Shaw Airman convicted of rape Published June 12, 2013 By 20th Fighter Wing Legal Office 20th Fighter Wing Legal Office SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- On June 7, a Shaw Airman was sentenced to a dishonorable discharge, 10 years confinement, reduction to E-1, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances following a conviction for rape. The case stemmed from an incident that occurred in Germany en route back from a deployment. The member attacked a fellow Airman while staying in a hotel with her after their plane was delayed over night. Witnesses traveled from all over the world and numerous different service branches in order to testify at the court-martial. In total, the member faced a charge with two specifications of rape, a charge with two specifications of attempted rape, and an additional charge of assault. A panel of six military members, consisting of three commissioned officers and three non-commissioned officers, found the member guilty of all charges after sitting through three days of evidence and witnesses. On the fourth day, the member was sentenced. After addressing motions and picking a panel of members, both sides gave their opening statements. The government then called the victim in the case, who gave an emotional account of what happened to her in the hotel that night. She went into the member's room to check on him after he had been drinking heavily, and the member then attacked her. He raped her, beat her, and threatened to kill her if she did not comply with his demands. The victim also testified regarding photographs of her injuries, which consisted of a black eye and bruising around her head and neck. The government next called two witnesses from adjoining rooms in the hotel that night, who both testified to noises they heard through the hotel walls. One such witness heard a female voice crying and pleading "Why are you doing this to me?" and "Why are you hurting me?" While the witness believed it to be a Skype conversation at the time, it directly corroborated the victim's testimony at trial. Another witness from the hotel that night testified that the victim banged on his door at around 4 a.m., naked and crying, explaining that she had just been raped. That witness escorted the victim down to the front desk, which called the police. A special agent from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations testified by walking the members through the crime scene, including photographs of evidence seized and blood recovered from the room. Finally, an expert biologist from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory testified about tests conducted on the blood and DNA recovered from the scene. All of these witnesses helped to prove the attack and rape beyond a reasonable doubt. Rape is a serious crime and carries strict punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including the possibility of confinement for life without parole. While this member did not receive life in prison, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and a dishonorable discharge. A dishonorable discharge is the most severe punishment a service member can receive. Crimes of this nature are vigilantly investigated and prosecuted in the military justice system.