Cadet Faces Court-Martial For Allegedly Arranging Group Sex
Barnes Waives Article 32 Hearing
POSTED: 7:52 am MDT September 25,
2003
UPDATED: 8:40 am MDT September 25,
2003
DENVER -- A former Air Force Academy cadet is facing court-martial after a 7NEWS hidden camera investigation revealed that he was running an Internet pornography site using an academy computer in his dorm room.
Cadet 1st Class Sterling Barnes this week waived his preliminary Article 32 hearing so his case will go directly to trial. His court-martial hearing is set for Oct. 1, the academy said Thursday.
The 23-year-old senior faces charges of misusing government equipment, software and Internet services while organizing group sex sessions that took place off campus. He also faces charges of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman for allegedly engaging in sexual intercourse with women while other men were present.Prosecutors allege that he used government-provided hardware and software to advertise and sell pornography for commercial gain, and he used the same equipment to view, display, and store obscene material.
Barnes faces up to 14 years in a military prison, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and dismissal from the Air Force.In an exclusive 7NEWS hidden camera investigation in May, the cadet was found to have been operating a site that promoted group sex among as many as two dozen men and one woman. Barnes not only arranged the sessions, but participated in them and appeared in pornographic photos that were posted on the Internet, 7NEWS reported.The porn site, "The Denver Horsemen," was run for two years by a person with the moniker S.B. Before it was pulled, the site listed almost 9,000 members.When Barnes agreed to meet a couple he thought might be interested in participating in his group but were actually members of the 7NEWS staff, he told them," I don't tell anybody (that I'm at the academy) because I'd get kicked out ... conduct unbecoming. You are doing something to discredit the academy and the Air Force and yourself."Barnes was set to graduate in May but his case was placed on administrative hold while school officials looked into the matter.
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Barnes faces up to 14 years in a military prison, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and dismissal from the Air Force.In an exclusive 7NEWS hidden camera investigation in May, the cadet was found to have been operating a site that promoted group sex among as many as two dozen men and one woman. Barnes not only arranged the sessions, but participated in them and appeared in pornographic photos that were posted on the Internet, 7NEWS reported.The porn site, "The Denver Horsemen," was run for two years by a person with the moniker S.B. Before it was pulled, the site listed almost 9,000 members.When Barnes agreed to meet a couple he thought might be interested in participating in his group but were actually members of the 7NEWS staff, he told them," I don't tell anybody (that I'm at the academy) because I'd get kicked out ... conduct unbecoming. You are doing something to discredit the academy and the Air Force and yourself."Barnes was set to graduate in May but his case was placed on administrative hold while school officials looked into the matter. Previous Stories:
- September 17, 2003: AFA Cadet Charged In Porn Site
- May 28, 2003: AFA Cadet Under Investigation Cut From Graduation
- May 20, 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
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