Air Force Drums Out Captain Over Love Affair
An Air Force captain who disobeyed his commanders’ orders to halt his love affair with an enlisted woman was dismissed from the service Sunday and ordered to serve a 15-day prison term.
A six-member military jury decided the sentence after prosecutors said Capt. Joseph Belli should serve a year in prison. Belli, 35, pleaded guilty to fraternization, conspiracy and disobeying direct orders. The charges carry a maximum 22-year prison term.
Court-martial Maj. Terry O’Brien said Belli allowed his personal life to cloud his sense of duty. “The willful, blatant and repeated refusal to obey orders--that’s the crux of this case,” she said.
Before court resumed Sunday, Belli said, “Every time they gave me the order I walked out of the room with good intentions. But you just can’t stop loving somebody.”
The pilot was married and the father of five children when he began the affair with Airman Susan Redo, then 19. She has been demoted to the Air Force’s lowest rank. The couple married in March, two days after Belli’s divorce was finalized.
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