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Soldier Arrested On Charge Of Sex Assault On Child

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A Fort Carson soldier has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child after a 14-year-old girl told authorities they had consensual sex, authorities said Wednesday.

Pvt. Mark Vincent Petrosky, 19, was taken into custody by civilian police in Colorado Springs and was being held in the El Paso County jail on $16,000 bail.

A call to the jail wasn't answered, and it wasn't clear if Petrosky had an attorney.

Fort Carson is an infantry post just outside Colorado Springs.

Dani Johnson, a Fort Carson spokeswoman, would not comment on whether Petrosky is among soldiers under investigation by the military on allegations of sexual misconduct involving under-age girls.

The Army confirmed that investigation last week. Officials have not said how many soldiers were under investigation, where the alleged misconduct took place, or how many girls might have been involved.

Colorado Springs police spokeswoman Barbara Miller said she did not know whether Petrosky was under investigation by the military.

Authorities said the 14-year-old girl told a police officer that she met Petrosky on a website this spring and they exchanged text messages before meeting in person.

Police said the girl spoke with an officer on June 21, but it wasn't immediately clear when the alleged sexual contact occurred or when Petrosky was arrested.

Petrosky, of Landing, N.J., is a mechanic on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and assigned to the 3rd Brigade Armored Combat Team, part of the 4th Infantry Division. He has been in the service for a year.

Sheriff's deputies in El Paso County, which includes part of Fort Carson, are investigating another soldier on suspicion of sexual misconduct with a 14-year-old girl.

Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Kramer said Wednesday that soldier is also under investigation by the military. Kramer said no arrests have been made in that inquiry.

By Dan Elliott, AP Writer (© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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