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AFA Graduate Charged With Raping Cadet

Segal Currently Assigned To North American Aerospace Defense Command

POSTED: 7:16 a.m. MDT July 16, 2003
UPDATED: 8:20 a.m. MDT July 16, 2003

An Air Force Academy graduate has been charged with raping a female cadet -- becoming the second person associated with the academy to be charged with rape since a 7NEWS investigation uncovered a sexual assault scandal in February.

Second Lt. Ronen Segal graduated last year. He appeared Tuesday in a military court at Peterson Air Force Base near Colorado Springs for his Article 32 hearing. He's accused of buying liquor for an underage female cadet whom he knew in school and raping her.

Segal is also charged with sodomy and dereliction of duty in the alleged August assault. He faces life in prison if convicted.

Segal is currently assigned to the North American Aerospace DefenseCommand.

Segal's alleged victim had started her sophomore year at the academy in August, but withdrew on administrative leave at the Christmas break and has not returned.

Testimony was delayed Tuesday when questions arose about the alleged victim's willingness and ability to testify.

The officer presiding over the an evidentiary proceeding, Army Col. William Sells Jr., said the defense should be able to challenge the woman's credibility in cross-examination.

"I'm seriously concerned that 2nd Lt. Segal is going to be denied very important constitutional rights," he said. "Rape and sodomy charges are fairly easily made and not all that easy to disprove."

Segal's defense attorney, Frank Spinner, said he was not prepared to cross-examine the woman because she had prematurely terminated a previous interview with him. He said she cut off the interview when he questioned her credibility.

The alleged victim is the only witness in the case. Prosecutors said without her testimony, there would not be adequate evidence to continue.

They have asked academy officials to grant her immunity from prosecution on issues brought up in her testimony.

After the hearing, Sells will have eight days to recommend whether the case should go to court-martial. Brig. Gen. Duane Deal, commander of the 21st Space Wing at Peterson, will make the final decision.


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