An Air Force Academy cadet facing court-martial on rape and sodomy charges is hoping to avoid trial.

Doug Meester, 20, wants to resign from the Air Force. His attorneys submitted a request last week to have him discharged from the Air Force under other-than-honorable conditions rather than face prison if convicted, the Gazette of Colorado Springs reported.

The request would have to be approved by Air Force Secretary James Roche and could take months.

The sophomore, who is currently on leave, is accused of raping a female cadet in his dorm room in October. Both he and the alleged victim were drunk. The victim spoke with 7NEWS John Ferrugia and admitted drinking in the cadet's room. She said she became so intoxicated she slipped in and out of consciousness, and during one point she woke up and realized that she was being raped.

At his Article 32 hearing in May, Meester admitted to the sex, but said it was consensual. Meester is the first cadet to face court-martial over sexual assault allegations since the scandal broke at the academy in February in light of a 7NEWS investigation.

The 20-year-old could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted of rape, sodomy, indecent assault and conduct unbecoming an officer for providing alcohol to a minor.

Meester's request puts the court-martial on hold until Roche makes a decision.

Meester's attorneys also have asked new academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. John Rosa Jr. to consider administrative punishment rather than a court-martial.

Since Roche took office June 1, 2001, he has approved eight resignation requests from Air Force members facing courts-martial. Air Force records show that he approved 13 percent of requests made this year and 26 percent of those made last year. Previous secretaries have granted up to 58 percent of such resignation requests, records show.

On March 31, Roche approved a resignation request by 1998 academy graduate Lt. Joel Hetzer, who was convicted and sentenced to dismissal in May 2002 on charges stemming from a sexual encounter with an enlisted woman at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.

Also that day, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee criticized Roche for his handling of the sexual assault scandal. He has vowed to crack down on offenders.