Airman receives dishonorable discharge, eight years for multiple offenses Published May 4, 2011 By 21st Space Wing Office of the Staff Judge Advocate PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- From March 10-11, 2011, a General Court-Martial was held at Peterson AFB, in the case of United States v. A1C Dustin A. Drees, formerly of the 21st Security Forces Squadron. During the court-martial, the Airman was held accountable for his actions that violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice. "Military members must be aware that the Uniform Code of Military Justice attaches to their actions, regardless of where they are located," said Capt. Dane Horne, who prosecuted the case. "Whether at your duty station, TDY or at home on leave, the Air Force does not take sexual assaults lightly and will prosecute them accordingly. This sentence is evidence of that." Airman Drees faced 12 charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The charges included one violation of Article 86 (absent without leave), two violations of Article 92 (failure to obey an order), five violations of Article 120 (two violations of aggravated sexual assault of a child, abusive sexual contact with a child, aggravated sexual assault, and indecent liberty with a child), two violations of Article 125 (sodomy with a child under age 16 years and forcible sodomy), and two violations of Article 134 (obstructing justice). During the court-martial, the 21-year-old Airman pled guilty to all charges, providing the military judge with detailed facts concerning each offense. In recounting the details of his crimes, Airman Drees admitted most of the offenses occurred while he was in his hometown. He also confessed to engaging in sexual contact with a fellow Airman who was non-consenting, as well as an extremely intoxicated, unconscious military family member. Additionally, Airman Drees pled guilty to several non-sexual offenses, including going AWOL from his unit in late-August 2010, failing to return to base after being ordered to do so by his first sergeant, and breaking restriction after returning to base. He also attempted to hinder the ongoing investigation in late-September 2010 when he called two important witnesses, telling one to lie to the Office of Special Investigations and telling the other to recant statements she made previously to OSI. The military judge received testimony from three victims during the sentencing phase of the court-martial. During that time, all in the courtroom heard details of how Airman Drees' behavior affected the victims. In the sentencing arguments, the government prosecution recommended a sentence of 15 years of confinement, while the defense requested a sentence of four years. In the end, the judge sentenced him to a dishonorable discharge, eight years of confinement, total forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and a reduction to the grade of E-1. In conjunction with the judge's sentence, Airman Drees will be a lifelong federal convict and a registered sex offender, in addition to losing Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.