Convicted officer might be kicked out of Air Force

Convicted officer might be kicked out of Air Force
By Charlie Reed, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Wednesday, September 10, 2008

RAF LAKENHEATH, England — An officer convicted this summer of molesting a 10-year-old could still be kicked out of the military after avoiding a dismissal during sentencing.

Maj. Brandon Smith, 36, pleaded guilty to "assault consummated by battery with a minor" for licking the child’s buttocks while she slept and a slew of other charges including assault, drunk and disorderly conduct and conduct that discredits the armed forces. The charges stem from a night of partying in July 2007 in which Smith also attacked two junior enlisted airmen.

Col. Gordon Hammock, a military judge, fined Smith $4,000 and ordered him to 45 days’ confinement at a June court-martial. He got out of jail eight days early for good behavior and has since gone back to work at the 48th Medical Group. Smith, who had never provided patient care, was reassigned to a different squadron before the trial and returned to that position after he was released.

While he avoided a dismissal — the equivalent of a dishonorable discharge for the enlisted ranks — during trial, commanders at the 48th Fighter Wing have since decided to pursue an administrative discharge, according to base officials.

It’s standard procedure, said Col. Zeb Pischnotte, 3rd Air Force staff judge advocate, regarding the general process for airmen and officers who are convicted but not dismissed or discharged punitively.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=57308

An enlisted person would have probably gotten 10 years.