UPDATE: The major has been found hiding on post. No details yet on what he was doing and how he was caught.
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An Air Force major convicted of rape at Kunsan Airbase has gone missing:
An Air Force major convicted of rape remained missing late Friday night, more than 15 hours after failing to appear for the sentencing phase of his court-martial.
Kunsan Air Base officials released few details on measures taken to track down Maj. Mark Seldes, a 40-year-old flight surgeon convicted Thursday afternoon of raping a civilian woman on Nov. 4, 2006, after she had taken the sleeping medication Ambien and fallen into a deep sleep.
Seldes, who worked at Kunsan until the court-martial began on Monday, was allowed to go home after the verdict was announced Thursday afternoon.
“There were no indications that he was a flight risk or a threat to harm himself or others,†Col. Charles Brown, commander of Kunsan’s 8th Fighter Wing, stated in an e-mail response to query. “However, we were concerned with his well-being, as we are with all military members facing courts-martial. His commander was aware of the judicial proceedings and personally contacted Major Seldes after the verdict to assess his mental and emotional state.†[Stars & Stripes]
I would be surprised if this guy is really on the run because he went missing for 15 hours before being reported which would make it tough for him to have gotten an airplane ticket and fly somewhere out of the country before being stopped. Possible but I think unlikely. I would be more concerned this guy freaked out and might be thinking of harming himself. You figure this guy is getting kicked out of the Air Force after 16 years, his marriage is probably in shambles as well, and he is going to jail for three years. Hopefully they find him before he does do something desperate.
Popularity: 5%
5:52 pm on February 2nd, 2008 1
So let me get this straight…
The court martial panel announces the verdict, and then they LET HIM GO HOME WHILE THEY DELIBERATED THE SENTENCE?
What genius (or group of geniuses) thought that that was a good idea?
And now they are shocked that he is missing?
Retards.
Marcus
7:21 pm on February 2nd, 2008 2
reminds me of the kid back in 01-02 who was being held for killing a bar girl up in itaewon and they left him alone in a 1st floor conference room right over here on yongsan main post
mid-afternoon time frame
1st floor and no bars on the windows who was the brainiac who decided that?
they had the entire CID and MP force running around looking for this kid
8:54 pm on February 2nd, 2008 3
I think they let him go because his wife was in country for the trial. Who knows, there is probably more to the story that we don’t know.
10:33 am on February 3rd, 2008 4
They found him. http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52171
1:58 pm on February 3rd, 2008 5
So the guy attempts to flee and doesn’t even get off base? He’s like freakin’ James Bond.
What a douche.
10:34 pm on February 6th, 2008 6
10:54 pm on February 12th, 2008 7
3:43 pm on February 26th, 2008 8
[...] Kunsan Major who was convicted of rape and then disappeared before his sentencing hearing before being apprehended again will face no additional [...]
1:30 am on March 7th, 2008 9
[...] results for everyone to review. The highlights from the court martial results this month is the Major Mark Seldes case, yet another DUI which makes 13 DUIs in 11 months, the Staff Sergeant who lost his career over $371 [...]