Aberdeen officer pleads guilty to sex offenses

March 20, 1997
Web posted at: 3:35 p.m. EST (2035 GMT)

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Maryland (CNN) -- The highest-ranking Army officer charged in the Aberdeen Proving Grounds sexual scandal was sentenced to four months in prison and dismissed from the service for having sex with a female trainee.

Capt. Derrick Robertson, 31, pleaded guilty to consensual sodomy, adultery, two counts of conduct unbecoming an officer and one count of failing to obey a lawful general order.

However, he pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, indecent assault and obstruction of justice.

Robertson, a company commander of Alpha Company, 143rd Ordinance Battalion, chose to have the remaining charges tried before a military judge instead of a jury.

Under questioning from a military judge, Robertson said he had sexual intercourse at his home on September 14, 1996, with a private from the school. He was her company commander at the time.

According to Maj. Ginny Beakes, legal representative of the Public Affairs office at Aberdeen, Robertson could have faced a maximum sentence of 10 years and six months.

The company commander is one of eight staff members at the training facility charged with criminal sex offenses. At least 50 female recruits have alleged they were sexually abused at Aberdeen in recent years.

All of the charges against Robertson, who is married, were based on allegations involving one recruit.

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Aberdeen officer pleads guilty to sex offenses

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