General to admit guilt on 3 counts; denies assault

RALEIGH, N.C. — (AP) Lawyers for a U.S. Army general say he will admit guilt on three criminal charges, but he maintains his innocence on five remaining counts stemming from allegations he sexually assaulted a junior officer.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sinclair is set to enter the plea Thursday morning before opening statements for his court martial at Fort Bragg. His primary accuser is a female captain who claims Sinclair twice forced her to perform oral sex and threatened to kill her family if she told anyone about their three-year affair.

Defense attorney Richard Scheff said Wednesday night that Sinclair will plead guilty to having improper relationships with two other female Army officers and to committing adultery with his mistress, which is a crime in the military. He will also admit to violating orders by possessing pornography in Afghanistan.

WSOC