Deal made in Army sex case
RALEIGH, N.C. — An Army general was expected to enter pleas today in a deal that includes the dismissal of sexual assault charges stemming from accusations that he forced a subordinate officer to perform oral sex.
The hearing at Fort Bragg would cap the prosecution of Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair in a closely watched case that came as the military grapples with sex crimes in its ranks.
Lawyers representing Sinclair said he will plead to lesser charges in exchange for the dropping of the sexual assault charges and two other counts that might have required Sinclair to register as a sex offender.
Sinclair, 51, had been accused of twice forcing a female captain to perform oral sex during a three-year extramarital affair. But the Army’s case against Sinclair crumbled as questions arose about whether the woman had lied in a pretrial hearing.
The deal is likely to have a punishment less than the maximum 15 years in prison and dismissal from the Army.
