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| US Gen Sinclair avoids jail in sex crimes case | US Gen Sinclair avoids jail in sex crimes case |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A US Army general who pleaded guilty to having inappropriate relationships with subordinates has avoided jail time. | A US Army general who pleaded guilty to having inappropriate relationships with subordinates has avoided jail time. |
| Brig Gen Jeffrey Sinclair, 51, was fined $20,000 (£12,122). | |
| Charges he raped an officer and threatened to kill her family were dropped amid questions about the accuser's credibility. | Charges he raped an officer and threatened to kill her family were dropped amid questions about the accuser's credibility. |
| The US military has been under increasing pressure to curb what the Pentagon has called an epidemic of sexual misconduct within its ranks. | The US military has been under increasing pressure to curb what the Pentagon has called an epidemic of sexual misconduct within its ranks. |
| "The system worked. I've always been proud of my Army," Gen Sinclair said following his sentencing. "All I want to do now is go north and hug my kids and my wife." | |
| 'Failed' leader | |
| The Army general, who announced his retirement from service on Thursday, will reportedly face a disciplinary board which could later reduce his pension. | |
| On Monday, the former deputy commander of the elite 82nd Airborne division pleaded guilty to charges including abusing a government credit card while travelling to visit his mistress. | On Monday, the former deputy commander of the elite 82nd Airborne division pleaded guilty to charges including abusing a government credit card while travelling to visit his mistress. |
| Earlier in the month, he pleaded guilty to adultery - a crime in the military - and admitted having an affair with a female captain. | Earlier in the month, he pleaded guilty to adultery - a crime in the military - and admitted having an affair with a female captain. |
| "I failed her as a leader and as a mentor and caused her harm to her emotional state," Gen Sinclair reportedly told the court last week. | "I failed her as a leader and as a mentor and caused her harm to her emotional state," Gen Sinclair reportedly told the court last week. |
| Prosecutors had alleged Gen Sinclair twice forced the female captain to perform oral sex and threatened her family with death if she ever told anyone about their affair. | |
| But the prosecution's case fell apart after the defence raised questions about the accuser's credibility. | But the prosecution's case fell apart after the defence raised questions about the accuser's credibility. |
| And Judge Col James Pohl said he had found evidence that senior military officers had improperly influenced prosecutors' decision to reject a lenient plea deal earlier in the case. | And Judge Col James Pohl said he had found evidence that senior military officers had improperly influenced prosecutors' decision to reject a lenient plea deal earlier in the case. |