Air force officer who led sexual assault response unit acquitted in groping case
A jury has acquitted an air force officer – who once led the branch's sexual assault response team – on charges that he groped a woman outside a Virginia bar.
The seven-member jury deliberated about an hour after hearing closing arguments Wednesday in the misdemeanor assault case against 42-year-old Lt Col Jeffrey Krusinski. His arrest came amid a national furor over sexual abuse in the military and whether top brass take the issue seriously.
A 23-year-old woman testified that Krusinski grabbed her backside on May 5 outside the Crystal City bar.
Defense lawyers argued that there were inconsistencies in her story. She admitted punching Krusinski a few times in retaliation, while other witnesses described seeing her hit him countless times.
Prosecutors said the jury should not be distracted by what happened after the alleged grope.