Airman found guilty of two charges during general court-martial

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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 found Airman Bohannon guilty of rape and aggravated sexual assault. The panel found him not guilty of assault consummated by a battery.

The abusive sexual contact occurred Dec. 21, 2008 when Airman Bohannon sexually assaulted a fellow Airman at his home on Malmstrom AFB. On the evening of Dec. 20, 2008, Airman Bohannon had friends over and they had some alcoholic drinks. The victim became ill and went to the bathroom where she began vomiting. Later, Airman Bohannon went into the bathroom and began sexually groping the victim against her will. He also forced her hand onto his genitalia.

The rape and aggravated sexual assault occurred between January and February 2009.
Although Airman Bohannon and his wife were sleeping in separate beds due to marital problems, on one occasion, Airman Bohannon forced his wife to have sex with him against her will. On another occasion, Airman Bohannon groped his wife and digitally penetrated her despite her attempts to push him away and tell him to stop.

Following the findings phase of the court-martial, the sentencing phase began and officer court members were called upon to decide on an appropriate punishment. 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 9 years, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and reduction in rank to airman basic. Airman Bohannon will also have to register as a sex offender. Airman Bohannon now has the opportunity to submit a request for clemency to Maj. Gen. Roger W. Burg, 20th Air Force commander and the general court-martial convening authority.