McKinney Takes Stand, Denies All 19 Sex Charges

WASHINGTON —  Taking the witness stand Tuesday in his own defense, the Army’s former top enlisted man denied all charges of sexual misconduct against him.

Sgt. Maj. Gene C. McKinney, who is facing 19 charges at his court-martial, began what is expected to be at least two days of testimony with a blanket denial that he had forced himself on any of six women soldiers who have accused him of misconduct.

“No, sir, I committed none of those offenses,” McKinney responded firmly when his attorney asked if he had committed the offenses alleged to have occurred between 1994 and 1997.

Under questioning by Lt. Col. James Gerstenlauer, his defense lawyer, McKinney, 47, began addressing charges that he groped or crudely pressured the women. The accusations include adultery, assault and obstruction of justice and could result in more than 55 years in prison if he is convicted on all counts by the jury of four officers and four enlisted personnel.

Asked about the testimony of his first accuser, retired Sgt. Maj. Brenda Hoster, that he accosted her in her hotel room in Hawaii during a business trip, McKinney said that in fact he fired her as his speech writer that night.

McKinney, speaking in a calm voice, said he told Hoster, “I’m just going to tell you I’m tired of you not meeting the standards. I’m tired of the complaints I’ve been hearing. . . . It’s time for you to seek employment elsewhere.”

Hoster, the first woman to accuse McKinney, has claimed he showed up unannounced in her room and crudely propositioned her. When she resisted, Hoster said, McKinney picked her up and threatened: “I could take you right here.”

McKinney told the court that the trip to Hawaii in April 1996 was clear in his mind because it was the first time he and his wife, Wilhemina, had traveled since the death of their teenage son in an automobile accident a month earlier.

McKinney, who is black, has charged that his prosecution is racially motivated, noting that all of his accusers are white. The defense has introduced evidence that Hoster, despite her contention that McKinney harassed her and made her life “a living hell,” scheduled her retirement party so McKinney could attend in the midst of his busy travel schedule.

Earlier Tuesday, a co-worker testified that another accuser, Staff Sgt. Christina Fetrow, often made exaggerated statements. Appearing for the defense, retired Sgt. Kimberlie Pearson said she remained close to Fetrow during a 1994 convention when Fetrow claims McKinney propositioned her.

Pearson said she did not recall Fetrow spending time alone with McKinney, despite Fetrow’s statement to the contrary.

Attorneys for McKinney said that they expect to conclude his case this week, after which Army prosecutors may present rebuttal witnesses. His court-martial began Feb. 3 at Ft. Belvoir in the northern Virginia suburbs.

McKinney was removed last year as sergeant major of the Army after six women came forward to testify against him at a preliminary hearing. All have repeated their accounts at his court martial.

As sergeant major of the Army, an appointive post, McKinney functioned as a mentor and advocate for the enlisted ranks. Recent testimony on his behalf has shown that he enjoyed widespread support and respect from many who knew him.

Upon completion of McKinney’s direct testimony, prosecutors, on cross-examination, are expected to ask him about indications that he doctored records at an automobile repair shop to create an alibi on Oct. 30, 1996, about the time he is accused of having sex at his home with a pregnant soldier.

Prosecutors showed last week that after the October date became crucial in his case, McKinney took home records of a sign-in sheet that later had Oct. 30 written in different ink to indicate when he had visited the shop to change the oil in his Volvo.