Airman found guilty of attempted sex offense Published Sept. 11, 2015 SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- A court-martial found an Airman guilty of attempting to commit a lewd act on a minor and sentenced him to six months confinement, a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and reduction in rank to Airman Basic, or E-1, on September 3, 2015. Airman 1st Class Matthew Thomas, 365th Training Squadron student, had been charged with violating Article 80 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice by attempting to commit a lewd act on a minor and attempting to persuade, induce or entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. In November and December 2014, Thomas allegedly sent indecent texts and video to an individual whom he believed to be a 14-year-old girl; he then showed up at a home on Sheppard in December 2014 in an alleged attempt to entice the individual into engaging in sexual activity. Upon Thomas' arrival at the residence, the apparent 14-year-old girl revealed herself as an undercover agent of the Air Force Office of Special Investigation and Thomas was apprehended. After deliberating for more than ten hours September 1-2, a panel of officers found Thomas guilty of one specification of violating Article 80, an attempt to commit a lewd act on a minor by sending indecent texts and videos; and found him not guilty of the second specification, an attempt to persuade, induce, or entice a minor to engage in sexual activity when he went to the on-base home to meet the girl for sex.