Sex-Case Prosecutor Points to McKinney on Threats

A government prosecutor raised the possibility Wednesday that former Sgt. Maj. of the Army Gene C. McKinney may be behind reported threats to harm one of six women who have accused him of sexual misconduct.

But Charles Gittins, McKinney’s civilian attorney, angrily told the judge that the reported threats probably were invented, or possibly made by former co-workers with a grudge against the woman.

With the Jan. 6 date for McKinney’s court-martial less than a month away, the pretrial hearing was spiced with unusually personal accusations, including the government’s speculation about McKinney’s activities.

Defense and prosecution lawyers also became entangled in personal attacks, prompting the judge to caution Lt. Col. Michael Child, the government’s lead prosecutor, to “be professional.”

Child told the judge, Col. Ferdinand D. Clervi, that one of McKinney’s accusers, Army Staff Sgt. Christine Fetrow, had twice been moved to undisclosed locations and new jobs this year in response to threats by unknown individuals.

The government did not want to disclose Fetrow’s location or workplace, Child said, because McKinney might be behind the threats against her, which he said were meant to stop her from testifying.

“The government has made bald speculation upon bald speculation, upon bald speculation, that Sgt. Maj. McKinney was involved in some way in these threats,” Gittins said.

“He’s frankly insulted by repeated speculation . . . that he’s involved in some sort of threat to Sgt. Fetrow,” Gittins said later.

McKinney was not available to respond to Child’s remarks. He has denied the sexual-misconduct charges against him.