CSPD didn’t find probable cause in case involving AFA major facing Article 32 hearing

The Air Force Academy says Maj. Travis Burns faces allegations of rape and rape of a child, but Burns’ lawyer says those accusations are false and part of an attempt by his ex-wife to sway a custody battle.

Monday, Burns was at the Academy for an Article 32 hearing. The hearing provided new details in the case, outlining the evidence the Preliminary Hearing Officer, Lt. Col. Mark Rosenow, will be going through.

Evidence included a 32-page report of an investigation, the charge sheet, audio and video interviews with both victims and a phone call between Burns and his ex-wife’s new husband.

The motion to get the phone call played in the courtroom was denied by the Preliminary Hearing Officer.

We’ll later learn if that phone call was relevant to the case and how.

Beliles says they believe the Preliminary Hearing Officer will make the recommendation to go before a court-martial, where Burns will plead not guilty to the alleged violations.

Beliles says Burns denies the accusations, and he claims that both Springville Police in Utah and the Colorado Springs Police Department investigated the claims. He says ultimately CSPD “declined to prosecute his case because of an absence of probable cause,” according to a statement.

We reached out to CSPD, which confirmed that officers investigated an allegation of rape against a Travis J. Burns in May of 2018 and didn’t find any probable cause for an arrest or charges.