Airmen found guilty during general court-martial

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  A general court-martial was held here Nov. 3-5, 2009, in the case of United States v. Airman Jeffery D. Bohannon II. Airman Bohannon, a member of the 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron, was charged with one specification of rape using force, one specification of aggravated sexual assault, one specification of abusive sexual contact and one specification of assault consummated by a battery.

At trial, Airman Bohannon elected to be tried by officer members. He pled guilty to abusive sexual contact and not guilty to rape using force, aggravated sexual assault, and assault consummated by a battery. The military judge, Col. David Castro, accepted Airman Bohannon's guilty plea for the abusive sexual contact. The panel of officer members additionally found Airman Bohannon guilty of rape and aggravated sexual assault. The panel found him not guilty of assault consummated by a battery.

During the sentencing phase of the trial, both the defense and prosecution presented evidence and argument for the court members to consider in determining an appropriate sentence. Following several hours of deliberation, the panel sentenced Airman Bohannon to a dishonorable discharge, confinement for nine years, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and reduction in rank to airman basic.

One month later, another general court-martial was held in the case of United States v. Senior Airman David J. Janssen. Airman Janssen, a member of the 341st Logistics Readiness Squadron, was charged with one specification of rape using force, two specifications of assault consummated by battery, one specification of communicating a threat, two specifications of obstructing justice, one specification of disobeying a noncommissioned officer and one specification of breaking restriction to the limits of Malmstrom Air Force Base.

At trial, Airman Janssen elected to be tried by officer members and pled not guilty to all charges. The panel found Airman Janssen guilty of rape using force, both specifications of assault consummated by battery, disobeying a noncommissioned officer, breaking restriction and one specification of obstructing justice. The panel found him not guilty of communicating a threat and one specification of obstructing justice.

Following the defense and prosecution's presentation of evidence and arguments for members to consider in determining a sentence, the panel met for several hours of deliberation. Airman Janssen was punished with a bad conduct discharge, confinement for 12 years and 8 months, forfeiture of $1,300 pay per month for 12 years, and reduction in rank to airman basic.

In both cases, the members' adjudged sentences included significant punishment actions, including removal from service, forfeiture of pay, loss of rank, and confinement. Further, if Maj. Gen. Roger W. Burg, 20th Air Force commander and the general court-martial convening authority, approves the members' findings, both Airmen will have to register as sex offenders.

Although both Airmen have the opportunity to submit matters to Maj. Gen. Burg for his review and decision regarding clemency, the substantial punishment components of the adjudged sentences of the two officer panels appears to send a strong message regarding tolerance for these type offenses.