Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio (AP)-An Ohio Air Force general was tried by a military judge on one of three counts of sexual abuse during an Air Force general’s first military trial.
Major General William Cooley was charged with three counts, one forced kiss, and two forced hits in 2018 in a week-long military trial at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Cooley was convicted Saturday of a violent kiss. Specification, but justified the other two.
Officials said the verdict marked the first military trial and a general conviction for an officer in the Air Force’s 75-year history.
A former head of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Cooley was accused of sexual abuse in an encounter with a woman who accompanied him after a barbecue in a New Mexico backyard nearly four years ago. Officials said the woman was a civilian who was not an employee of the Department of Defense.
Cooley’s sentence is set for Monday morning and could face up to seven years in prison, as well as loss of rank, salary and benefits.
A member of the Cool Court had the opportunity to be heard by a jury or military judge and chose that the case be heard by a judge.
“Today is the first time an Air Force officer has been held responsible for his heinous actions,” Ryan Gilds, an attorney for a woman, told the Dayton Daily News. Reported. “… hopefully not that hard for the next salvation.”
Cooley was removed from his research lab in January 2020 following an Air Force investigation and has worked in the administrative service ever since. On Saturday, his lawyer left a message asking for comment.
“This case clearly demonstrates the commitment of Air Force leaders to thoroughly investigate the facts and be responsible for Air Force actions at any level when they do not meet Air Force standards,” he said. Col. Eric Mejia, Attorney General of the Air Force Material Command. It can be read in the statement.
Source: Huffpost
