Air Force Cadet Cuts Deal in Sex Case

Published January 13, 2015

An Air Force (search) Academy cadet accused of raping a drunken woman in a pickup truck pleaded guilty to lying to law enforcement authorities, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to probation under a deal with prosecutors.

Prosecutors in the case against Phillip D. Hawkins (search) said they agreed to the plea deal after further investigation and because the woman did not want the case to go forward.

Hawkins, a 22-year-old senior from Kerrville, Texas, was accused of assaulting the 25-year-old woman in the back of a friend's truck after the two met at a Colorado Springs nightclub July 19.

He at first told police he didn't know the woman and had sought help for her when she became sick. He later said the two had consensual sex.

The woman said she remembered little about the encounter before waking up in a hospital where she had been taken for treatment for alcohol poisoning. An emergency room physician said she showed no signs of physical trauma associated with sexual assault.

Hawkins was given two years' unsupervised probation Wednesday after pleading guilty to lying to police. He also must serve 100 hours of community service and cannot drink alcohol or visit bars.

Ann Kaufman (search), Hawkins' attorney, said she will fight to keep Hawkins from being discharged from the academy.

Military officials said they will review Hawkins' status at the school, which has been rocked by a sexual assault scandal this year. More than 100 female cadets have said they were assaulted and their complaints were either ignored or answered with retribution.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/story/air-force-cadet-cuts-deal-in-sex-case