Paul Szoldra Oct. 17, 2013

A senior Air Force officer at the center of a controversial sexual assault case has been demoted and forced into retirement after the acting Air Force secretary concluded he "did not serve satisfactorily in the grade of lieutenant colonel," Air Force Times reports.

Last year, Lt. Col. James Wilkerson was found guilty in a military court of aggravated sexual assault, abusive sexual contact, and three counts of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentlemen for allegedly digitally penetrating a sleeping house guest, according to Stripes.

The case ignited a firestorm of controversy after his sentence was overturned and he was reinstated by Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin, the overall commander of Air Force units in Europe.

Now, Wilkerson will retire on Jan. 1 at the rank of major — one step below his previous rank.

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"This case is a perfect example of why the epidemic of rape and sexual assault in our military is pervasive and ongoing," said Nancy Parrish, President of Protect Our Defenders, in a statement to Business Insider. "The Air Force Chief of Staff, General Mark Welsh has yet to hold Franklin accountable. If he is serious about addressing this crisis he needs to respond to Franklin's biased and unfounded overturning of Wilkerson's conviction."


http://www.businessinsider.com/james-wilkerson-retirement-air-force-2013-10