Acquitted of rape, academy cadet can graduate

[unhappycamper]

Acquitted of rape, academy cadet can graduate
Staff report
Posted : Monday Nov 19, 2007 21:32:41 EST

An Air Force Academy cadet, accused of raping a fellow senior after they left an off-base party last year, was acquitted.

On Nov. 16, a military tribunal cleared Cadet 1st Class Edward Salazar of both rape and indecent assault charges. Salazar, due to graduate May 30, had his commissioning put on hold by academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. John Regni.

He was accused of raping a former female cadet, who proceeded with graduation and is now a second lieutenant. Friends prior to the allegations, they went to a Denver party in July 2006 where alcohol was consumed.

According to a Denver Post report, she testified that she was too drunk to remember an alleged sexual assault against her – she had drank to the point of passing out — but believed it happened after the party because of later conversations.

Salazar, now free to graduate, was facing a maximum charge of life imprisonment.


Article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/11/airforce_rape_academy_1119/