An airman accused of multiple counts of rape and sodomy while assigned to the U.S. Air Force Academy Hospital will face a court-martial beginning Monday.
The Air Force has accused Airman First Class Derick Ryan Thompson, of the 10th Medical Support Squadron, of sexual assault, providing alcoholic beverages to persons under the age of 21, using a government-owned vehicle to purchase alcoholic beverages, and failure to obey an order from a superior.
The charging documents say Thompson’s alleged victims were not cadets at the academy but two female airmen.
The charges allege that Thompson raped the airmen on Dec. 22, 2007, and on Jan. 3, Jan. 4 and Jan. 9, 2008.
Thompson, a logistics technician, is also accused of sodomizing airmen on Dec. 12, 2007, and Jan. 20 and Jan. 25, 2008.
Air Force prosecutors allege that at various times Thompson used his rank to coerce sex from the victims and attacked at least one of the victims while she was incapacitated.
During the Jan. 20, 2008, incident, there were other persons in the room watching.
During late 2007 through the first part of this year, Thompson repeatedly provided alcohol to individuals under the age of 21, Air Force prosecutors allege.
When Thompson was ordered by a master sergeant to stop all contact and communications with persons assigned to the 10th Medical Support Squadron, he disobeyed the order, the prosecutors allege.
In July, an Article 32 hearing, similar to a civilian grand jury, was convened to investigate the allegations against Thompson.
After reviewing the recommendations of the investigating officer, the General Court-Martial Convening Authority determined the case against Thompson, who Air Force Academy officials stress was not a cadet, should proceed to court-martial.
If Thompson is found guilty of all charges and specifications, he faces a maximum punishment of a dishonorable discharge, 57 years confinement, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and reduction to the lowest enlist grade of E-1.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
