US Army Officer Found Guilty of Sexual Harassment in Landmark Case
A US Army officer was convicted of sexual harassment, marking a significant moment in military justice reform and accountability for victims.
Herman West, Sexual Harassment, Military Justice, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, US Army
Joint Base Lewis-McChord: So, a former army battalion commander just got found guilty of sexual harassment. This is a big deal in military justice, and it happened on Friday.
Lt Col Herman West was stationed at JBLM and faced some serious charges for how he treated a young female officer. She testified that he harassed her for weeks starting last summer.
West’s behavior was pretty outrageous. He barged into women’s bathrooms, made unwanted comments, and even touched her inappropriately during military events. He also made some really inappropriate advances, like suggesting they share a hotel room in Indonesia and get “super drunk.”
The woman, who had just graduated from college and was in ROTC, was scared to report him at first. West often bragged about his uncle, a former congressman, which made her feel uneasy. He even emailed HR without her permission to block her from transferring to another position.
But things escalated when he unzipped his pants while they were driving back from lunch. That was the last straw for her. An army colleague encouraged her to report him, especially since she was worried about being forced to go on a mission with him.
After being found guilty, West only received a written reprimand and a hefty fine of over $92,000. He could have faced a dishonorable discharge and jail time, but that didn’t happen.
In court, he admitted to his actions and apologized, saying he had “failed” his colleagues. His defense team argued that kicking him out of the military would hurt his family.
This case is one of the first to be prosecuted under new military justice reforms that make sexual harassment a criminal offense. Advocates are celebrating this conviction as a major step forward for victims of sexual violence in the military.
Josh Connolly from Protect Our Defenders said this verdict is a crucial milestone in the fight against sexual harassment and assault in the military. He praised the brave service member for coming forward and holding West accountable.