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Army rape trial gets under way
Aberdeen sergeant says sex
with subordinates was consensual
April 11, 1997Web posted at: 9:45 p.m. EDT (0145 GMT)
In this story:
NOTE: This report contains graphic descriptions.
From Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre
ABERDEEN, Maryland (CNN) -- At the opening of his court-martial on rape charges, Army Staff Sgt. Delmar Simpson was portrayed on Friday as a man who used "fear and force" to humiliate and degrade female soldiers to satisfy "his own selfish sexual desire." Simpson, 32, says the women consented.
He is one of 11 men charged with criminal sexual misconduct at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, a weapons testing and training post 30 miles northeast of Baltimore.
Two of the cases have been resolved with no sexual abuse convictions.
In addition to 19 charges of rape involving five female privates at Aberdeen, Simpson also is charged with forcibly sodomizing, punching, grabbing or threatening women.
He has pleaded innocent to 58 criminal allegations involving 22 current and former soldiers.
The 13-year Army veteran has pleaded guilty to sex with 11 trainees in violation of Army rules. The Army prohibits relationships between supervisors and subordinates.
Prosecution: 'rape, power, control'
The prosecutor, Capt. Dave Thomas, told the military jury of four officers and two sergeants "this case is about rape, power, access and control."
In his opening statement, Thomas said Simpson used fear and intimidation to force young female recruits to gratify his selfish sexual desires.
Thomas described several incidents in which Simpson is alleged to have coerced female soldiers into having sex.
In one case Simpson assaulted a young private by "slapping his penis against her face," Thomas said.
In another case, he said, Simpson ordered a private to masturbate in front of him while he watched, and then raped her.
Military prosecutors said victims would testify that Simpson threatened them with death if they talked, quoting one private as saying Simpson said, "If anyone finds out I'll kill you."
Defense: 'willingly engaged in sex'
Simpson's defense attorney, Capt. Ed Brady, said the case was not about rape, but about women who were "attracted to and willingly engaged in sex with" Simpson.
Brady said in his opening statement that the women who are making charges against Simpson were coerced by military investigators to "aggressively embellish their stories," claiming one criminal investigator told one of the women "make it juicy."
The women had sex with Simpson either because they were seeking preferential treatment or they were attracted to him, Brady said.
"This case is about a drill sergeant who stepped over the line, who engaged in consensual sex when he should not have," the defense attorney said.
"But it's also about privates who engaged in sex with Simpson and should not have."
The offenses Simpson has acknowledged carry a maximum sentence of 32 years in prison.
A single rape conviction could mean imprisonment for life.
Related stories:
- Three soldiers arraigned in U.S. Army sex scandal - December 6, 1996
- Military-civilian panel to probe Army sex scandal - November 22, 1996
- House members to visit Aberdeen Proving Ground - November 21, 1996
- Soldiers try to define sexual harassment - November 18, 1996
- Congresswomen, Army generals meet to discuss reports of abuse - November 18, 1996
- Calls still pouring in on Army harassment hot line - November 17, 1996
- More soldiers accused of harassment in Missouri - November 15, 1996
- Army widens sexual harassment investigation - November 11, 1996
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window- U.S. Army Press Release: Army investigates allegations of sexual misconduct and rape in training command
- Charges preferred in three cases
- U.S. Army Definition of Sexual Harassment
- U.S. Army
- The Pentagon
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