Former US Air Force instructor convicted in sex scandal

Washington, June 29 (IANS) A former instructor at a US Air Force base has been sentenced to six months in jail after he pleaded guilty to having “illicit relationships” with recruits, a media report said.

Apart from the jail term, 28-year-old senior airman Andrew Lira was also given 30 days of hard labour, $1,200 in forfeitures and reduction to the lowest rank, Xinhua cited The San Antonio Express-News as saying.

Prosecutors at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland charged Lira with having illicit relationships, adultery and obstructing justice. The incidents involved eight female trainees.

Prosecutors said all of Lira’s relationships were consensual, but they violated air force rules.

A seven-year veteran, Lira was the 23rd instructor tried in the US Air Force’s worst sex scandal. All but one have been convicted since the first trial in April 2011. The Air Force has investigated 33 instructors for misconduct with 67 recruits and technical school students.

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