Regarding the recent conviction and sentencing reported by the Daily Camera in “Air Force Cadet Sentenced In Boulder Sexual Assault Case” (Feb. 1), our family had the opportunity to witness the courage of the young woman in our community who was sexually assaulted by Air Force Cadet Jack Warmolts. This young woman was brave enough to come forward knowing that she would have to testify and be subjected to all of the scrutiny and doubtful criticism that is now an accepted culture for survivors of sexual assault. Today Warmolts is a convicted felon; yet his crime, the light prison sentence (one year in the county jail where he may serve as little as six months), the culture at the United States Air Force Academy, the effects on our community, and, of course, the effects on this young woman, continue to reverberate.
Warmolts is the second Air Force cadet convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in the city of Boulder in the past three years. In 2014, another Air Force cadet, Mark Ryerson, was convicted of raping a fellow cadet while the two were at a party in November 2014.
As recently as six months ago, a former CU student, Austin Wilkerson, was convicted of raping a woman in the city of Boulder, and, to our astonishment, was sentenced to absolutely no prison time. The sentence demonstrates the defects in Colorado law that must be changed to ensure that there is a punitive component for rapists like him. No reasonable person can suggest that rapists should not go to prison as part of their punishment.
Judge Bakke was correct when she said that rape is not a “legal” term. It’s an emotionally charged word in our English lexicon that we use to describe the non consensual sexual acts Warmolts committed on this young woman. As she so forcefully described, “He chose not to see me as a person. To him, I was just a body for his use.”
In too many places, especially on and around our college campuses, there is an environment whose prevailing social attitude has the effect of normalizing or trivializing sexual assault and abuse. Rape culture is real and it is happening regularly.
In too many ways, the Warmolts sentencing hearing was a microcosm of that culture. Through his counsel, Warmolts downplayed the true value of his crime, referring to it as, “He did a bad thing.” Warmolts was described as someone of high moral character who could be excused for a momentary lapse. Bad thing? Momentary lapse? That’s code language providing subtle permission to the next rapist of a woman in our community.
The culture of arrogance, entitlement, and privilege we have witnessed from the United States Air Force Academy is unacceptable. Letters in support of Warmolts from Air Force personnel on Air Force letterhead were sent to the court after he had already pled guilty to sexual assault and was awaiting sentencing. Warmolts will attempt to receive a discharge from the Air Force Academy that will entitle him to VA and other military benefits. In addition, he has been continuously receiving his military salary. Are these the values of our military institutions that we want to support and uphold?
It would have been easy and somewhat satisfying for this young woman to have stood up in the courtroom and condemned Warmolts’ behavior as sickening and hateful. Instead, she has chosen to live each day with compassion and fortitude. Judge Bakke went so far as to tell her, “You are the toughest, most eloquent of all that I have dealt with or seen.”
As a community, we have a responsibility to take action to end sexual assault. What can we do?
• Tell our sons and daughters that locker room smut talk is always obscene and objectionable. Then tell them again.
• Support Title IX, the federal laws protecting women on our college campuses from sexual assault.
• Support changes to statutes in Colorado that give our judges confidence to impose longer prison terms for rape.
• Challenge our military institutions to initiate a less than honorable discharge to felons convicted of sexual assault.
• Require the city of Boulder and Boulder City Council spend our tax dollars making this issue a priority item if we truly are a sanctuary city.
• Most of all, acknowledge, affirm and support women who have the courage to stand up to the likes of Warmolts on behalf of themselves and other survivors of sexual assault.
Richard, Melissa, Emily and Kendra Werner live in Boulder.
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