Former CIA Station Chief Charged with Sexual Assault in Algeria

Andrew Warren surrounded outside DC federal courthouse.

ByABC News
June 30, 2009, 7:12 PM

June 29, 2009 -- A federal grand jury has indicted Andrew Warren, the CIA's former station chief in Algeria, for allegedly sexually abusing a woman in February 2008.

Warren had worked for the agency in the Middle East until October 2008 and only was recalled from the region after two women came forward and accused him of the rapes, which were first reported by ABC News' Brian Ross in January.

While the Justice Department only announced the two-page indictment with a brief paper statement on the case, an affidavit filed in the case last year to search Warren's computer alleged that two women were raped at his residence in Algeria. The indictment unsealed today stated that the victim "was incapable of appraising the nature of the conduct and was physically incapable of declining participation in, and communicating unwillingness to engage in, said sexual act."

Warren was charged with one count of sexual abuse within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

Morton Taubman, an attorney for Warren, said his client is, "Not guilty...He is innocent."

Warren surrendered to a Diplomatic Security agent just outside the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., where the indictment was returned on June 18 but was only unsealed Tuesday. Officials provided no reason why there was a delay in unsealing the charges.

Appearing before Federal Magistrate John Facciola, Warren pleaded not guilty and was released on his own personal recognizance. His next court appearance will be set at a later date.

According to the affidavit filed by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Warren allegedly prepared drinks which he gave to the women. In the first case, according to the woman, Warren allegedly prepared a mixed drink of cola and whiskey, and the woman stated that she felt a "violent onset of nausea," and Warren said she should spend the night at his home.

When she woke up the next morning, according to the affidavit, "she was lying on a bed, completely nude, with no memory of how she had been undressed." She said she realized "she recently had engaged in sexual intercourse, though she had no memory of having intercourse."