Prosecutors allege U.S. general committed sex crimes

• Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair faces several charges, including forcible sodomy and wrongful sexual conduct
• Prosecutors say Sinclair committed sex crimes against five women
• Sinclair served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) — U.S. Army prosecutors offered the first details of a rare criminal case against a general, alleging in a hearing Monday he committed sex crimes against five women — four military subordinates and a civilian.

A so-called Article 32 hearing on evidence in the case against Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair began Monday at Fort Bragg, the sprawling post that is home to the 82nd Airborne Division. Officials said it was expected to last at least two days.

Sinclair faces possible court-martial on charges that include forcible sodomy, wrongful sexual conduct, violating orders, engaging in inappropriate relationships, misusing a government travel charge card, and possessing pornography and alcohol while deployed. He served as deputy commander in charge of logistics and support for the division's troops in Afghanistan from July 2010 until he was sent home in May because of the allegations.

The Army had kept details secret until now in the rare criminal case against a high-ranking officer. That is different from other high-profile cases where Army prosecutors were quick to release charging documents. There have been only two other court-martial cases against Army generals in recent years.

On Monday, prosecutors alleged that the crimes happened between 2007 and 2012 in places including Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany, as well as Fort Bragg and Fort Hood in Texas.

In one case, prosecutors also said that Sinclair threatened one woman's career, as well as her life and the lives of her relatives, if she told anyone about his actions.

Sinclair's attorney asked for the charges to be thrown out, arguing that prosecutors had read confidential e-mails between the general and his defense. Defense attorney Lt. Col. Jackie Thompson said this violated his client's rights and asked that new prosecutors be brought in to try the case.

The hearing officer called a recess until early Monday afternoon to give a legal adviser time to review the documents.