Court martial concludes

  • Published
  • By 31st Fighter Wing
  • Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  The Air Force concluded a general court martial close to midnight Oct. 1 for Airman 1st Class Corey Payton, who was convicted of two counts of Uniform Code of Military Justice violations.

Airman Payton was convicted of rape and adultery, in violation of Article 120, and Article 134. The trial was convened Sept. 28 at the U.S. military courtroom on Aviano AB, where Airman Payton, belonging to the 31st Security Forces Squadron, was stationed.

The Air Force preferred charges against him following an investigation conducted by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The case was heard by a panel of 31st Fighter Wing officers and enlisted members; the judge presiding over the trial was a U.S. Air Force colonel.

Airman 1st Class Payton's sentence consists of a grade reduction to E-1, a bad conduct discharge from the Air Force and confinement for one year, which began Oct. 2. Following consensual sex on an evening in February 2009, Airman Payton raped the same individual. He then disclosed that he was married. The victim was a female, active-duty senior airman, 19 at the time of the offenses. Airman Payton was 22 at the time of the offenses.

"Air Force members are held to the highest standards of personal conduct, both on and off duty. In this case the message is clear -- sexual assault will not be tolerated and we will rely on our military justice system to ensure good order and discipline are upheld," said Brig. Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., 31st FW commander.

"Sexual assault is a crime and will not be tolerated in our Air Force," said Col. Patrick McClelland, 31st FW vice commander. "As Airmen, we must do everything in our power to intervene when necessary to prevent sexual assault and other criminal activity."

Questions regarding this case should be directed to the 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs office at DSN: 314-632-7555, commercial line 0434-30-7555 or 31fw.panews@aviano.af.mil. The Department of Defense's policy is that sexual assault has no place in the United States armed forces. For more information about the DoD Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Office, visit http://www.sapr.mil. A 31st FW sexual assault response coordinator is reachable at DSN 632-7272 or 0434-30-7272, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as is the 31st FW law enforcement desk at DSN 632-7200 or 0434-30-7200.