CHAPLAIN (LTC) CONVICTED ON CHILD SEX
CHARGES AT FORT LEONARD WOOD - KEITH
JACKSON FACES JAIL TIME AND PENSION LOSS
AT SENTENCING - VETERAN OF IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN ADMITTED HE EXPOSED HIMSELF
VIA VIDEO-CAM TO "UNDERAGE GIRL" IN CHAT
ROOM - SHE REALLY UNDERCOVER DETECTIVE

© 2012 MilitaryCorruption.com

Some stories are extra hard to write, and this is one of them.

Chaplain (LTC) Keith Jackson's life and military career lie in ruins. Much of his trouble was brought on by himself and his actions. But who among us can "throw the first stone" at a man whose every other action was of bravery and honor?

The 46 year-old Army officer was convicted at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. of "sexually exploiting a child." Let's study that charge.

CAUGHT BY COP POSING AS "UNDER-AGE" GIRL

According to court papers and evidence at the trial, Jackson - who has a serious drinking problem and would "black out" after consuming as much as a quart of vodka in less than a half hour - exposed himself to someone whom he claims he thought was an adult female.

Defense attorney Frank Spinner pointed out the rules for the chat room Jackson accessed, prohibited any person under 18 from participation. The police detective, posing as an underage girl, said he represented himself as being 14 years-old.

Jackson is a married man with two children. His stupid and self-destructive actions have caused incredible pain for his family and himself.

But does this man belong in prison for many years while his wife and kids suffer? What does that accomplish?

The chaplain, having been convicted already, has lost his military retirement and benefits. His 21 years of active duty, included risking his life on special operations in Afghanistan and holding men in his arms as they died from combat wounds in Iraq.

Is that worth anything on the scales of justice?

NO SEXUAL CONTACT OR ATTEMPT TO HAVE SEX WITH "VICTIM"

Did Chaplain Jackson have sexual contact with anyone? No. During the lengthy period he talked dirty and masturbated on camera for this "girl," did he ever propose they meet for sex at some motel? No. There was no "underage victim" here. There was a cop, however, who caught a sick man, an alcoholic, in the process of destroying himself.

Some JAG officers have all the subtlety of a pack of wild dogs chasing a bleeding deer across an open field.

To toss this man behind bars and throw away the key might satisfy embarrassed brass hats at the Pentagon. It might satiate Bible-pounders and judgmental "Christians" who eat their own and want a pound of flesh, but isn't the HELL he's created for himself enough punishment for the "crime" committed?

A "MEASURE OF MERCY" IS CALLED FOR HERE

Keith Jackson will be dismissed from the service, in effect a dishonorable discharge. He'll have to register as a sex offender. He can never work or function as a minister or clergyman again.

We know many of our readers - MilitaryCorruption.com gets up to six million hits a month - will disagree with our stand here. But read our nearly 12-year coverage of other cases involving chaplains who committed much worse crimes in the related stories box below, before you fire off a critical e-mail to us.

Chaplain Jackson deserves a measure of mercy. When the commanding general at Leonard Wood makes his decision as to sentence (by regulation, he can lessen the penalties, but not increase them) we hope he keeps in mind what we have said here.