WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — An Air Force main general in Ohio has been convicted by a military choose of one of three specs of abusive sexual contact in the first-ever military trial of an Air Force general.
The charge confronted by Maj. Gen. William Cooley through the weeklong court-martial at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio had three specs, one alleging a forcible kiss and two alleging forcible touching in 2018. Cooley was convicted Saturday of the forcible kissing specification however acquitted of the opposite two.
Officials mentioned the decision marks the first court-martial trial and conviction of a general officer in the Air Force’s 75-year historical past.
A former commander of Air Force Research Laboratory, Cooley was charged with abusive sexual contact in an encounter with a lady who gave him a experience after a yard barbecue in New Mexico almost 4 years in the past. Officials mentioned the girl is a civilian who shouldn’t be a Department of Defense worker.
Cooley was to be sentenced Monday morning and will face as a lot as seven years in jail in addition to loss of rank, pay and advantages.
Cooley had the choice of a trial by court docket member jurors or by military choose, and selected to have the case heard by the choose.
“Today marks the first time an Air Force general officer has been held responsible for his heinous actions,” the girl’s legal professional Ryan Guilds, mentioned in an announcement, the Dayton Daily News reported. “… Hopefully, this will not be as difficult for the next survivor.”
Cooley was fired from his analysis laboratory place in January 2020 after an Air Force investigation and has labored in an administrative job since then. A message looking for remark was left for his legal professional Saturday.
“This case clearly demonstrates the commitment of Air Force leaders to fully investigate the facts and hold Airmen of any rank accountable for their actions when they fail to uphold Air Force standards,” Col. Eric Mejia, workers choose advocate for Air Force Materiel Command, mentioned in an announcement.
