SEOUL — A U.S. Forces Korea airman is expected to face trial on an indecent assault for allegedly forcing a South Korean woman to look at pornography stored on his cell phone as they rode in the elevator of an off-base Pyeongtaek apartment building.
Airman 1st Class Chris Quaintance of the 51st Fighter Wing was charged on April 29, although the U.S. military only confirmed his indictment late last week.
If the case heads to trial, Quaintance would be tried in Suwon District Court, however no trial date has been set.
According to an official with the Pyeongtaek Police Station, Quaintance followed the 27-year-old woman onto the elevator around 5 p.m. on March 14 and showed her the pornographic videos. When she tried to get away, he grabbed her wrist and forced her to watch them.
The woman quickly reported the incident to police, who found Quaintance on Osan Air Base three hours later.
The police official said Quaintance admitted to “impulsively” showing her the videos because he thought she was attractive, and apologized for causing trouble.
The case has attracted attention in South Korea, where any crime allegedly committed by a U.S. servicemember is virtually guaranteed to draw scrutiny and condemnation.
