US sergeant sentenced to 20 years for sexual assault
SAN ANTONIO - The Associated Press
An Air Force instructor, Luis Walker was sentenced to 20 years in prison July 21, after being convicted of rape and sexual assault in a sweeping sex scandal that rocked one of the busiest military training centers in the U.S.A military jury at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio found Staff Sgt. Luis Walker guilty on all 28 charges he faced, including rape, aggravated sexual contact and multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault. A judge consolidated those charges into 20, but that didn’t affect Walker’s maximum sentence. He could have received life in prison. Walker is among 12 Lackland instructors investigated for sexual misconduct toward at least 31 female trainees. Six instructors have been charged, on counts ranging from rape to adultery, and Walker was the first to stand trial. Walker also faced the most serious charges of all those accused.
Five women testified for the duration of hearing, saying they couldn’t sleep or maintain relationships with men after the assaults. They said Walker’s actions eroded their trust in authority and affected their performance at work.
