A lieutenant colonel is scheduled to face a court-martial next month on charges of sexual assault, fraternization and failure to obey a lawful order.
Lt. Col. Denis Paquette of the 722nd Expeditionary Air Base Squadron at Sidi Ahmed Air Base in Tunisia will go on trial at Ramstein Air Base in Germany beginning Aug. 21, according to the Judge Advocate General's docket.
According to his charge sheet, provided by the public affairs office of the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein, Paquette is accused of touching the inner thigh of an unnamed airman first class who was so intoxicated she was incapable of consenting. The incident allegedly happened on or about July 15, 2016.
Paquette also allegedly fraternized with an airman first class between May 5 and Aug. 2 of last year, according to the charge sheet. He also allegedly tried to impede an investigation into his conduct by asking an unnamed master sergeant to tell an unnamed airman first class words to the effect of "we are just friends and to get rid of the weed."
The charge sheet does not say whether this is the same airman first class whose thigh Paquette allegedly touched.
A third specification alleges that Paquette also fraternized with a technical sergeant during that same time period.
Paquette also is charged with two specifications of failing to obey a lawful order during that time period. He allegedly violated a U.S. Africa Command general order by consuming more than two alcoholic beverages in a 24-hour time span and allegedly allowed his subordinates to consume more than two drinks over 24 hours.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
