US Air Force General Pleads Guilty to Lesser Charges
Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, a two-star general in the US Air Force, pleaded guilty to two lesser charges as his court-martial for sexual assault commenced on Monday in Texas. Stewart, the former commander of the 19th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio, admitted to pursuing an unprofessional relationship with a subordinate and committing adultery. However, he still faces charges of sexual assault, dereliction of duty, and conduct unbecoming an officer.
The court-martial process encountered initial difficulties. Jury selection, initially slated for June 17, was delayed due to administrative issues. The selection process for a panel of eight high-ranking officers extended into the weekend, highlighting the challenge of assembling a qualified jury from the limited pool of high-ranking officers in the Air Force. Initially, 13 generals were considered, but it took calling in 18 officers and dismissing 10 to finally seat the panel by Saturday.
Sherilyn Bunn, Stewart’s senior defence counsel, expressed frustration over the delays, criticizing the Air Education and Training Command for inadequate preparation. “It’s shameful how their lack of foresight and effective planning wasted nearly the entire first week of these proceedings,” Bunn stated.
Maj. Gen. Stewart was removed from his command in May 2023. Charges against him include committing a sexual act without consent near Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma and asking someone to spend the night in his hotel room in Colorado in March 2023. Additionally, he faces charges of dereliction of duty for pursuing a relationship with a subordinate and allegedly controlling an aircraft within 12 hours of consuming alcohol.
This case is significant as it marks the first time an Air Force general officer has faced a jury in a court-martial related to sexual crimes. In 2022, then-Maj. Gen. William Cooley faced a court-martial for abusive sexual contact but was tried by a judge rather than a jury, resulting in a reprimand, forfeiture of pay, and demotion to colonel.
