US Army Officer Found Guilty of Sexual Harassment in Landmark Military Case | American military

A former U.S. Army battalion commander was convicted Friday of sexually harassing a subordinate in what prosecutors called a landmark military justice case.

Lt. Col. Herman West, who was previously stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Washington state, has faced multiple charges for his treatment of a female officer under his command, KOMO News reported.

The subordinate officer, whose name has not been made public, testified in a JBLM court that West harassed her for weeks beginning in the summer of 2023.

West's actions included barging into the women's restroom, making unwanted sexual remarks and touching her inappropriately on multiple occasions during military outings, KOMO News reported. West also made persistent sexual advances, including telling the woman he was excited to go on a mission to Indonesia with her so the two could share a hotel room and get completely and utterly unhinged drunk.

The woman, a recent graduate of college and a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program, was initially afraid to report West's behavior because he often bragged about her uncle, former Rep. American and Republican Party leader Allen West. Herman West had also sent an email to human resources without the woman's consent to prevent her from being able to be transferred to another position.

However, the woman eventually reported West after he took off his military shirt and unzipped his pants in front of her as the two returned to base after having lunch at a local restaurant.

A fellow Army officer then convinced the woman to file a report against West. The woman feared she would be forced to go on a mission to Indonesia with West and if he was bold enough to do that, he would be bold enough to do more, she said, referring to when West had opened his pants, KOMO News. reported. The woman testified that she had planned to leave the military after West's harassment.

West's punishment after being found guilty was to receive a written reprimand in his military record. He was also fined more than $92,000 after being released on dishonorable charges and potentially sentenced to prison.

In court, West admitted his actions and apologized to the victim, adding that he had let his colleagues down.

His defense team argued that firing West from the military would harm his wife and children.

Wests is one of the first cases to be prosecuted by court-martial following the passage of new military justice reforms under Joe Biden's presidential administration. Sexual harassment is now a criminal offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

Military justice advocates celebrated West's conviction as a historic first step in supporting victims of sexual violence.

The verdict against West represents a crucial step in our ongoing fight to end sexual harassment and assault in the military, said Josh Connolly, senior vice president of Protect Our Defenders, an organization that works to end violence. sexual violence in the United States armed forces. I commend this courageous soldier for his extraordinary courage in coming forward to hold Lieutenant Colonel West accountable.

This case, one of the first prosecuted under new criminal sexual harassment laws, sends a clear message: sexual misconduct will not be tolerated in our armed forces.

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