Officials at Sheppard Air Force Base dropped criminal charges against an airman accused of participating in a gang rape last year of another service member stationed at the north Texas installation.
Leah Kaelin, who alleged she had been assaulted by Matthew Monroe and three other airmen at a hotel last year, decided “not to go forward with a criminal proceeding,” according to a news release issued by Sheppard officials.
Kaelin was not available for comment. Monroe and his lawyers could not be reached.
“The alleged victim concurred with a result that did not include a court-martial,” according to the statement from Sheppard.
The airman’s punishment will be handled administratively by commanders, said Mike McKito, spokesman for the base. He also disclosed that the other men will not face criminal charges but did not elaborate on the reasons. Monroe’s punishment – and any other administrative disciplines given to the others – will remain confidential because they are protected by federal privacy laws, McKito noted. Administrative penalties are a common disposition of rape cases in the military, according to research by The Denver Post.
The dismissal means a subpoena issued by Sheppard officials, seeking reporter notes from unpublished conversations with Kaelin, has been dropped. Such a tactic has been used only rarely in military courts.
Kaelin’s story appeared in the newspaper last March, detailing her account of being drugged by the airmen and how commanders later downplayed her allegations, kicked her out of the service and took eight months to process the DNA evidence.
It was only after The Post questioned base officials about their handling of a string of sexual assaults at the installation that they notified Kaelin they were pursuing prosecution of her allegations.
Kaelin has been applauded by rape-victim advocates who say she made a powerful statement by taking her story public.
“Whatever happened with my case, I would hate to see other women go through the same thing,” Kaelin told The Post earlier this year.
Jennifer Bier, a Colorado Springs therapist who has counseled sexual-assault victims at the Air Force Academy, said the process is wrenching.
“It’s hard for people who have never been in this situation to understand that each time you tell the story, you relive it,” Bier said. “It’s difficult enough to do that in a safe environment with someone sympathetic but nearly impossible to do it in front of strangers and those who are judging you. At some point, victims have to make a choice between telling the story and attempting to seek justice and self-preservation.”
Two weeks ago, Sheppard prosecutors subpoenaed interview notes and other documents from the newspaper.
The Post fought the move, spearheaded by Monroe’s defense attorney, on First Amendment grounds, calling it a “blatant fishing expedition.” The Post also argued that it must protect private communications with sources bringing rape allegations.
Though the newspaper’s attorney, Thomas Kelley, said he was pleased the subpoena was dropped, he was disappointed that the issues could not be decided through a formal court opinion.
“I would have much preferred it resolved and achieved by a ruling that said the relationship between reporter and sexual-assault victim as a source is protected,” Kelley said. “Particularly, when the victim has reason to be frustrated with willingness of prosecutors to seek justice.”
Staff writer Miles Moffeit can be reached at mmoffeit@denverpost.com .
