Former instructor in U.S. Air Force convicted in sex scandal

HOUSTON, June 28 (Xinhua) -- A former instructor at a U.S. Air Force base has been sentenced to six months in jail Friday after pleading guilty in a sex scandal with recruits, local media reported.

Apart from the jail term, senior Airman Andrew Lira was also given a military judge 30 days of hard labor, 1,200 U.S. dollars in forfeitures and reduction to the lowest rank, The San Antonio Express-News reported.

Prosecutors at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland charged the 28 year old with having illicit relationship, adultery and two counts of obstructing justice. The incidents involved eight female trainees.

Prosecutors say all of Lira's relationships were consensual, but they violated Air Force rules.

A seven-year veteran, Lira was the 23rd instructor tried in the Air Force's worst sex scandal. All but one has been convicted since the first trial in April 2011. The Air Force has investigated 33 instructors for misconducts with 67 recruits and technical school students in one of the worst sex scandals in the military.

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