Army officer fined nearly $100,000 for harassing female officers

A military judge sentenced an Army lieutenant colonel Friday to receive an official reprimand and pay a nearly $100,000 fine after the officer was found guilty of harassing three subordinate female officers.

Prosecutors alleged that Lt. Col. Benjamin West, 43, conducted a “step-by-step” escalation of sexual harassment of one female aide and two other female officers in I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, the news outlet Stars and Stripes reported.

West initially faced seven charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including two counts of sexual harassment, one count of conduct unbecoming an officer, one count of dereliction of duty and three counts of cruelty and maltreatment of a subordinate, Stars and Stripes reported.

West faced up to 15 years in prison on those charges.

Instead, the military judge, Lt. Col. Robert Murdough, found West guilty on two of the sexual harassment charges and one charge of cruelty and maltreatment of a subordinate and ordered an official letter of reprimand be added to his personnel file.

He also fined West $92,900.

Murdough did not provide an explanation for his sentencing decision in court Friday, Stars and Stripes reported.

West waived his right to a jury trial and accepted the judge’s decision on both his conviction and sentencing in what is known as a bench trial.

Civilian attorney Ryan Guilds represented one of the three female officers harassed by West. Following Friday’s hearing, Guilds told Stars and Stripes that the verdict was “bittersweet” because although the Army did punish West, the incidents caused his client to leave the Army.

West took command of the 1st Battalion, 94th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade in June 2023.

Four months later, in October 2023, he was fired following these charges.

Before his sentencing, the 20-year Army officer addressed his victims in court, asking them to overcome the “shadow” he had cast over their lives through his “despicable behavior,” Stars & Stripes reported.

“I saw the joy you had for the military,” he said. “I apologize for taking that from you. I apologize to your family who had to hold you up, to lift you up, after what I did.”

West also said if he was not dismissed from the Army, then he will resign from the Army soon.

Attorneys said in court that the decision would likely mean a reduction in rank to major.

West’s conduct had a direct impact on the three female officers who reported his behavior.

One officer said West’s actions put her on “high alert” and contributed to her deciding to leave the Army early rather than make it a career, as she had originally planned.

Another officer said West made her feel “like a complete failure.” She had begun the process to leave the Army but changed course after she went to another unit that supported her and fellow troops.