RAF MILDENHALL, England — A 100th Air Refueling Wing airman alleges he was sexually assaulted earlier this year by his former sponsor.
Airman 1st Class Christopher J. Mahon stands accused of sodomy and indecent assault in connection with alleged events that unfolded in the early morning hours of April 30 after a party in a dormitory room.
The victim testified Thursday in an Article 32 hearing that he awoke after a prolonged drinking binge to find Mahon sexually assaulting him.
Stars and Stripes policy is to not identify victims of alleged sexual assault.
An Article 32 hearing is the military equivalent of a grand jury hearing and is held to determine if sufficient evidence exists to refer formal charges for a court-martial.
An Air Force Office of Special Investigations special agent testified that the alleged victim had produced five separate statements over the course of the investigation. All five statements differed to some degree, including in which dorm room the incident occurred, the agent said.
The alleged victim testified for less than an hour, during which he directed all his answers to investigating officer Capt. Ashley Richards with his back turned toward the suspect rather than facing the courtroom.
During his testimony, he acknowledged that he was “plastered drunk” after drinking roughly a dozen combined beers and liquor drinks over the course of a barbecue and a post-barbecue party leading up to the alleged assault. He made no mention of trying to fight off the alleged assault and said he was “half-asleep, half awake” during the incident.
The hearing concluded Thursday and a ruling is expected in the coming months.
