Local Congressman in award winning film about sexual assault

Staff photo by Ty Greenlees Rep. Mike Turner.

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By Amelia Robinson, Staff Writer Updated 7:35 AM Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Congressman Mike Turner, R-Centerville, has a pivotal role in a film that just won the Audience Award for best documentary at 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

Turner appears in Kirby Dick’s, “The Invisible War,” a film about sexual assaults in the military.

He attended the film’s debut Jan. 20 at Sundance.

Sparked by the case of Marine Lance Corporal Maria Frances Lauterbach’s of Vandalia, Turner has pushed for stronger protection of sexual assault victims in the military.

He and Mary Lauterbach of Vandalia, Marie Lauerbach’s mother, advocated for changes to the National Defense Authorization Act that will allow access to legal counsel for victims and the right to request a base transfer.

Maria Lauterbach was denied a base transfer after accusing fellow Marine Cesar Laurean of sexual assault. The 20-year-old was eight months’ pregnant when Laurean murdered her in December 2007.

He is currently serving a life sentence for first-degree murder.

Have an item for us? Call Amelia Robinson at (937) 225-2384 or drop an email to arobinson@DaytonDaily News.com. Read the Seen & Overheard blog at DaytonDailyNews.com/go/seenandoverheard.

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