A military judge has convicted an Air Force major general of one sexual misconduct charge on Saturday, the first-ever conviction of a general in the history of the branch.
The suspect was identified to be Maj. Gen. William Cooley was found guilty of forcibly kissing a woman, a civilian, who was not part of the Department of Defense or one of its employees. The judge acquitted Cooley of two alleged forcible touching incidents during a weeks-long court-martial conducted at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.
Air Force Sexual Misconduct
A staff judge advocate for Air Force Materiel Command, Col. Eric Mejia, said that the case clearly demonstrated the commitment of Air Force leaders to fully investigate the facts and hold Airmen of any rank accountable for their misconduct. Cooley faces seven years in jail as well as a loss of rank, pay, or benefits.
In a statement, the victim's attorney, Ryan Guilds, said that the day of the conviction marked the first time that an Air Force general officer has been held responsible for his heinous crimes. He added that the conviction would hopefully mean the same struggles will not be passed down to future victims, as per Fox News.
Based on the statement of the Air Force, the victim, who was not named, said in her court testimony that Cooley asked for a ride after a backyard day-long social event. It continued that during the short ride, the major general allegedly told the woman that he fantasized about having sex with her.
The victim claims that the Air Force general pressed her up against the driver's side window, forcibly kissed her, and groped through her clothes. While the Air Force does not name sexual assault victims, the woman consented to allow news organizations to disclose her relationship with Cooley without revealing her identity.
According to CNN, Guilds praised the military judge's ruling and said that the court-martial process in this particular case was "fair." He also commended his client's bravery through the trial and facing her abuser who held authority and power in the Air Force.
Victims of Sexual Abuse
The victim said after the verdict that "the price for peace in my extended family was my silence, and that was too high a price to pay." She added that doing the right thing and speaking up and telling the truth about sexual abuse should not be this difficult.
Guilds noted that many changes made over the last 10 years have made it less daunting for sexual misconduct victims assaulted by military personnel to come forward and speak about their experiences. The changes include policy developments that better support accusers, greater sensitivity by the military leadership to sexual assault, increased procedural protections for victims and prosecutors who are inclined to believe survivors.
The victim's attorney added that despite the conviction, future victims will have to come face to face with the challenging justice system. Cooley's case began after the woman and her spouse reported the assault to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations in December 2019, the New York Times reported.
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