The mother of a teenage armed forces recruit has revealed disturbing details about the Marine recruiter who compulsively stalked and molested her daughter at a military base in Texas.
Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Champagne, 36, has written a chilling book detailing his “scandalous romantic relationship” with a 17-year-old woman at the Marine Corps recruiting station in Fort Worth, Texas, Military.com reported.
In his book “Cosette’s Decision,” Champagne openly admits to having a “hot relationship” with a young girl whose real name is withheld to protect her as a victim of sexual assault.
“Cosette” – as Champagne called her in his memoirs – needed parental permission to join the military because she was under 18 years old.
After “guilty” agreeing to a relationship with the recruiter, the two allegedly messaged on Snapchat, had unprotected sex, made sex videos and spent “three or four” nights together every week while she told her parents she was with a friend lived.
Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Champagne, 36, has written a chilling book detailing his “scandalous love affair” with a 17-year-old woman at the Marine Corps recruiting station in Fort Worth, Texas
“Cosette” – as Champagne called her in his memoirs – needed parental permission to join the military because she was under 18 years old
The girl’s mother said Champagne, who had become a “frightening and controlling” presence in her life, showed up at their home twice within an hour.
Champagne left behind two bottles of whiskey and a bizarre message thanking the young recruit for inviting him to Christmas eight months earlier.
The disturbing event prompted the young girl to finally tell her family about the relationship, which had existed in secret for months
“He’s calling me, he’s leaving messages, he’s going crazy, mom – he’s going to kill me,” are the disturbing words Kathlyn’s daughter told her mother.
The young girl said she often felt guilty for doing things I didn’t want to do.
She told him, “I don’t want to do anything disgusting,” and he just nagged me until I did.
“I would tell him, ‘I’m not in the mood, I don’t want to do this.’ A lot of times I’d say, ‘Okay, just get it over with if you have to, I just don’t want to do it.’
The 36-year-old recruiter was removed from his role over the alleged sexual relationship, which he described in a self-published book.
“My memoir is a true story about a scandalous love affair,” reads the book’s description. “Cosette was a much younger woman with an affinity for older men, but we bonded over conversations about overcoming suicide, assault and abuse.”
Champagne explained that he was recently divorced and struggled with financial instability – which led to loneliness, depression and a suicide attempt.
In the disturbing book, he objectified “Cosette’s” body and described her as a “gift” from another recruiter.
Champagne self-published the book because the Kickstart campaign said agents and publishers wanted to “remove some of the controversial elements.”
He described how he was immediately drawn to “Cosette” when he first saw her – at the age of 17: “I couldn’t take my eyes off her,” the book says.
“Before she left that day, I told her to write down her Snapchat even though I had already programmed her phone into my phone,” Champagne wrote. “I have engaged in many risky behaviors throughout my career.”
In his book “Cosette’s Decision,” Champagne openly admits to having a “hot relationship” with a young girl whose real name is withheld to protect her as a victim of sexual assault
After the Marine Corps recruit became “guilty” of entering into a relationship with the Texas recruiter, the couple allegedly messaged on Snapchat, had unprotected sex, filmed sex videos and spent “three or four” nights together every week as they told their parents said she was staying with a friend
The recruiter said he was willing to risk his career to save and protect “Cosette” and their relationship.
He claimed that the couple “struggled with lies, betrayal and loss as reality continued to pull us apart.”
The young girl said sexual assault occurred during the inappropriate relationship – which her mother found out a few months later.
In response to the initial report of Champagne’s misconduct, Capt. Bryanna Kessler, a spokeswoman for the 8th Marine Corps District where Champagne served, said the teenage former recruit was “at no risk of being contacted by Champagne.”
Her family claimed this was untrue. They said Champagne contacted the young girl under a false name and threatened to release her alleged sex videos.
“I have recorded our sex several times and will send the videos to everyone,” one of the messages said.
For the threats, he used the name Pete Mitchell, the main character of the film “Top Gun,” and a reference he made in his memoirs.
“Please know that this case is a top priority and we are working diligently to complete the case,” an agent assigned to the case told the former recruit, according to Military.com’s initial report.
In the initial report, Kessler said Champagne remained on active duty during the investigation but no longer performed recruiting functions.
Champagne’s ex-wife, Kristi Champagne, and her father, Rob Kersch, raised concerns about the Marine sergeant – including sexual assault, emotional abuse and failure to pay child support – to local police and military authorities.
However, only the emotional abuse case met the criteria to be taken seriously by officials.
“At the very least, I hope that what happened to me gives validity to her and her situation,” Kristi said of her hopes for the former recruit — because she doubts she will live to see the day “when he will ever face legal responsibility is drawn”.
has reached out to Champagne and the Marine Corps Recruiting Command’s Sexual Assault Response Coordinator for comment.
Christopher Champagne denied any allegations of wrongdoing.