BAMBERG, Germany -- A U.S. Army chaplain was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison after pleading guilty at his court-martial to three counts of forcible sodomy against enlisted men.
Capt. Gregory Arflack, 44, a Roman Catholic priest serving as a chaplain with the 279th Base Support Battalion, also pleaded guilty to three counts of committing an indecent act, two counts of fraternization with enlisted service members and one count of conduct unbecoming an officer.
The court-martial took place in Bamberg, Germany, where Arflack's unit is based.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Col. R. Peter Masterton ordered that Arflack be dismissed from the Army and forfeit all benefits. He will serve his prison term at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.
Arflack, a native of Marion, Ky., showed no emotion as the sentence was read. Earlier, he told the court he regretted his actions.
"I apologize to the soldiers; my heart hurts for them," he said. "I can't explain what the chaplaincy means to me and I messed it up."
Arflack confessed to plying three young soldiers with alcohol and making unwanted advances.
He forced oral sex on one soldier in the bathroom of a bar and on the other two at his home, where they had passed out on his sofa.
