An Air Force Academy cadet who had been scheduled to graduate in May has been charged with the rape of a fellow cadet at a party last summer in Denver.
Cadet Edward Salazar was charged with rape and indecent assault on a fellow upper-class cadet in July 2006 at a party where alcohol was consumed. Both Salazar and the alleged victim were seniors at the time.
The academy became aware of the incident in February, and Lt. Gen. John Regni, superintendent at the academy, put a hold on Salazar’s graduation pending the outcome of the investigation.
Salazar, a mechanical-engineering major, is the fourth cadet charged with rape since a sex-assault scandal rocked the school beginning in 2003. None of the three cadets charged previously was convicted of rape.
Salazar received a “role model” award in October 2006 at the 18th annual Department of Defense Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference. He was honored for academic achievement, leadership and distinction of service. Salazar held a 3.2 grade-point average and made the dean’s, superintendent’s and commandant’s list at the academy, according to an article in the Academy Spirit, the school newspaper.
Salazar told the newspaper his family lives in Albuquerque, although he considers El Paso, Texas, his home.
The next step for Salazar is an Article 32 hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to move the case to court-martial. It is set for Sept. 14.
Staff writer Erin Emery can be reached at 719-522-1360 or eemery@denverpost.com.
