Maj. Gen. William Cooley guilty of sexual contact charge in first military trial of an Air Force general

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR Drive Base, Ohio — An Air Pressure big basic in Ohio has been convicted by a navy choose of one particular of 3 technical specs of abusive sexual contact in the 1st-ever navy trial of an Air Power normal.

The charge confronted by Maj. Gen. William Cooley in the course of the weeklong courtroom-martial at Wright-Patterson Air Power Base in Ohio had three technical specs, 1 alleging a forcible kiss and two alleging forcible touching in 2018. Cooley was convicted Saturday of the forcible kissing specification but acquitted of the other two.

Officers mentioned the verdict marks the 1st court-martial trial and conviction of a typical officer in the Air Force’s 75-yr record.

A previous commander of Air Force Study Laboratory, Cooley was charged with abusive sexual get in touch with in an experience with a female who gave him a trip immediately after a backyard barbecue in New Mexico approximately 4 many years back. Officials explained the female is a civilian who is not a Office of Protection worker.

Cooley was to be sentenced Monday early morning and could face as a great deal as seven yrs in jail as properly as loss of rank, pay and positive aspects.

Cooley experienced the option of a trial by court docket member jurors or by navy decide, and selected to have the case read by the choose.

“Today marks the initially time an Air Force normal officer has been held accountable for his heinous steps,” the woman’s attorney Ryan Guilds, mentioned in a assertion, the Dayton Day-to-day News noted. “… With any luck ,, this will not be as tricky for the following survivor.”

Cooley was fired from his investigation laboratory place in January 2020 immediately after an Air Pressure investigation and has worked in an administrative occupation because then. A concept searching for remark was remaining for his lawyer Saturday.

“This scenario obviously demonstrates the commitment of Air Pressure leaders to absolutely investigate the details and keep Airmen of any rank accountable for their actions when they are unsuccessful to uphold Air Drive criteria,” Col. Eric Mejia, staff decide advocate for Air Force Materiel Command, stated in a assertion.