(Christopher Palamara/Office of Military Commissions)
A U.S. airman serving in the United Kingdom received a suspended 18-month prison sentence from a British court this week after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl two years ago.
Senior Airman Sam Jarvis, assigned to the 422nd Communications Squadron at RAF Croughton, will avoid serving the prison term if he complies with the conditions of the suspended sentence over the next two years, according to Oxford Crown Court.
Jarvis was convicted earlier this year on one count of assaulting a girl under the age of 13.
In addition to the suspended prison term, he was ordered to pay roughly $3,300 in compensation to the victim and must comply with sex offender registration requirements for 10 years, the court said.
He also is required to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and participate in 30 days of court-ordered rehabilitation activities.
Jarvis’ squadron is subordinate to the 501st Combat Support Wing, which confirmed his unit assignment and duty station. It declined to provide additional information regarding the case, citing U.S. Privacy Act restrictions.
The crime happened in Headington, an eastern suburb of Oxford about 20 miles south of RAF Croughton, on May 19, 2024, according to regional newspaper the Oxford Mail. It reported Jarvis’ current age as 36.
According to the newspaper, both Jarvis and the girl were at an unspecified event at a conservatory. Jarvis engaged in “playful conversation” with her before putting his hand down her top, the report said.
Jurisdiction in the case was consistent with the NATO status of forces agreement, or SOFA, between the U.S. military and the host country, the wing statement said.
Among other things, SOFA agreements govern the relationship between the United States and foreign countries in matters of criminal jurisdiction.
“The U.S. Air Force has remained in close coordination with appropriate local U.K. law enforcement agencies and respects the authority of the court proceedings,” the statement said.
