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Investigation Reveals Possible Male Victims, Female Suspect At Lackland

Eileen Pace
/
TPR

The Air Force is releasing details of the first male victims in its widening investigation of the sex scandal at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

Air Force officials said late Tuesday that a female instructor is now under investigation for having an alleged unprofessional relationship with a male technical trainee.

In addition, another male instructor has been identified as part of the Air Force probe, suspected of abusive sexual contact of two male trainees.

This is the first instance of sexual assault of, or inappropriate sexual relationships involving, male victims, and the first female listed as a suspect in the broad investigation.

Two other male victims testified Dec. 10 & 11 against Sgt. Ryan Deraas that they were physically abused and suffered maltreatment, but did not claim sexual abuse. In his Article 32 hearing, Deraas’ former trainees testified they were forced to drink toilet water and were physically assaulted in the latrine.

The new information brings to 32 the total number of suspects who are under investigation or have been court-martialed or punished administratively, and 59 alleged victims.

Eileen Pace is a veteran radio and print journalist with a long history of investigative and feature reporting in San Antonio and Houston, earning more than 50 awards for investigative reporting, documentaries, long-form series, features, sports stories, outstanding anchoring and best use of sound.