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02/28/2007
Air Force Officer Found Guilty of Raping Servicemen
An Air Force officer accused of drugging and raping four servicemen and attempting to rape two others has been found guilty. Capt. Devery L. Taylor reportedly met the men at bars in Pensacola, Florida and on Okaloosa Island before spiking their drinks and taking advantage of them:
According to the Associated Press, "Military prosecutors described Taylor, 38, as a serial rapist who met men in bars, spiked their drinks with the 'date-rape' drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, and kidnapped them. Taylor was charged with two counts of attempted sodomy, four counts of forcible sodomy, two counts of kidnapping and one count of unlawful entry. Taylor testified that he had consensual sex with five of the men and that the sixth, who is openly gay, raped him. [Martin Regan, Taylor's civilian defense attorney] said the men lied to protect their military careers. Four of the men were in the military when they met Taylor, and a fifth wanted to join the Navy and feared being identified as gay, Regan said."
Major Kathleen Reder, a military prosecutor, offered the press a bizarre statement regarding Taylor's victims given the gravity of the circumstances: "These men can sit up a little straighter now; I am proud of them."
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 10:00 AM EST by Andy in Crime, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Florida, Military, News | Permalink
Comments
Unlawful entry? Isn't that being redundant?
Posted by: dc-20008 | Feb 28, 2007 10:22:28 AM
"Unlawful entry" refers to him breaking into someone else's house.
The prosecutor's statement seems to imply that the men were probably depressed and the victory of the conviction should cheer them up. Testifying as a victim of sexual assault is a brave act.
Bottom line: this guy sounds like a complete dirt bag who deserves his time in prison. His attorney played the old game of "the victim wanted it" but it failed miserably, thankfully.
Posted by: noah | Feb 28, 2007 10:39:49 AM
I was being facetious.
Posted by: dc-20008 | Feb 28, 2007 10:58:42 AM
The prosecutor's remarks were Homophobic & laced with an attempt at crude humor. Who would tell a rape victim that perhaps now he can "sit up a little straighter" having had homosexual anal sex? That's just fucked up. Also, this was a trial by the military, NOT one's peers. This guy could have easily been framed--but, then again, he could have serial raped these men with GHB---funny that no where online in any post of this story reads an explanation of and if GHB was found in the systems of these men.
Posted by: Stevie P | Feb 28, 2007 11:27:46 AM
I'm not saying that I do or don't believe this guy is guilty, but this is from the original AP article that Andy linked when the story was first posted:
"Defense attorneys asked the judge to limit testimony about GHB, saying that its effects were similar to that of alcohol and that none of the victims had traces of the drug in their bodies. Cumbie has delayed until Tuesday a ruling on testimony about the drug."
Posted by: scientitian | Feb 28, 2007 11:49:26 AM
Male rape is an unreported and underprosecuted crime. It is difficult to know from the sketchy reports whether victims' and accused's rights were upheld and respected throughout.
In any case, I'm not convinced the military justice system gave this defendant a "fair" trial. If he is not guilty, I hope avenues of appeal are available to him.
If he is indeed guilty, what kind of internalized homophobia would bring him to commit these crimes?
No doubt this would make an interesting case study with society's messages about what it means to be gay playing a prominent role.
Posted by: John | Feb 28, 2007 1:27:50 PM
"These men can sit up a little straighter now..." BWAA-HAA-HAA-HAA-HAAA-HAAAAA!!!
Posted by: Ridwah | Feb 28, 2007 1:55:41 PM
That dude is creepy looking...
Posted by: FanGirlHater | Feb 28, 2007 3:00:25 PM
Because Taylor is gay he'll get a much harsher sentence than a straight person would. That's how the justice system works in this country.
Posted by: Jack! | Feb 28, 2007 3:26:51 PM
ridwah, my exact thoughts and reaction after i read the posting. ha ha ha ha
Posted by: will1 | Mar 1, 2007 2:08:01 AM
I was raped several years ago and couldn't do a thing about it. I didn't tell anybody about it for months and it about made me crazy. I've been asked why I didn't do anything to fight it. But it wasn't that easy to do. I didn't report it to officials and to this day, wouldn't do it, even though I knew the person who did it to me. That guy deserves to go to jail.
Posted by: Billy | Mar 1, 2007 11:41:39 AM
My prediction was proven right: "Because Taylor is gay he'll get a much harsher sentence than a straight person would. That's how the justice system works in this country."
He's been sentenced to 50 years. Much more than typical.
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/02/022807rape.htm
Posted by: Jack! | Mar 1, 2007 3:02:14 PM
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