Captain Gets Prison Term In Army Sex Scandal

An Army captain who had sex with a trainee seeking advice about an affair with her sergeant was ordered to serve four months in prison on Thursday and dismissed from the service.

Capt. Derrick Robertson, who pleaded guilty to adultery, consensual sodomy and other charges, was the highest-ranking officer accused in the Aberdeen Army sex scandal, which sparked investigations at bases worldwide.

Robertson, 31, was cleared under a plea deal of the more serious charges of rape, indecent assault and obstruction of justice. The deal stipulated he would serve only four months of a one-year sentence.

Standing in court in his dress uniform, Robertson admitted he had sex with a 20-year-old female trainee at his home in September - three weeks after receiving training on avoiding sexual contact with subordinates.

Prosecutors said the female private had been troubled by her sexual relationship with her drill sergeant, Delmar Simpson, who also is accused in the sex scandal, and sought advice from Robertson, her company commander.

Robertson was separated from his second wife, whom he had married in March 1996, at the time of the sexual encounter.

Robertson also pleaded guilty to two counts of conduct unbecoming an officer and one count of failing to obey a lawful general order.

His sentence, which he will begin serving in one week at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., will be followed by two months’ probation.

Robertson is one of eight staff members at the military training facility charged with criminal sex offenses.

Three others face courts-martial. Two others have agreed to discharges, one faces a nonjudicial hearing and one still faces the military equivalent of a grand jury hearing.

At least 50 female recruits have alleged they were sexually abused at the post in recent years. The Aberdeen complaints prompted an Army inquiry into sexual harassment at bases worldwide that has resulted in about 300 investigations.