LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- A military judge sentenced Master Sgt. Alfredo J. Gonzales to 35 years confinement, a reduction to the lowest enlisted grade and a dishonorable discharge Oct. 29, 2016, in a general court-martial here.
Gonzales, previously assigned to Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, was tried before a military judge alone and was charged with multiple violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including multiple specifications under each charge.
He was charged with: two specifications of failing to obey an order or regulation and one specification of dereliction of duty, in violation of Article 92, UCMJ; three specifications of signing false official statements, in violation of Article 107, UCMJ; four specifications of rape, in violation of Article 120, UCMJ; one specification of larceny, in violation of Article 121, UCMJ; five specifications of assault consummated by a battery, in violation of Article 128, UCMJ; and one specification of obstruction of justice and one specification of unlawful entry, in violation of Article 134, UCMJ.
Under Article 92, Gonzales pled guilty of having knowledge of and failing to obey two separate, lawful no-contact orders issued by the commander and the first sergeant, orders which it was his duty to obey. He also pled guilty to misusing his issued government travel card for unofficial purposes. The military judge found Gonzales guilty of all three specifications.
Under Article 107, Gonzales pled not guilty one specification of falsely signing an official government document relating to deployment dates to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. The military judge found him guilty. He pled guilty to two specifications of falsely signing two separate official government documents, stating his dependents were living in Maryland (where the housing allowance is higher) while he was deployed, when his dependents were actually residing in Texas. The military judge found Gonzales guilty of all three specifications.
Under Article 120, Gonzales pled not guilty to the charge and specifications of sexual misconduct with unlawful force and rape for two different victims on multiple occasions. The military judge found Gonzales guilty of all but one specification of the charge.
Under Article 121, Gonzales pled guilty to stealing about $12,000 in basic allowance for housing entitlements and U.S. Air Force property at a value of more than $500. The military judge found Gonzales guilty of the specification.
Under Article 128, Gonzales pled not guilty to all five specifications of assault to include: unlawfully shoving and scratching a victim’s arms, chest, neck and face; unlawfully pushing, dragging, and throwing a victim to the ground; unlawfully grabbing and squeezing a victim’s hands, face and cheeks; unlawfully punching and slapping a second victim in the face and mouth; and unlawfully pushing the second victim with his hands. The military judge found Gonzales guilty of all five specifications.
Finally, under Article 134, Gonzales pled not guilty to both specifications: attempting to influence a witness before a court-martial by promising money if the victim would decline to participate in the trial and to unlawfully entering the house of one of his victims. The military judge found Gonzales guilty of both specifications.