May court-martial set for AF major accused of rape, assault

A major at Air Force Space Command is set to be court-martialedin May on charges of rape and assault.

Maj. Jared R. Burdin is charged with raping a woman last summerat his home in Colorado Springs, according to the 21st Space Wing atPeterson Air Force Base. A second charge accuses Burdin ofassaulting a woman in September.

In military courts, rape can carry the same penalties as murder,including capital punishment.

In this case, Burdin faces a maximum of life behind bars.

A 13-year veteran of the Air Force, Burdin was charged withsexual assault in 4th Judicial District Court last year after he wasarrested by El Paso County sheriff's deputies. The charges weredismissed by prosecutors on Dec. 21, eight days after Air Forceprosecutors filed their rape charge.

A spokeswoman said the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Officehanded off the case to military authorities.

Burdin's attorney in the 4th Judicial District case did notreturn a phone call.

Even though the incidents allegedly took place off of a militarybase, the military can claim jurisdiction because Burdin wears theuniform.

Burdin is assigned to the headquarters of Air Force Space Commandat Peterson, which oversees the Air Force's constellation ofsatellites and now plays a role in Internet warfare.

He remains free pending court-martial.

Charging papers allege that the 41-year-old forced anunidentified woman to have sex by holding her down and forcing herlegs apart. The assault charge accuses Burdin of grabbing a woman bythe arms and throwing her to the floor.

A panel of officers will hear evidence in the case and rule onBurdin's guilt.

If Burdin is convicted the same panel will rule on his sentence.

Court-martial panels have broad discretion in sentencing, with nominimum sentence mandated by law.

-

Call the writer: 636-0240