Florida man admits role in Navy Lodge sexual assault

NORFOLK

A Florida man pleaded guilty Tuesday to taking part in a sexual assault at a Norfolk hotel in 2005, discovered only after old film of the incident was developed from disposable cameras.

Dante Ruiz, 28, admitted in court to a misdemeanor offense of accessory after the fact in the rape of a woman near Norfolk Naval Station. Ruiz received a suspended 12-month sentence on the condition he testify in other cases and remain on good behavior.

Four current and former sailors have been charged, according to court records. Steven Binsse, 28, and Fredrick J. Ford, 32, are charged with felony rape and object of sexual penetration. Rizwan D. Khan, 27, pleaded guilty in July to misdemeanor accessory after the fact. Khan received a 12-month suspended sentence.

Authorities only discovered the assault years later, when pictures taken on disposable cameras of the assault were developed, Ruiz's defense attorney, Andrew Protogyrou, said. Ruiz left the Navy and runs a family security company, Protogyrou said.

Binsse left the Navy and is a police officer in Port St. Lucie, Fla., according to court records from his bond hearing. A judge denied Binsse bond.

Ford and Khan are active-duty sailors, according to court records. Khan was brought in from outside the country for court. Ford was extradited from Jacksonville, Fla., where he was based at Jacksonville Naval Air Station court records state.

According to a stipulation of evidence filed Tuesday with the court, a woman was assaulted on Sept. 6, 2005, by Ford and Binsse while she was incapacitated and passed out on a bed at Navy Lodge, a hotel on Hampton Boulevard. Ruiz had accompanied the victim to the hotel and was present during the assault, according to the stipulation. He did not report the incident to the authorities at the time, court records state.

Khan was also present during the assault and did not report the incident, according to court records.

Protogyrou said Ruiz had a relationship with the woman and is "extremely remorseful." Ruiz has cooperated with investigators, he said.

Binsse is scheduled for trial in November, and Ford is scheduled for trial in December.

Louis Hansen, (757) 446-2341, louis.hansen@pilotonline.com