A former US army battalion commander was found guilty on Friday of sexual harassment of a subordinate in what prosecutors hailed as a historic military justice case.
Lt Col Herman West, who was previously stationed at Washington state’s Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), faced multiple charges over his treatment of a female officer in his command, KOMO News reported.
The subordinate officer, whose name has not been publicly released, testified in a JBLM courtroom that West had harassed her for weeks starting in the summer of 2023.
West’s actions included barging into the women’s bathrooms, making unwanted sexual remarks and repeatedly touching her inappropriately during military outings, KOMO News reported. West also made persistent sexual advances, including telling the woman that he was excited to go on a mission to Indonesia with her so the two could share a hotel room and “get super drunk” and “totally unhinged”.