Fort Carson Soldier Cleared Of Rape Charge

FORT CARSON, Colo. (AP) – A Fort Carson soldier has been clearedin a court martial that accused him of sexually assaulting the wifeof a man he had met while deployed in Iraq in 2008.

Twenty-eight-year-old Spc. Philip C. Vermeiren was found notguilty on all charges Wednesday after a two-day trial.

The prosecution accused Vermeiren of the “ultimate betrayal ofa battle buddy,” saying he assaulted the woman Oct. 30 while herhusband stepped out to buy cigarettes.

Vermeiren’s defense argued that the woman concocted the assaultstory to avoid being beaten by her husband for infidelity. The10-soldier jury also heard from an El Paso County sheriff’sdetective who said the accuser fabricated a separate rape claim in2008.