A U.S. Army general accused of sexually assaulting a female captain is set to plead guilty to three lesser charges.
Brigadier General Jeffrey Sinclair's lawyer said the move will strengthen his position going into trial on five other charges, including sexual assault.
Sinclair is entering the plea Thursday before his court martial opens at Fort Bragg in the southern state of North Carolina.
The general will plead guilty to having improper relationships with two female Army officers, violating orders by possessing pornography in Afghanistan, and committing adultery with his mistress, which is a crime in the military.
His lawyer said the move will not allow the prosecution to distract the court with "salacious details about acts that are not even criminal in the civilian world."
Sinclair's primary accuser says the general twice forced her to perform oral sex, and claims the married father threatened to kill her family if she told anyone about their three-year affair.
Sinclair could face life in prison if convicted on the most serious charges.
Brigadier General Jeffrey Sinclair's lawyer said the move will strengthen his position going into trial on five other charges, including sexual assault.
Sinclair is entering the plea Thursday before his court martial opens at Fort Bragg in the southern state of North Carolina.
The general will plead guilty to having improper relationships with two female Army officers, violating orders by possessing pornography in Afghanistan, and committing adultery with his mistress, which is a crime in the military.
His lawyer said the move will not allow the prosecution to distract the court with "salacious details about acts that are not even criminal in the civilian world."
Sinclair's primary accuser says the general twice forced her to perform oral sex, and claims the married father threatened to kill her family if she told anyone about their three-year affair.
Sinclair could face life in prison if convicted on the most serious charges.
