Civilian prosecutors arrest academy cadet on sexual assault charge
|
|
Prosecutors said Phillip D. Hawkins, 21, knew the victim was helpless and couldn’t consent to sex. Alcohol use has been at issue since police found the woman incoherent in the back of the cadet’s pickup truck July 20. Hawkins was turned over to Air Force authorities, and police impounded his truck. He was charged with two sexual assault counts. Bond was set at $2,000, said Dan Zook, El Paso County chief deputy district attorney. He faces six to 48 years in prison if he is convicted. If that happens, Hawkins would be discharged from the academy after an administrative hearing, academy spokeswoman Pam Ancker said. A similar hearing could be held even if Hawkins is not convicted. It was not immediately known whether Hawkins had an attorney. The district attorney’s office and the academy both reviewed the allegations because they involve a civilian woman and an off-campus incident. Zook said it was not unusual for civilian prosecutors to take such a case. More : edition.cnn.com |