AFA Cadet Charged With Drug Distribution
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Cadet First Class Jacob S. Billeter is accused of using Ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and an Ecstasy derivative known as “Molly.” He is also accused of distributing the same drugs, in addition to psilocybin mushrooms. Billeter declined an Article 32 hearing and will face a general court martial. If convicted of all charges, Billeter faces 80 years of confinement, dismissal from the Air Force and forfeiture of all pay allowances. Friday’s news came just after twelve cases of sexual assault or harassment have been reported at the Air Force Academy since new leaders took over in April, academy officials said Friday. Nine cases apparently happened within the past six months, while the other three happened between nine months and two years ago, spokesman John Van Winkle said. Nine of the reports involved cadets attacking or harassing other cadets, said Johnny Whitaker, director of academy communications. “The bad news is that it’s occurring and that’s unfortunate — we want to stop that,” Whitaker said Thursday. “The good news is that it appears people are willing to come forward.” The accounting is the first since the academy’s sexual assault scandal began in January. Dozens of female cadets say commanders ignored their assault reports and punished some for coming forward. Since then, new leadership has been installed and a sexual assault response team was established to respond immediately to any allegation. Of the latest cases, six allege sexual assaults, four allege rapes, one inappropriate sexual conduct and one sexual harassment. Cadet commandant Brig. Gen. Johnny Weida said investigators already have dismissed one rape case and the inappropriate conduct case as unfounded. The academy did not provide details of the cases, but Weida said some assailants aren’t likely to be tried “based on the facts and circumstances that have been presented to me.” The report comes amid efforts by the Air Force to encourage victims to come forward. The new leadership is expected to soon allow anonymous assault reports. Jennifer Bier, director of clinical services for TESSA, a rape and domestic violence crisis center in Colorado Springs, said it was encouraging that cadets were coming forward. “But I think it is disheartening that in light of all of the publicity and all of the briefings and the scrutiny, that still at least 10 people that we know of have experienced some type of violation while at the school,” Bier said. The scandal, first brought to national attention by 7NEWS Investigates in a series of reports, has led to several investigations, including one by a congressional oversight panel that found the academy averaged 14 reports of sexual assaults annually from 1993 through 2002. An investigative panel reported in September that at least 142 sexual assaults were reported since 1993. More : thedenverchannel.com |