Pubdate: Fri, 22 Sep 2000 Source: El Paso Times (TX) Copyright: 2000 El Paso Times Contact: P.O.Box 20, El Paso, Texas 79999 Fax: (915) 546-6415 Website: http://www.borderlandnews.com/ Author: Diana Washington Valdez FORT BLISS SOLDIER AWAITS COURT-MARTIAL An Army warrant officer with 26 years of service has been charged by the military with drug possession, bribery and threatening a family, Fort Bliss officials said Thursday. Army officials said Warrant Officer Luis R. Rodriguez-Martinez is scheduled to face trial by court-martial Oct. 16 at the post. The warrant officer, who's assigned to the 546th Personnel Services Detachment, could not be reached for comment Thursday. Fort Bliss spokeswoman Jean Offutt said the soldier is still on duty at Fort Bliss and -- as in civilian courts -- is presumed innocent until proved guilty. "The investigation began in 1998, but did not focus on Rodriguez until much later," Offutt said. "Former Sergeant Major Juan Rosario, who is currently serving time for his role, allegedly was part of the same drug-trafficking organization-conspiracy," she said. Last year, Rosario, 44, was convicted of attempting to bribe a U.S. Customs Service inspector. He was sentenced to 57 months in a federal prison after he pleaded guilty to the charge on Oct. 2, 1999. Initially, Rosario was charged with importing marijuana and trying to bribe a customs officer at one of the international bridges in El Paso. Offutt said the military has charged Rodriguez-Martinez with six violations: Conspiring with members of a Juarez drug-trafficking organization to import marijuana into the United States. Importing marijuana. Possessing marijuana with intent to distribute it. Bribing U.S. customs officials. Threatening an individual and his family. Soliciting another to import marijuana. Military officials expect the trial of Rodriguez-Martinez to last several days. Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens