This Jan. 9, 2015, photo shows U.S. Navy Cmdr. David Morales, assigned to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, during a tour of the a memorial in Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea. T
Photo Credit: Chief Mass Communication Specialist Wendy Wyman/Navy via AP
Much of the hearing centered on the testimony of Janice Horst, a special agent who conducts criminal investigations for the Department of Defense's Inspector General. She described a friendship between the two men in which Francis paid for expensive dinners, liquor and prostitutes when Morales' wife wasn't around. When she was, Horst said Francis bought the couple tickets to fashion shows or a Julio Iglesias concert.
Horst said Francis seemed to be grooming Morales to provide him with important information, and that Francis had asked the commander for ship schedules. Morales told Francis that he wouldn't provide any classified information.
Cmdr. Angela Tang, a Navy prosecutor, said Morales also gave Francis the email of an admiral, introduced him to other contacts and recommended others for Francis to approach.
She said Morales was "right on the cusp of providing unclassified ship schedules" and "seemed very eager to please Mr. Francis."
Morales allegedly passed along an envelope to Francis. But Spinner, Morales' defense attorney, pointed out during cross-examination that it was never recovered and its contents remain unknown.
Spinner also said the Navy lacks hard evidence that Morales engaged with prostitutes beyond claims made by Francis, who has since become a witness for prosecutors.
Spinner said Morales may have had a close relationship with Francis "but that doesn't mean it crossed the line."
A Navy captain who oversaw the preliminary hearing will decide in the coming weeks whether to recommend Morales for a court-martial. An admiral will then decide if one should proceed.
