A colonel based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is facing charges of sexual imposition. WYSO’s Emily McCord reports.
The sexual imposition charge against Air Force Colonel Mayan Shah is defined as any unlawful sexual contact with another who is not a spouse. The alleged incident happened off-base in Dayton in August, 2012. Police records show the incident happened at Carillon Park after the Alefest event, which brings lots of people to the park. It also indicates there may have been more than one victim. Air Force Materiel Command spokesperson Michelle Martz says Shah is a research analyst at AFMC where he has been at the organization since 2011 and continues to work there now.
In a statement release to reporters: "The Air Force has zero tolerance for sexual assault, to include sexual imposition, and we are unequivocal in our commitment to prevent such incidents. Sexual assault is a crime that violates Air Force core values and has no place in the Air Force."
This comes as the military has been plagued with cases of sexual assault. The Defense Department estimates that 26,000 people in the armed forces were sexually assaulted last year, up from 19,000 in 2010. Shah entered a not guilty plea and is scheduled to go on trial Thursday. A call was left by WYSO for Shah’s attorney for comment.