Female Airman Won't Face Court-Martial

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Female Airman Won't Face Court-Martial

Friday September 14, 2007 3:31 PM

By ESTES THOMPSON

Associated Press Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Air Force has dropped a
criminal indecency charge filed against a female
airman who refused to testify against another airman
she accused of raping her, her lawyer said Friday.

The commander of the 43rd Airlift Wing at Pope Air
Force Base decided this week to drop the charge of
committing an indecent act against Airman 1st Class
Cassandra Hernandez, said her attorney, Capt. Chris
Eason.

The 20-year-old had been scheduled for a Sept. 24
court-martial, where she faced up to a year in prison
and dismissal from the Air Force.

She instead pleaded guilty to underaged drinking and
received a nonjudicial punishment, Eason said.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6921719,00.html

---

Source: Military Times

Charges dropped for airman claiming rape

By Erik Holmes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Sep 14, 2007 9:25:19 EDT

Sixteen months after Airman 1st Class Cassandra Hernandez
claimed she was gang-raped by three other airmen, her legal
saga is coming to an end.

The Air Force is dropping all charges against Hernandez, the
20-year-old woman at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., who was
to face court-martial Sept. 24 on charges of indecent acts
and underage drinking related to a May 2006 sexual
encounter in a base dorm room.

Hernandez and Col. Timothy Zadalis, the base commander,
agreed Sept. 4 to settle the charges through Article 15
nonjudicial punishment proceedings, according to a Pope
official. Hernandez admitted Sept. 6 to underage drinking
and received nonjudicial punishment, which was not
disclosed.

She refused to admit committing indecent acts, however.
Zadalis decided Wednesday that she would not be punished
but did issue a letter of reprimand to her.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/09/airforce_hernandez_070914w/%2e

[Mountainman]

1. I just don't understand this one. Never did when it was brought up before.

[saigon68]

2. WOW underage drinking

[OwnedByFerrets]

3. This is an entirely other subject...

but Ive always thought it ironic that soldiers are giving the "responsibility" of our nations protection and have the right to kill another human, but cant be trusted to drink an alcoholic beverage.:wtf:

[crikkett]

5. You see what happens when they do...

[flashl]

4. Prosecutorial misconduct n/t