Despite the fact that Army Brigadier General Jeffrey Sinclair had pleaded guilty to adultery and having inappropriate relations with junior officers last week, his attorney has said that his client could still keep his position until his retirement.
Richard Scheff, Sinclair's attorney, has been quoted by the Detroit Free Press as saying, "It's possible he will retire as a general and it is possible he will retire at the last rank he served honorably."
The local paper said that there is a huge difference between retiring as a brigadier general and as a lieutenant colonel. Should the US Army will not allow Sinclair to retain his post until the day of his retirement, a total of $832,000 calculated from his retirement today until the age of 82 will be lost.
On the other hand, some legal experts have said that it is impossible for Sinclair to not get a demotion in the military, considering the crimes the brigadier general has pleaded guilty to, said Detroit Free Press. Critics like California Representative Jackie Speier have called Sinclair's sentence a mockery considering that he was able to avoid prison time and was only reprimanded and handed out a $20,000.
Detroit Free Press said that the final decision wll lie on the secretary of the Army, who will be basing his decision on the results of a grade determination review board. The paper said the board who will be providing recommendations for Sinclair's actions are somewhat an arcane panel to review highly unusual cases. Moreover, the board will be basing their decision from the time the soldier has achieved a "satisfactory" performance in his job last year. This means that since Sinclair's last position was as a lieutenant colonel, military justice expert Eugene Fidell told Detroit Free Press that Sinclair would get "satisfactory" remarks as a colonel and brigadier general.
