A Louisiana Army Nationwide Guard officer retired in March with advantages after being convicted of assault and conduct unbecoming an officer for “motorboating” an enlisted soldier throughout a promotion ceremony in Jordan in Could 2021.
Court docket paperwork present that Capt. Billy Crosby, a logistics officer with the 256th Infantry Brigade Fight Group who was deployed to Joint Coaching Heart Jordan, initially was charged with conduct unbecoming an officer and abusive sexual contact.
However through the proceedings, which have been first reported by Army Occasions, he pleaded responsible to a lesser cost of assault consummated by battery and conduct unbecoming.
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“Capt. Crosby’s habits was not in keeping with the Army values,” Maj. Jessica Rovero, a spokeswoman for 1st Theater Sustainment Command, mentioned in an emailed assertion to Navy.com. “A number of Troopers instantly reported the habits, and Crosby pled responsible at trial.”
Based on courtroom paperwork, Crosby informed the junior soldier that he deliberate to “motorboat” her at her promotion ceremony to sergeant and did simply that: putting his face between her breasts and “transferring it back and forth … with out the sergeant’s consent” throughout an impromptu ceremony initiated by Crosby on Could 15, 2021.
Witnesses corroborated the incident, with one telling investigators that Crosby had beforehand expressed curiosity within the sergeant, asking that she experience with him to a different submit in Jordan as a result of he “appreciated taking a look at her tits,” courtroom paperwork state.
The day earlier than the assault, the soldier informed Crosby she didn’t desire a promotion ceremony, in keeping with the paperwork. The following day, nevertheless, Crosby “approached [her], informed her to face up, positioned the rank in entrance of her chest, leaned in to seize the rank along with his enamel … then positioned his face between [the sergeant’s] breasts … [and] vigorously moved his head back and forth between [her] breasts whereas nonetheless holding the rank along with his enamel.”
Crosby was sentenced to 30 days within the brig and allowed to retire with advantages. He was not directed to pay any fines or sentenced to forfeiture of pay. He additionally was not required to register as a intercourse offender, given the lesser cost of assault.
The Nationwide Guard Bureau has been below fireplace from advocates and members of Congress prior to now a number of years for jurisdictional points associated to legal instances on state and federal orders and its failure to research and prosecute instances of sexual assault and harassment.
The U.S. Army and Air Drive have jurisdiction in instances that happen whereas troopers and airmen are on federal orders, such because the Crosby case, however the providers shouldn’t have the identical authority when Guard members are on state orders.
Romero mentioned the Crosby proceedings have been completed in a fashion that “evokes belief within the course of.”
“All through the court-martial, all events have been handled with dignity and respect,” she mentioned in her assertion.
A former enlisted soldier, Crosby deployed to Panama in 1989. His protection legal professionals requested a personality witness however have been denied the chance. They argued that the prosecution tried to painting the captain as a “creepy outdated man.”
Crosby informed Stars and Stripes that he retired from the Louisiana Army Nationwide Guard on March 31. “I used to be accused of much more than I completed, and I pled responsible to what I did,” he informed the publication.
— Patricia Kime could be reached at Patricia.Kime@Navy.com. Observe her on Twitter @patriciakime.
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