Air Force officials convene court martial for former command chief

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Air Force officials convened its court-martial trial Jan. 25 against Chief Master Sgt. William Gurney, the Air Force Materiel Command former command chief, who is charged with 19 violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Chief Gurney pled guilty to 13 violations of dereliction of duty and sexual misconduct. The judge, Col. Thomas Cumbie, dismissed an obstruction of justice charge.

For the remaining five violations that deal with sexual harassment and misuse of official position, the chief requested a trial by a jury of officers.

The remainder of court proceedings dealt with the questioning and selection of those jury members. By day's end, six officers, ranging in rank from captain to colonel, were selected for the trial.

The specifications that Chief Gurney pled guilty to are:

--Seven violations of Article 92 for dereliction in duty for failing to maintain a professional relationship with seven different female Airmen, all who were junior in rank to him;

--One violation of Article 92, for wrongful misuse of government property for other than official purposes;

--One violation of Article 120, indecent conduct with a female master sergeant; and

--Four violations of Article 134, for committing adultery with four separate female Airmen all who were junior in rank to him.

Chief Gurney pled not guilty to:

--Two violations of Article 93, maltreatment (sexual harassment);

--One violation of Article 120, unwanted sexual contact; and

--Two violations of Article 134, misuse of official position.

(Courtesy of 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs)