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Show July 22, 1993 Hill members guiltfy of sexueal Ihieaireissinfiierit by Frances Kosakowsky Hilltop Times staff Court martial hearings for two male Hill AFB servicemembers charged with sexual harassment of female subordinates ended in convictions recently. B SMSgt. Roldan J. Garcia. SMSgt. Roldan J. Garcia, a Air Force Reserve NCO assigned to the 419th Support Squadron, recently pleaded guilty to indecent assaults and sexual harassment of two female subordinates and was sentenced by a military judge in a general court-martito be confined for four months, reduced to senior airman and given a bad conduct discharge. Garcia began serving his confinement immediately after the general court-martia-l. He' had been recalled to active duty by the commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center to face the charges against him. The recall to active duty was ratified by the secretary of the Air Force, permitting the court to sentence Garcia if found guilty. His sentence will be reviewed by the General Court-MartiConvening Authority. Garcia worked as an air reserve technician with the 419th Fighter Wing, serving as a civil service member dur 20-ye- ar al al It's ing the week. During periods of active duty, he performed in his military role of senior master sergeant. The misconduct charges arose when he and the female victims were on temporary duty status at Lowry AFB, Colo., and Tinker AFB, Okla. In both cases, he entered his female subordinates' rooms and began making unwelcome and uninvited physical and verbal sexual advances. He was rebuffed both times. At Tinker, his behavior persisted over several days. Garcia pleaded guilty to committing these offenses, which are punishable under Article 93 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, cruelty and maltreatment of subordinates, and Article 134, UCMJ, indecent assault and indecent language. He said that these acts against his female subordinates were committed to satisfy his sexual desires. He also said that the misconduct permanently and detrimentally affected the working relationships between himself and the female NCOs. He agreed that his misconduct constituted cruelty, oppression and maltreatment against them. In exchange for his plea of guilty, additional charges of mtimidating witnesses were withdrawn. Garcia had OPEN: . brought suit against his victims in state court for defamation of character after they filed a social actions complaint against him. Garcia will now submit his case for consideration for clemency where his records will be reviewed twice for a possible reduction in sentence. Brig. Gen. Lester L. Lyles, commander, Ogden ALC, will decide whether to order imposition of the complete sentence of the military judge or if a reduction is appropriate. If the bad conduct discharge is approved, Garcia's sentence will be reviewed by the Air Force Court of Military Review for legal sufficiency. An approved bad conduct discharge will void all military retirement benefits. B 1st Lt. Anthony Romano. 1st Lt. Anthony Romano, of the 649th Civil Engineering Squadron, was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice in the investigation into his sexual harassment of female subordinates, conduct unbecoming an officer when he lied under oath and attempted to influence the testimony of one of his victims, and fraternization with a female subordinate. Thirty witnesses testified at the eight-da- y trial. Romano was sentenced to dismissal from the Air Force, forfeiture of $500 pay for three months, and three months' confinement. He has since served his confinement time and is now on appellate leave pending review of his record of trial by the Air Force Court of Military Review in Washington, D.C. MON.-THUR- S. FRI. 10:00-5:0- 0 NOW OPEN SATURDAYS Hilltop Times 7 According to evidence produced at the trial, a first sergeant heard rumors that Romano was dating an airman in a section under his command. The airman told her first sergeant that Romano had been pressuring her to date him and that he had taken her on dates to a concert, a private club, restaurants and an awards banquet and had invited her to his private residence. The airman said she was uncomfortable, but felt she had no choice except to go along. However, when the airman was called to give a statement to an investigator, she denied Romano's sexual harassment and fraternization. Subsequent testimony established that Romano had conspired with others to obstruct justice and that the airman had been pressured to deny the fraternization. The court also found that Romano himself had lied under oath to investigators on two separate occasions when he tried to cover up the dating, fraternization and sexual harassment. The chief of military justice, Maj. G. Anthony Wolusky, said that fraternization is a violation of Article 134 of the UCMJ," which prohibits improper contact or association between officers and enlisted persons. "Not all contact is an offense, only that which violates the custom of the armed service. "Factors that are considered include whether the conduct has compromised the chain of command, resulted in the appearance of partiality or otherwise undermined good order, discipline, authority or morale," Wolusky said. 10:00-5:3- 0 10:00-2:0- 0 Welcome To O O JL- 4 4 CASH 4-Y- OU 1580 SOUTH STATE CLEARFIELD CASH ADVANCES MADE SO EASY ANY "OLE" DAN CAN BORROW! K! July 18-- 24 Borrow Up To $200 On A Post Dated 1 Check For Two Weeks!! i |