Bragg general charged with sex crimes, other offenses

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — An Army brigadier general has been charged with forcible sodomy and other offenses after being sent home from Afghanistan.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sinclair faces possible courts-martial on charges that include forced sex, pornography, violating an order, alcohol use, engaging in inappropriate relationships, misusing a government travel charge card, filing false claims and conduct unbecoming an officer, said Col. Kevin Arata, spokesman for the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg.

Sinclair was sent back to Fort Bragg this spring while serving as deputy commander in charge of logistics and support for the 82nd Airborne Division headquarters in Afghanistan. He arrived in Afghanistan for his deployment in September 2011 but had been serving as the division's deputy commander since July 2010.

Arata said no date has been set for Sinclair's Article 32 hearing, which is the military equivalent of a probable cause hearing.

The Army didn't release any details of the allegations against Sinclair.

Sinclair, a trained paratrooper who has been in the Army for 27 years, was serving his third deployment to Afghanistan. He had also served two tours in Iraq, as well as a tour in the first Gulf war.

Jim Hinnant, a spokesman for U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, said Sinclair remains on duty on post.

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...these types of stories have been going on for many, many years in the military (soldier on soldier, soldier on domestic and foreign civilians, predator on soldier). Sexual assualts and rapes alike from soldiers (or anyone for that matter...)should be a much needed public concern. It's about time that a selective few are actually doing something about it in the military. There's no rationalization in this type of situation! People endure different types of stress levels, for soldiers, many may have fell victim of some misdoings (...such as taking pictures above dead muslims or something)and they are punished severely. For a high official of the army, he should be held accountable for everything as if he was any other soldier.

melvineugenes
September 28, 2012 12:37 p.m.

There is no excuse for this type of behavior-period!! He deserves everything that is coming to him! I'm pretty sure he has been doing these types of acts his whole military career like many others before and after him! There are thousands of cases like this that go unnoticed in the military! Many sexual assaults and rapes are during deployments! The sad part is many of these predators (Chothlic priest included) do not have to register as sex offenders!

melvineugenes
September 28, 2012 11:11 a.m.

The level of strees in a combat zone along with being responsible for so many lives may have caused some temporary behaviourable aberrations. Do not miscontrue this to mean that that this behaviour is acceptable. It may however mean that he is mentally ill due to the stress.

read_a_little
September 27, 2012 7:27 p.m.

Still drawing a paycheck and living in nice quarters, if he been a private or NCO he be in pre-trail confinement and drawing no pay. How the world turns for selected people.

Bob3425
September 27, 2012 11:55 a.m.

Absolutely shameful; if allegations are true, this man abused his power and brings shame to his uniform.

larterl
September 27, 2012 9:57 a.m.