Jurors began deliberating Wednesday in the sexual misconduct trial of the Army's former top enlisted man.
The case against Sgt. Maj. Gene McKinney went to the jury of four Army enlisted men and four officers. Attorneys for both sides had spent the day Tuesday making their closing arguments.McKinney, 47, faces 19 counts alleging he groped or crudely pressured six military women for sex. The charges range from adultery, which is a crime in the military, to obstruction of justice for allegedly trying to persuade one of his accusers to lie.
McKinney said the six were lying and suggested some are seeking revenge for various slights. He also suggested he was singled out because he is black.
He was removed as sergeant major of the Army last year and could face 551/2 years in prison and loss of rank and retirement benefits if he is found guilty on all counts.
Unlike a civilian court, where a conviction is possible only with a unanimous jury, only six members of a military jury must vote guilty to win a conviction. On some charges, the jury could convict McKinney on a lesser offense.
The judge, Army Col. Ferdinand Clervi, approved Wednesday a prosecution request to allow McKinney's accusers to sit in the courtroom when the verdict is announced. He told prosecutors to caution them to hold their reactions in check.
The women may testify during any sentencing proceedings that would follow a conviction. The judge had barred the women from the court during closing arguments.
In closing arguments on Tuesday, prosecutors argued that McKinney was an exceptional soldier who had nonetheless abused his authority by pressuring the six women for sex.
McKinney's attorney, Charles Gittins, used his final appearance before the jurors to portray the six women as scheming liars and implore the jury to think carefully before condemning "an exemplary soldier to history as a villain."