Air Force airman convicted of sexual assault after court-martial at Scott

An Air Force enlisted man assigned to an elite military unit has been found guilty of sexual assault after a court-martial held last week at Scott Air Force Base.

Senior Airman John D. Gonzalez, who was charged with violating Article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, was sentenced to reduction to E-1 classification, or airman basic, total forfeiture of pay and allowances, confinement for six years and a bad-conduct discharge.

After a four-day trial, a jury consisting of enlisted personnel convicted Gonzalez on the sexual assault charge.

Gonzalez was assigned to the 19th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Campbell, Ky., and was initially arrested in 2013 by the Nashville, Tenn., Police Department, which maintained jurisdiction. The 19th Air Support Operations Squadron, or Blue Lightning, integrates air and space power into the combat plans and operations of the storied 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), according to the unit’s website.

The Blue Lightning squadron provides tactical air control parties and a weather station for Campbell Army Airfield, as well as supporting Air Force missions worldwide.

When the state case against Gonzalez failed to go to court, the 375th Air Mobility Wing judge advocate requested and obtained jurisdiction. In October 2015 the 19th Air Support Operations Squadron commander preferred charges against Gonzalez, which led to the conviction, according to a statement from the 375th Air Mobility Wing.

This story was originally published April 26, 2016 at 5:35 PM with the headline "Air Force airman convicted of sexual assault after court-martial at Scott."