Air Force colonel found not guilty of sexual assault at Osan

Cockrum was found guilty of one charge of conduct unbecoming an officer. According to court documents, he faced that charge because he did "knowingly fraternize with enlisted persons, on terms of military equality  … such conduct being to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces," between July 2014 and March 2015.

The military judge sentenced him to 30 days confinement, forfeiture of $5,000 pay per month for eight months ($40,000 total), and a reprimand, Honchul said.

Cockrum was originally charged with four specifications of sexual assault and one specification of conduct unbecoming of an officer, according to a Nov. 18 statement from the 7th Air Force.

Cockrum was relieved of command March 5 due to "information regarding fraternization and unprofessional relationships," according to an Air Force statement at the time. The 7th Air Force said Cockrum was officially charged on Sept. 3.

His court-martial, originally scheduled for Jan. 25  at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, was pushed back until this month.

Cockrum entered active duty in August 1997, according to service personnel records. He has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Achievement Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Air Force Times reporter Phillip Swarts contributed to this report.

Oriana Pawlyk covers deployments, cyber, Guard/Reserve, uniforms, physical training, crime and operations in the Middle East and Europe for Air Force Times. She was the Early Bird Brief editor in 2015. Email her at opawlyk@airforcetimes.com.

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