Halifax navy seaman Daniel Cooper faces sex assault charge

A member of the Canadian Armed Forces in Halifax has been charged with sexual assault the second such charge in as many days for the military.

On Tuesday,the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service laid two charges under the National Defence Act against Master Seaman Daniel Cooper of theNaval Fleet School at CFB Halifax.

• 30 punished for sexual misconduct, 97 cases under investigation, DND says

The charges relate to a sexual assault that allegedly took place on Nov. 10, 2015. At that time, Cooper was deployed on aNATO trainingexercise dubbed Trident Junctureoff the coasts of Portugal and Spain whileaboard HMCS Athabaskan.

The complainant is another male sailor, who reported an assault through the chain of command, military police said in December. CBC News broke the story about the military investigation in December 2015.

Cooper faces one count of sexual assault and one count of abuse of subordinates. His trialwill be by court martial before a military judge.

Same-sex assault 'does not change anything'

A military police spokesperson said information about counselling was provided to the complainant, but did not say if he has used the help.

RearAdmiral John Newton, commander ofMaritime Forces Atlantic, said last year whenthe investigation began thathe wastrying to create an atmosphere where victims can come forward.

"We have two members of the same sex, but that doesn't change one thing in our response to the support to the victim," Newton said. "It does not change anything."

That includes separating the sailor who reported an assaultfrom the alleged perpetrator and protecting him fromre-victimization, he said.

Another sex assault charge

This is the second time this week a member of the Canadian military has been charged with sexual assault. On Monday,Sgt. Kevin MacIntyre,who is stationed at CFB Halifax, wascharged in connection with an incident that took place in Glasgowin September 2015.

Last month, the military's top brass said progress had been made in the war on sexual misconduct in the ranks, after more people came forward to report sexual offences.

"All allegations of sexual misconduct are taken seriously in all cases where complaints are lodged or reports are brought forward," said Lt. Blake Patterson.

5 courts martial completed this year

Military police charged 34 service members with sexual offencesin 2015 and 15 during the first six months of 2016.

Officials say five courts martial have been completed this year,with two military personnel found guilty of sexual assault and oneon charges related to child pornography. One service member wasfound not guilty of sexual assault, while charges against the fifth person were withdrawn.