The Air Force has decided not to pursue a court-martial against Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski, who was found not guilty of assaulting a woman while he was serving as head of the Air Force's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office.

Although a civilian jury cleared Krusinski of assault and battery for allegedly groping a woman outside a Virginia bar in May 2013, the Air Force could have brought charges against him because a person can be tried for the same crime in state and federal court.

But 11th Wing Commander Col. Bill Knight decided Krusinski should receive a letter of reprimand because of his November 2013 acquittal in civilian court, Air Force spokeswoman Rose Richeson said.

"After an Air Force member has been criminally prosecuted by a civilian court, the Air Force reviews the case to determine whether any additional Air Force action is appropriate," Richeson said in an email to Air Force Times. "An LOR [letter of reprimand] is designed to improve, correct and instruct those who depart from standards of performance, conduct, bearing and integrity and whose actions degrade the individual and unit's mission."

The letter of reprimand will be included in Krusinski's Unfavorable Information File and his senior rater has decided to include it in his Officer Selection Record, which is used as part of the officers promotion process, Richeson said.

Greg Jacob, of the Service Women's Action Network, said a letter of reprimand is "wholly inappropriate" in Krusinski's case because it is meant to be a counseling tool, not a punitive measure. The move is ironic because defenders of the military justice system have said that it can punish perpetrators even if civilian courts fail to do so, he said.

The letter of reprimand amounts to a "slap on the wrist," said Nancy Parrish, president of the group Protect our Defenders.

"An LOR will do nothing to combat the victim blaming, often misogynistic culture within the military, and demonstrates a level of tolerance and acceptance for those who see sexual assault prevention as merely a joke," Parish said in an email to Air Force Times. "Our military claims to hold itself up to a higher standard. It is time they did. The American public is fed up with the continued drumbeat of outrageous scandals in the military, and the military's lack luster response to them."

Krusinski was arrested following the May 5, 2013, incident outside Freddie's Beach Bar in Arlington, Virginia. The woman testified that she hit Krusinski several times in the face after he grabbed her buttocks and asked her if she liked it. He was initially charged with a misdemeanor count of sexual battery, but the prosecutor's office dropped the charge.

The Air Force removed Krusinski from his position as head of sexual assault prevention efforts immediately following his arrest. The service also greatly expanded its program to prevent sexual assault and harassment and appointed a two-star general as Krusinski's replacement.

Krusinski could not be reached for comment on Sept. 5. The incident sparked outrage among lawmakers who believed the military was not doing enough to stop sexual assaults. Two days after Krusinski's arrest, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., lambasted Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

"Clearly, there is insufficient training, insufficient understanding, if the man in charge for the Air Force of preventing sexual assaults is being alleged of committing sexual assault this weekend — obviously, there is a failing in training and understanding of what sexual assault is and how corrosive and damaging it is to good order and discipline," Gillibrand said.

Stars and Stripes first reported Sept. 4 that Krusinski will receive a letter of reprimand instead of a court-martial.

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