A former Louisiana National Guard officer was allowed to retire depiste being convicted during a general court-martial of charges related to “motorboating” a subordinate officer during a promotion ceremony while deployed in Jordan in May 2021, Army Times reports.
- Capt. Billy Joe Crosby Jr. was the officer-in-charge of the Jordan outpost. He was there with the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team when the incident occured nad was initially charged with abusive sexual conduct and conduct unbecoming an officer, court records reveal.
- Crosby’s behavior was incredibly inappropriate. As Maj. Jessica Rovero, a spokesman for the command overseeing the trial, told Army Times: “[Crosby’s] behavior is not in line with the Army values.” She added that “multiple soldiers immediately reported the behavior and Crosby pled guilty at trial.”
- He was able to strike a deal. Crosby only pleaded guilty because he struck a deal to have the abusive sexual contact charge dropped. Instead, his guilty plea was for assaul consummated by battery, which is a non-sexual charge, and conduct unbecoming.
- Crosby was confined for 30 days. However, that’s about all that happened to him. His plea deal meant the judge couldn’t dismiss Crosby from the Army, which would have kept him from collecting his retirement. Instead, he was allowed to retire on March 31 and went home.
