A two-star general who was relieved from command of the 19th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio in Texas last year amid charges of sexual assault and other crimes pleaded not guilty to the allegations in court, and is still seeking to potentially retire ahead of his trial.
Maj. Gen. Phillip A. Stewart pleaded not guilty and requested a jury panel for his trial during a hearing at Joint Base San Antonio on Thursday, an Air Force Air Education and Training Command spokesman confirmed to Military.com.
Stewart's case marks the second time in history that an Air Force general officer has been formally charged with a sexual crime. The projected start date for the trial is June 17.
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Jeffrey Addicott, a professor of law and director of the Warrior Defense Project at St. Mary's University School of Law and a member of Stewart's legal team — told Military.com on Friday that the request for retirement in lieu of court-martial they submitted in January is still “in the works.”
In May, Air Education and Training Command announced that Stewart was being removed as commander of the 19th Air Force “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead, related to alleged misconduct, which is currently under investigation.” Subsequently in October, he faced an Article 32 hearing — a preliminary hearing similar to a grand jury proceeding for civilians.
Addicott…
