Prosecutors allege 5 women in general's sex crimes

FORT BRAGG, North Carolina (AP) - US Army prosecutors offered the first details of a rare criminal case against a general, alleging in a military hearing on Monday that he committed sex-related crimes involving four female officers and a civilian.

A hearing on evidence in the case against Brigadier General Jeffrey Sinclair began on Monday at Fort Bragg, home to the 82nd Airborne Division. Officials said the Article 32 hearing, similar to a grand jury proceeding in civilian court, was expected to last at least two days.

The first witness called was Major General James Huggins, the former commander of the 82nd Airborne Division and Sinclair's direct superior during his most recent combat tour to Afghanistan.

Maj-Gen Huggins recounted that on Mar 19, a female captain came to his office late at night in tears. She reported that she had been involved in a 3-year-long sexual affair with Brig-Gen Sinclair, then her direct commander and a married man. Adultery is a crime under the military code of justice.