Ex-Marine Recruiter Released Early from Prison Without Victim Notification
A former Marine recruiter, previously sentenced to a year in prison for abusing his position and engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a teenage recruit, has been released from a military prison in California three months early. The decision to release Pvt. Christopher Champagne was made without notifying his victim, leaving her family anxious about potential repercussions.
Christopher Champagne, who once held the rank of gunnery sergeant during his recruiting tenure in Texas, served less than nine months of his sentence. According to a Marine Corps spokesperson, his release aligns with Department of Defense policies on early release. The victim’s family had not been informed of this development, a fact confirmed by her mother, Kathlyn, who expressed concern over the lack of communication.
“None of us now feel safe,” Kathlyn stated. “Now, we’re having to look over our shoulder again like we were hoping not to.”
Military.com has decided to withhold the names of the victim and her family to protect their privacy and due to policies regarding sexual assault survivors.
Despite denying many allegations, Champagne had admitted to having sexual relations with the recruit and providing her with alcohol, leading to his conviction. The reasons for his early release remain unclear, though Kathlyn mentioned hearing about a parole application in April.
Kathlyn’s attempts to keep Champagne in custody included a statement warning of his threat to her family, but she received no response. The family had been preparing to relocate before his anticipated September release, a plan now disrupted by his unexpected freedom.
“We thought we had a couple more months,” she mentioned. “And they didn’t even give us the common courtesy of telling us.”
In addition to his sentence, Champagne faced a reduction to private and a dishonorable discharge after self-publishing a memoir detailing his pursuit of the then-17-year-old recruit. While incarcerated, Champagne attempted to republish the book, naming his victim and her sister, hinting at a sequel.
His ex-wife had previously reported his behavior to both military and civilian authorities. Kathlyn, meanwhile, has been unable to get updates from the military despite submitting the necessary forms to be notified of any developments regarding Champagne.
According to Marine Corps spokesperson Capt. Austin Gallegos, “If victims want to be informed of such a release, they need to have filled out a specific form; otherwise, notification cannot be guaranteed.” Kathlyn confirmed submission of these forms last year.
Champagne is still administratively assigned to his previous recruiting station in Texas pending the completion of his appeal, though he faces orders restricting contact with poolees or applicants. “The Marine Corps retains jurisdiction during this time and is taking steps to ensure appropriate accountability and lawful restrictions,” Gallegos noted, though the exact enforcement of these restrictions remains uncertain.
