Cadet Who Said She Was Raped Is Given Honor Code Immunity

An Air Force Academy commander testified Thursday that a cadet who said she was raped would not be punished for violating the honor code under the academy’s new policy for handling assault allegations.

“We tried to look at a way forward for this cadet in line with the agenda for change,” said Col. Debra Gray, vice commandant of cadets and one of several commanders installed after the assault scandal broke in February.

Gray said the case was a “bridge” between how the academy used to handle assault allegations and what it would do now.

The hearing to determine whether 2nd Lt. Ronen Segal would face a court-martial on rape and other charges ended Thursday; a decision will be made before the end of the month by an investigating officer. Segal has been accused of attacking the cadet at his Colorado Springs home Aug. 25 after a night of drinking.

Segal, an academy graduate and an acquaintance of the woman from their student days, is stationed at the North American Aerospace Defense Command at nearby Cheyenne Mountain. His attorney says Segal is not guilty.

Many women who have come forward to say they were molested or raped by male cadets have accused military commanders of ignoring them or punishing them for code violations, such as drinking alcohol or fraternization.

Gray said she and the cadet commandant, Brig. Gen. Johnny Weida, decided to grant the woman amnesty for any honor code violations related to the assault claim, such as leaving the academy without authorization or being out of uniform.

Gray also said that previous violations for academic performance and failing to show up for physical fitness tests would go in the woman’s file, but that there would be no punishment.

Defense attorney Frank Spinner asked whether that approach would become standard practice at the academy.

“It is our policy that we take care of the victim first in terms of their immediate need and then we investigate the incident,” Gray said.

She added that academy leaders wanted the woman, a sophomore from Virginia who is on leave, to be able to come back when she’s ready.

Spinner had attacked the woman’s credibility, saying she agreed to testify only after winning amnesty. On Thursday, the defense also called a witness who testified that the woman told her she wasn’t forced to have sex.

Deborah Bianchi, the mother of the accuser’s roommate, said the woman sought her out the day after the incident. Bianchi said she asked whether the woman was forced into the situation, intimidated or injured, and whether she wanted to press charges.

To all of those questions, Bianchi said, the woman said no.

If the case goes to a court-martial and Segal is convicted, he could face a life sentence and dismissal from the Air Force.

Segal is the second man associated with the academy to be charged with rape since the scandal broke. Sophomore cadet Douglas Meester, 20, has asked to resign from the Air Force rather than face a court-martial on charges that he raped a female cadet in his dorm room in October.