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
DENVER -- 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.
Previous Stories:
- July 15, 2003: Contractors Accused Of Illegally Gaining Access To AFA
- July 15, 2003: AFA Cadet Facing Court-Martial Asks To Resign
- July 11, 2003: Former AFA Superintendent Demoted
- July 10, 2003: Panel Investigating Sex Scandal Tours Air Force Academy
- July 9, 2003: New Superintendent Sworn In At Air Force Academy
- July 2, 2003: Groups Oppose Roche As Army Secretary Because Of AFA Scandal
- July 2, 2003: Air Force Academy Cadet To Face Court-Martial
- June 27, 2003: Documents Depict Violent Air Force Academy Assaults
- June 27, 2003: Internal Review Cites AFA Culture For Alleged Sex Assaults
- June 23, 2003: Congressional Committee Investigating AFA Convenes
- June 19, 2003: Internal Review Cites AFA Culture For Alleged Sex Assaults
- June 19, 2003: AFA Panel Member Resigns Over Doubts About Rape Allegations
- June 18, 2003: Review Panel's Report On Assaults At AFA To Be Released Thursday
- May 28, 2003: AFA Cadet Under Investigation Cut From Graduation
- May 14, 2003: Article 32 Hearing Held For Another AFA Cadet
- May 12, 2003: 13-Year-Old Assaulted By AFA Cadet Speaks To 7NEWS
- May 8, 2003: Cadet Testifies In Air Force Academy Sex Case
- May 7, 2003: Cadet, Lawyer, No Shows At Article 32 Hearing
- May 3, 2003: AFA Leadership Reacts To Cadet Operating Porn Site
- May 2, 2003: Conduct Unbecoming: Cadet Allegedly Managing Group Sex Sites On AFA Campus
- May 1, 2003: 7NEWS Investigates: AFA Cadet Operating Sex Sites On Campus
- April 16, 2003: Congressman Draws Fire For Change In AFA Amendment
- April 14, 2003: Congress Approves Independent Investigation Of AFA
- April 14, 2003: Future Cadets Attend Orientation At Air Force Academy
- April 10, 2003: New Command Takes Over At Air Force Academy
- April 9, 2003: AFA Cadets May Face Sex Assault Charges
- April 3, 2003: Senators Approve Independent Inquiry Into AFA Rapes
- April 1, 2003: Senators Blast Air Force Leaders For Not Holding Anyone Accountable
- March 28, 2003: 7NEWS Investigates: AFA Assault Problems Documented For Years
- March 28, 2003: Senior Female AFA Officer To Watch Over Sex Assault Cases
- March 27, 2003: Top AFA Leaders To Be Replaced
- March 26, 2003: Sweeping Changes Proposed At Air Force Academy
- March 24, 2003: Senators Call For Leadership Change At Air Force Academy
- March 21, 2003: More Changes Proposed At Air Force Academy
- March 19, 2003: Report: Top Air Force Academy Officials To Leave
- March 14, 2003: Air Force Has Not Court-Martialed For Cadet-On-Cadet Assaults
- March 12, 2003: Both Teams Of Investigators Now At AFA
- March 11, 2003: Report: Academy Cadets To Be Separated
- March 10, 2003: Bush 'Concerned' About AFA Rape Allegations
- March 10, 2003: Air Force Chief Of Staff: Female Cadets Are Safe Here
- March 6, 2003: Air Force Secretary: 54 Cases Of Rape, Assault, At AFA
- March 5, 2003: Air Force Investigative Team Returns To Springs
- March 4, 2003: Allard Hopes Air Force Investigation Not Just PR Move
- March 1, 2003: Air Force Family Betrayed After Daughter's Rape
- February 28, 2003: More AFA Victims Come Forward As Roche Speaks To Cadets
- February 27, 2003: Secretary Of Air Force Promises Change At AFA
- February 26, 2003: Senators, Chairman Call For Independent AFA Rape Investigation
- February 25, 2003: 3 Senators Ask For Independent Investigation Of AFA Rapes
- February 24, 2003: Air Force Opens Phone Line For Academy Rape Victims
- February 21, 2003: Allard May Ask For Senate Hearing Into AFA Rape Case
- February 20, 2003: 7NEWS Investigates: Air Force Academy's Amnesty Clause
- February 18, 2003: Academy Superintendent Responds To 7NEWS' Rape Investigation
- February 17, 2003: 7NEWS Investigates: Victims Of Academy Rapes Speak Up, Punished
- February 14, 2003: 7NEWS Investigates: Rape Victims At Air Force Academy Afraid To Report
- February 13, 2003: 7NEWS Investigates: Honor, Code, Betrayal At Air Force Academy
- February 11, 2003: 7NEWS Investigates Alleged Rapes At Air Force Academy
Copyright 2003 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
