Court-martial in Air Force sex scandal begins

In this June 22, 2012 image made from video, female airmen march during graduation at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. A widening sex scandal has rocked Lackland, one of the nation's busiest military training centers, where four male instructors are charged with having sex with, and in one case raping, female trainees. / AP Photo/John L. Mone

Last Updated 5:25 p.m. ET

(CBS/AP) SAN ANTONIO - An instructor at an Air Force base in San Antonio is facing rape and sexual assault charges at court-martial, the first to stand trial in a sex scandal implicating a dozen people that has rocked one of the busiest military training centers.

Staff Sgt. Luis Walker faces up to life in prison and a dishonorable discharge if convicted.

Walker is among 12 instructors at Lackland Air Force Base who are being investigated in the scandal. Walker faces the most serious charges. He is charged with 28 counts, including rape, aggravated sexual contact and multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault.

Procedural issues were discussed Monday morning and opening statements are expected Monday afternoon.

Walker's father and two other family members were in the courtroom at the base.

Military officials say the initial flirtations that Walker directed at the women he trained became something more sinister: threats and intimidation that led to sex and eventually rape.

The 10 female recruits Walker is accused of either sexually assaulting or engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct with are expected to testify during the court-martial at Lackland. A seven-member jury made up of military personnel will decide the case.

At least 31 female trainees have been identified as victims in the sex scandal.

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Officials at Lackland are calling Walker's court-martial the "cornerstone case" in the ongoing investigation.

"We haven't had a case of this magnitude, certainly in recent memory," said Brent Boller, a spokesman for Joint Base San Antonio, which operates Lackland.

Walker's civilian attorney, Joseph Esparza, declined to comment.

The start of the court-martial Monday is expected to mostly deal with procedural matters. Testimony in the case is not likely to begin until Tuesday.

The sexual misconduct at the base apparently began in 2009, but the first woman didn't come forward until last year. The first allegations were levied against Walker, who is accused of crimes that allegedly took place between October 2010 and January 2011.

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[samXXkiley]

coucou,
another sexual scandal that has lasted years without being denounced
this trial will break the silence, it will encourage others to speak.
"au revoir"

[John782011]

Karek Why should they not be guilty if convicted. DO you disagree with the UCMJ under which they are charged or do you even have any idea what they are being charged with and the rules that apply?

[Lerianis6]

Dozens? You would think that the first woman who this was done to would have complained.

Something reeks about allegations like this where the woman in question only come forwards after exceedingly great periods of time.

[John782011]

Lerianis, First some of the people were willing participants as new recruits to the AF. That does not provide their instructors to take advantage of them. Some were supposedly threatened, while others probably disclosed it to the AF criminal investigator when inqueries were made. With a daughter who interned as a crisis councellor, she found many of the victims she met had been victims for a long time before the problem surfaced to authorities as the action that caused it to surface was either a mental or physical health crisis like suicide or hospitalization.

[kevina0440]

Oh Lerianis, have you (or anyone you're close to) been in the military, been sexually assaulted, or both? Anytime there's a great difference in the amount of authority one sexual partner has over the other in their everyday lives, there's no accurate way to determine how much of the subordinate partner's participation is voluntary vs. coerced. This (along with perceived favoritism) is one of the chief reasons that fraternization (sexual contact between two people of different rank) is prohibited by the UCMJ. Trust and consistent treatment are vital components of an effective command structure.

If you're genuinely interested in understanding the situation, please do read through the more thoughtful comments here. Otherwise I think you may just be trolling for attention.

[formerlyluvnut]

Authority can always getcha some "love" but that "love" can always get your authority. Fools think with the wrong head all the time.

[inletbeach]

This is a throwback to the past. How can men still think the are entitled to seduce women under their command? IF they want sex, let them earn it through romance, not intimidation.

[WakeUpPeople001]

If they want sex, they should control their animal instincts until after the student graduates.

[Lerianis6]

WakeUp, there is nothing wrong with 'seducing a student'. That has gone on for years and something tells me that the woman in question wouldn't be whining about it unless:

1. The 'seduction' was actually flat out rape.
2. The women thought that they were going to get some 'added consideration' which the teacher/superior didn't want to give them.

In the first case, something wrong was actually done. In the second, not at all.

[karek40]

They will be found guilty (not that they are guilty) it is just a political decision that must occur. So if they are guilty they are guilty and if they are innocent they are guilty.

[WakeUpPeople001]

Rule #1 for instructors (in the military, at a university, etc.): Do NOT have an "intimate" relationship with any of your students. Do NOT even give the appearance of such relationship.

Period. End of discussion.

[OnTheRoad01]

You are either off your meds or you are using too many meds that you should not be on!