Airman confined, dishonorably discharged, for lewd act with child under 16

  • Published
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A student Airman from the 364th Training Squadron here was sentenced to six years confinement, reduction to E-1, forfeitures of all pay and allowances and a dishonorable discharge after pleading guilty to four charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice during a general court-martial Nov. 18.

Airman 1st Class Nicholas E. Busch pled guilty to charges of fraudulent enlistment, falsifying an official document, being absent without leave and committing a lewd act upon a child under the age of 16.

As a result of the guilty plea, Busch is also required to register as a convicted sex offender.

Evidence presented showed that Busch enlisted in the Air Force in early 2013 in the state of Tennessee. However, during his recruitment, Busch failed to disclose prior juvenile convictions for sexual assault in his home state of Kansas.

While in basic military training at Lackland, Busch began to communicate through a number of forums with a 15-year old girl from Florida, which became sexual in nature. Later, while trying to proceed on his previously received orders to a base in Florida, Busch falsified signatures on an official out-processing checklist and departed Sheppard Aug. 7 while not in an approved leave status.

Busch was apprehended by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations in Kansas two days later on Aug. 9 and was immediately placed in pre-trial confinement.

"The vast majority of our Airmen serve with integrity and excellence, and the very few who commit sexual or other misconduct defame that service," said George Woodward, director of public affairs. "That's why it's so important that we hold accountable the small percentage of Airmen who do not live up to our core values. That's what happened today."

After sentencing, Busch was handcuffed and led away to begin serving his confinement.