Sex assault charges filed against former Scott Air Force Base commander
Charges have been filed against a former Scott Air Force Base commander previously ousted amid sexual misconduct accusations.
Col. John Howard was charged with two counts of cruelty and maltreatment, two counts of sexual assault, one count of conduct unbecoming an officer, and one count of fraternization in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
A public preliminary hearing is set for July 6, when a preliminary-hearing officer will review the charges and evidence, according to Capt. Ryan DeCamp, a spokesman for the 18th Air Force. The officer will then make a recommendation to Lt. Gen. Giovanni Tuck, commander of the 18th Air Force, who will determine whether the case goes to a court martial.
Leadership in the 18th Air Force issued the charges, DeCamp said.
Howard continues to work for the base providing Operational Acquisitions Support to the Air Force Installation Contracting Agency, according to DeCamp.
The Air Force would not provide details relating to the charges.
Howard was commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing until December, when the commander of the 18th Air Force, replaced him, saying he lost confidence in Howard’s ability to lead the wing.
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations has been investigating the case since December. The investigations unit is a federal law enforcement agency for the Air Force that only investigates potential felony-level crimes, according to unit spokeswoman Linda Card.
The 18th Air Force spokesman said no further details would be released in the case.
Col. Leslie Maher was named the new commander of 375th Air Mobility Wing in March.
More information on the charges, according to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Manual for Courts-Martial:
Cruelty and maltreatment: Any person subject to this chapter who is guilty of cruelty toward, or oppression or maltreatment of, any person subject to his orders shall be punished as a court-martial may direct. The victim must be subject to the orders of the accused. Maximum punishment is dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances and confinement for two years.
Sexual assault: Commits a sexual act upon another person by threatening or placing that other person in fear, causing bodily harm to that person, making a fraudulent representation that the sexual act serves a professional purpose, or inducing a belief by any artifice. Commits a sexual act upon another person when the person knows or reasonably should know that the other person is asleep, unconscious, or otherwise unaware the act is occurring; or commits a sexual act upon another person when the other person is incapable of consenting to the sexual act. Maximum punishment is forfeiture of all pay and allowances and confinement for 30 years. The mandatory minimum is dismissal or dishonorable discharge.
Conduct unbecoming an officer: Any commissioned officer, cadet, or midshipman who is convicted of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman shall be punished as a court-martial may direct. Maximum punishment is a dismissal, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for a period not in excess of that authorized for the most analogous offense for which a punishment is prescribed by the Manual for Courts Martial, or, if none is prescribed, for one year.
Fraternization: The gist of this offense is a violation of the custom of the armed forces against fraternization. Not all contact or association between officers and enlisted persons is an offense. Whether the contact or association in question is an offense depends on the surrounding circumstances. Maximum punishment is dismissal, forfeiture of all pay and allowances and confinement for two years.
This story was originally published June 4, 2018 at 9:23 AM with the headline "Sex assault charges filed against former Scott Air Force Base commander."