United States v. Lewis

OPINION OF THE COURT

A general court-martial which included members convicted appellant of rape, an offense denounced by Article 120, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. § 920. His sentence, approved by the convening authority, extended to a bad-conduct discharge, confinement at hard labor for two years, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances.

Shortly before midnight on 25 October 1977, three soldiers, including the accused, coaxed the alleged victim, Ulrike, a 16-year old German girl, who was hitchhiking at the time, into their jeep. Earlier that evening she had gone from her…