A former Parris Island drill instructor has received administrative punishment in connection with an investigation into abuse of recruits.
Staff Sgt. Matthew T. Bacchus pleaded guilty to charges of maltreatment and violation of a lawful general order at summary court-martial on Wednesday, according to Training and Education Command. He was found not guilty of making a false official statement.
Bacchus was sentenced to 60 days of restriction but he will maintain his current rank, said TECOM spokesman Capt. Joshua Pena. Prior to the summary court-martial, Bacchus had lost his military occupational specialty as a drill instructor.
The staff sergeant was one of four drill instructors accused of making recruits exercise in a dusty, abandoned building on Parris Island that was nicknamed "The Dungeon." On May 25, Sgt. Riley R. Gress was found not guilty of all charges in connection with the case. Two other drill instructors face courts-martial: Staff Sgt. Antonio Burke and Staff Sgt. Jose Lucena-Martinez.
In total, 20 Marines at Parris Island could face disciplinary or administrative action following three investigations into hazing and abuse. Two of the investigations were already ongoing when recruit Raheel Siddiqui died on March 18, 2016.
