FOXNews.com: Air Force InvestigatesSex-Abuse Scandal at Base

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Air Force InvestigatesSex-Abuse Scandal at Base Jun 29th 2012, 09:31 Air Force Gen. Edward Rice confirmed during a Pentagon briefing that 31 women have allegedly been victims of sexual assault by their Air Force instructors at Lackland Air Base in Texas. The abuse reportedly took place over a two-year period beginning in 2009.  Rice, who is the commander of the Air Education and Training Command, said that a dozen male instructors are under investigation, and that nine of them are from the 3-31st Training Squadron. The squadron's commander, Lt. Col. Mike Paquette, was relieved of duty pending investigation.  The Air Force was made aware of the alleged incidents in June 2011, when the first accuser came forward, with 12 cases unfolding since.  The first allegations were levied against Staff Sgt. Luis Walker, who faces the most serious charges and is scheduled to be court-martialed next month. Walker is charged with 28 counts, including rape, aggravated sexual contact and multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault. He has not yet entered a plea. Rice said the Air Force believes this is not a problem endemic to the nine training squadrons, and it appears to be localized.  About 35,000 airmen go through the eight and a half week basic training each year at Lackland. There are 500 instructors, 11 percent of whom are female, while 22 percent of the airmen being trained are women. In one case, former Staff Sgt. Vega-Maldonado pleaded guilty to one charge of having a sexual relationship with a trainee in exchange for a reduced sentence. He admitted during testimony that he had assaulted 10 women during basic training at Lackland. Air Force Staff Sgt. Craig LeBlanc, who is charged with aggravated assault and obstruction of justice, allegedly bragged about "getting laid" by a trainee in a supply closet, one of his fellow airmen testified at an evidentiary hearing Thursday. LeBlanc's hearing Thursday was to determine whether there is enough evidence to warrant a court-martial. Walker's court-martial is scheduled to begin July 16 and his attorneys have declined comment. The Air Force has launched an independent investigation of all of its training units.  The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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