Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair, prosecutors reach plea deal in sex case

DURHAM, N.C. -- Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair has agreed to plead guilty to lesser charges in a deal with Army prosecutors, who have agreed drop charges that he forced an Army captain to perform oral sex, threatened to kill her and her parents and engaged in “open and notorious” sex.

The plea deal would end a flawed prosecution in a high-profile military sexual abuse case and is likely to result in far lower penalties for Sinclair, who rose quickly through the ranks before his career was derailed by allegations made by a 34-year-old captain. His punishment will be determined by a military judge after a sentencing hearing at Ft. Bragg.

Under the deal, prosecutors will dismiss charges that Sinclair abused his government charge card in pursuit of a three-year affair with the captain that stretched over three continents. The Army will also drop charges that Sinclair “coerced and compelled” the captain to continue their relationship.

Sinclair, 51, who is married with two children, will plead guilty to mistreating his lover and will agree that his failure to end their relationship and divorce his wife caused the captain emotional distress.

“After wasting millions of taxpayer dollars, the Army finally admitted what it’s known for many months: General Sinclair is innocent of sexual assault,’’ said Sinclair’s attorney, Richard Scheff. “BG Sinclair has admitted to mistakes that are normally a matter between husbands and wives, or employees and [human resources] departments. It’s time to put this matter to rest.”

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david.zucchino@latimes.com