The previous set up commander of Wright-Patterson Air Drive Base in Ohio will serve 21 days in confinement after agreeing to a court-martial plea deal admitting fraternization.
Col. Christopher Meeker, who additionally commanded the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patt, will even obtain a reprimand and forfeit a complete of $14,000 in pay.
Throughout Tuesday’s court-martial at Wright-Patterson, Meeker pleaded responsible to violating articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice barring fraternization and willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer. The federal government dismissed a cost of extramarital sexual conduct as a part of the plea settlement revealed through the trial.
Prosecutors alleged Meeker inappropriately engaged in a private and sexual relationship with a employees sergeant, which led to the fraternization cost and the dismissed extramarital sexual conduct cost. Prosecutors additionally mentioned Meeker disobeyed an order from Lt. Gen. Donna Shipton, commander of the Air Drive Life Cycle Administration Heart, to cease all digital and private contact with the employees sergeant.
Nevertheless, that conduct occurred after Meeker was fired from command of the 88th Air Base Wing. Shipton relieved him of command on Dec. 29, 2023, resulting from a lack of confidence in his capacity to guide, the Air Drive mentioned.
The Air Drive performed an investigation into Meeker’s actions after which charged him with three violations of the UCMJ on Oct. 25, 2024. He selected to have his case determined by a navy choose as an alternative of a jury-like panel of fellow officers. Had the case gone to trial and he been discovered responsible of all prices, Meeker may have been confined for as a lot as seven years and needed to forfeit all pay and allowances.
Meeker admitted in courtroom to willfully disobeying Shipton’s order to chop off all contact with the enlisted airman. He mentioned it confirmed a scarcity of non-public {and professional} self-discipline, including he acted “selfishly, for my very own private happiness.”
Meeker, who was a civil engineer within the Air Drive and served for 25 years, assumed command of the 88th in July 2022.
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