A U.S. Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton has been charged with sexual assault and violating liberty restriction after a 14-year-old girl was found in his barracks. The girl had been missing for over two weeks before military police located her on June 28. The Marine, who has not been identified, now faces a preliminary hearing scheduled for August 17 to determine if he will face a court-martial.

Details about how the Marine met the teenager and how she gained access to the base have not been released. The girl's grandmother had reported her missing on June 13, and there were fears that she had been sold by a sex trafficker. She has since been returned to her grandmother in Spring Valley, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

The Marine also faces charges in an unrelated case. Military authorities are currently reviewing all charges and evidence to determine if the case will proceed to court-martial.

To protect the ongoing investigation and the rights of the Marine, further details have not been released at this time.