Rape Accuser Said Sex Liaisons Made Life ‘Easier,’ Witness Says

An Army trainee who accused a former drill instructor of rape claimed she received special treatment in return for the sex, a witness testified Tuesday.

The testimony at the court-martial of Staff Sgt. Delmar Simpson was aimed at discrediting a key prosecution witness who contends that Simpson raped her nine times in 1995, when she was in his advanced infantry training company at Aberdeen.

Pfc. Dana Jackson testified that the 23-year-old accuser confided to her that “her life was a little easier” as a result of having sex with Simpson. The accuser sounded angry “but she didn’t say rape,” Jackson said. “I thought it was consensual.”

The defense rested after calling Capt. Scott Alexander, commander of Simpson’s company at Aberdeen from August 1994 to May 1996. He said he was unaware of any complaints of sexual harassment or misconduct against Simpson.

“It’s beyond me why there was no inkling whatsoever to me of any misconduct, why I didn’t know what was going on. It’s very disturbing to me that such events have occurred,” Alexander said.

The prosecution said it plans to call at least one more witness Tuesday before resting its case.

Another defense witness, Spec. Hannah Pitt, said the same alleged victim told her she had a sexual relationship with Simpson, who swore her to secrecy even though trainees were supposed to report all sexual harassment.

Another witness, Pvt. Tamia Benn, testified earlier Tuesday that two other trainees “got special treatment” because they were having sex with drill sergeants other than Simpson.

Prosecutors have said the two trainees referred to by Benn also had sex with Simpson, and one has accused him of rape.