The Military’s Rough Justice on Sexual Assault

The New York Times ^ | 11/26/2014 | Robert Draper

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Col. Don Christensen, the chief prosecutor of the United States Air Force, sat in economy class on a flight to Venice and studied the folder of the sexual-assault case that would ultimately end his career. It was August 2012, and he was en route to Aviano Air Base to try a court-martial. Looking over the case, he could see why the judge advocate general, or JAG, at the base had requested him. Christensen had prosecuted more sexual-assault courts-martial than any other lawyer in the Air Force, and this case called for someone with experience. There would most likely be generals testifying. The accused himself was a senior officer. Even Christensen had seldom handled cases involving men of high rank. There was a simple reason for this: Victims were reluctant to report such officers, who enjoyed their own set of rules in the military justice system.

The officer in question was Lt. Col. James Wilkerson, Aviano’s inspector general and a highly regarded F-16 fighter pilot. Five months before, following a U.S.O. concert at the base, Wilkerson, who was 43, and his wife, Beth, hosted a small party at their house. One guest, a 48-year-old civilian named Kim Hanks, was stranded without a ride home. She accepted the Wilkersons’ offer to stay in their guest bedroom. According to Hanks, she was dead asleep at 3 in the morning when she felt a sudden discomfort. Wilkerson was in bed with her, pawing at her body...

[Old Sarge]

What is the rule now if a male soldier is assaulted by a homosexual?

[ScottinVA]

What is the rule now if a male soldier is assaulted by a homosexual?

The male soldier is still deemed at fault because homosexuals are a protected class in the military.

[Old Sarge]

Thank you for clearing that up. (I think...) :/

[2banana]

As with most sexual assaults, there was no physical evidence to buttress the case against Wilkerson.

Huh?

[yldstrk]

When I was in the military if someone said they were raped, the men said she was gay, what kind of logic?

[rfreedom4u]

From the article:

“his great-great-grandfather survived the Battle of the Little Bighorn.”

I guess he is part Indian huh?

[sauropod]

Christensen’s early experience in a military courtroom was primarily as a defense attorney, with most of his early cases involving drug possession or use. During that time, he also represented nine men accused of rape. He won acquittals for six of them — the other three cases were thrown out before trial. Christensen developed an expertise in unraveling a victim’s testimony by, among other things, questioning her demeanor before and after the assault. He kept to himself how distasteful he found these moments — how he imagined taking the women aside after the whole thing was over and whispering, I believe you.

So now the NYT is mind-reading?

[miss marmelstein]

Maybe he was a descendent of Custer’s horse?

[Louis Foxwell]

Of course the administration has let the cat out of the bag with homosexuality now rampant in the military.

[a fool in paradise]

What is the rule now if a male soldier is assaulted by a homosexual?

Don't ask and DON'T TELL!

[SeaHawkFan]

I’ve actually read of a number of prosecutions and convictions.

[LambSlave]

What is the rule now if a male soldier is assaulted by a homosexual?BOHICA?

[Old Sarge]

I have not - guessing that they’re not to be made widely public for obvious reasons...

[Fightin Whitey]

Sole White Survivor

[Old Sarge]

:snork: In more ways than one...

[ViLaLuz]

Most military sexual assaults are man on man. How inconvenient for the sodomite leadership.

[SeaHawkFan]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/may/20/victims-of-sex-assaults-in-military-are-mostly-sil/?page=all

[katana]

One of Captain Reno’s men?

[Old Sarge]

Bookmark for later read.

Thanks!