Reporting Of Sex Assaults In The Military Appears To Be On The Rise

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - Information released Thursday about three new sex assault cases at the Air Force Academy was certainly shocking, but some are encouraged that it's a sign more victims are willing to come forward than in the past.

The Department of Defense says sexual assault is the most under-reported crime in the military because of fear of retaliation, but in recent years it has been implementing programs to change that.

The three new cases -- all separate -- involve cadets at the Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, according to court documents:

- Cadet 3rd Class Stephen Claxton faces four charges stemming from an incident in March 2010, including two counts of abusive sexual contact, underage drinking and assault.

- Cadet Robert Evenson is accused of raping a fellow cadet betwen March and July of 2010. He is accused of holding the woman down against her will. He faces charges of rape, aggravated sexual contact and engaging in an unprofessional relationship.

- Kyle Cressy is accused of sexually assaulting of a "substantially incapacitated" woman. Cressy faces two charges, including aggravated sexual assault.

"We take these allegations seriously. Sexual misconduct is a particularly egregious offense and we have a zero tolerance policy in the Air Force," said Academy vice superintendent Col. Tamra Rank.

Maj. Alisa Englert runs the sexual assault prevention response program for the Colorado National Guard and spoke with CBS4 about the issue.

"In the military we're like a family so we're supposed to be able to count on one another and to know that a servicemember is assaulting or hurting another servicemember is hard," Englert said.

Englert says the military has pushed hard in recent years for a no tolerance approach.

In 2005 the Department of Defense started requiring all service members to get annual awareness training, and since then more victims have come forward.

"More people are more apt to come forward and feel more comfortable coming forward because they have a safe place to go now," Englert said.

Last week a report by the Department of Defense said the number of sexual assaults at military academies increased nearly 60 percent in the past academic year. There is no confirmation on whether the three recent cases were included in those totals.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Claxton Charge Sheet
Cressy Charge Sheet
Evenson Charge Sheet