Soldiers charged in rape of Portland teenagers

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland police have charged two U.S. Army soldiers with the rape of a pair of teenage girls in a downtown hotel room. Police say the two soldiers are accused of participating in the rape, along with “numerous” men in the room. Detectives arrested 22-year-old Sgt. Timothy Hartbeck of Manchester, Iowa, and 27-year-old Stephen Bardos of Mooresville, Pa., on rape charges. Both are stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. The girls, ages 15 and 17, reported the alleged assault at an area hospital on Sunday morning. Phone numbers and addresses for Hartbeck and Bardos or their families were not available Wednesday afternoon. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Gary Dangerfield says the Army is aware of the investigation and will cooperate.