin and transferring him to Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, he had ‘placated’ the Australians.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Australian Defence Force and the US Marine Corp for comment.