Sinclair pleads guilty to reduced charges in sexual assault case

FORT BRAGG, N.D., March 17 (UPI) -- Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair formally pleaded guilty Monday to reduced charges at his sexual assault court-martial at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Sinclair, 51, and one of few generals to face a court-martials in the past 60 years, pleaded guilty to maltreating a subordinate under his command, misusing a government charge card, disobeying an order and making derogatory comments about female officers.

The major charges of sexual assault against the female Army captain, 34, with whom he had an affair, threatening to kill her and her family, and engaging in "open and notorious" sex with her in a parked car and on a hotel balcony, were dropped.

Col. James L. Pohl, the presiding military judge, accepted Sinclair's pleas, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"I failed her as a leader and a mentor, and caused harm to her emotional state," Sinclair told the judge at Monday's hearing.

Sinclair, the former deputy U.S. commander of troops in southern Afghanistan, is married, and said he deceived the captain by suggesting he would divorce his wife. He admitted he did so after the captain threatened to expose their affair.

Under military law, adultery is a serious offense. Sinclair pleaded guilty March 6 to adultery for conducting the three-year affair.

Testimony in the sentencing phase of the trial is expected to conclude Tuesday.

In court Monday, prosecutors asked for a maximum penalty of over 25 years. Pohl advised Sinclair he may also face dismissal from the military, forfeiture of pay and possible fines.