Army sexual harassment officer accused of stalking ex-wife

Another U.S. Army officer in charge of a sexual assault prevention program was arrested on Wednesday, on charges of stalking his ex-wife.

The Associated Press reported on Thursday that Lt. Col. Darin Haas turned himself in to police late Wednesday night on charges of violating an order of protection against him.

Haas headed up the program at Fort Campbell, located along the state line between Kentucky and Tennessee. A spokesperson for the facility said after his arrest that he has been removed from the position.

Clarksville, Tennessee, police Sgt. Chuck Gill said Haas and his ex-wife have orders of protection against one another and are involved in a child custody dispute. The woman told police Haas repeatedly called her on Wednesday night. He was held for 12 hours before being released.

Haas' arrest came just one day after the Army announced that a sergeant leading a sexual assault prevention program at Fort Hood in Texas was under investigation due to allegations of "abusive sexual contact." An Air Force officer in a similar position was arrested on May 5 for allegedly groping a woman in a parking lot.

While a bipartisan group of lawmakers said on Thursday that they are proposing legislation that would allow civilian authorities to take over the prosecution of sexual assault cases involving service members in place of military courts, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered recruiters and sexual assault prevention program heads to go through renewed screening and training.

[Image: "Stock Photo: Soldiers With Military Camouflage Uniform In Army Formation" on Shutterstock]