Former Top Soldier Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Allegations

FT. BELVOIR, Va. —  Sgt. Maj. Gene C. McKinney, once the Army’s highest-ranking enlisted man, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of sexual misconduct against six women.

McKinney, 47, the first African American to rise to sergeant major of the Army and a decorated Vietnam War veteran, has accused the military of targeting him for prosecution because he is black. The case against him is being heard in a military court here.

“This case is being followed by every soldier in the Army,” said Lt. Col. Michael S. Child, the prosecutor, as jury selection began.

Six women have painted McKinney as a sexual predator, a married man who would demand sex and later plead with the women to cover up his conduct. McKinney faces 19 charges, including obstruction of justice, assaulting an officer, indecent assault, maltreatment of a subordinate and adultery. If convicted he faces loss of rank and 55 years in prison.

McKinney’s attorney has accused the military of singling out McKinney while ignoring allegations of similar misconduct by 23 high-ranking officers.

But Col. Ferdinand D. Clervi, the judge in the case, has refused to allow defense attorneys to pursue that line of argument. On Wednesday, Clervi rejected a last defense motion that would have blocked the start of the trial.

McKinney’s lawyers say both the sergeant and his wife might testify.