{"id":44614,"date":"2022-04-18T21:05:14","date_gmt":"2022-04-18T21:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/04\/18\/patriot-battalion-csm-faces-court-martial-on-fraternization-charges\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:39:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:39:00","slug":"patriot-battalion-csm-faces-court-martial-on-fraternization-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2022\/04\/18\/patriot-battalion-csm-faces-court-martial-on-fraternization-charges\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriot battalion CSM faces court-martial on fraternization charges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The former top NCO for a Fort Hood, Texas<\/a>-based air defense battalion<\/a> is set to face court-martial in June over allegations that he had an illegal affair with a subordinate and then lied about it in an official statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sgt. Maj. Tomas Barrios is charged with fraternization and adultery after carrying on an affair with a subordinate, according to a charge sheet provided to Army Times by III Corps officials. He was serving as the command sergeant major for the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade\u2019s 4th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Regiment when the alleged sexual relationship occurred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is now assigned to the corps\u2019 headquarters support company while awaiting trial. Barrios has pleaded not guilty, according to online court records. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The air defense NCO allegedly made \u201cdeliberate and repeated comments and gestures of a sexual nature\u201d towards a soldier beginning in May 2021 and engaged in a physical sexual relationship with an unnamed corporal between July 2021 and mid-September of that year, said the court document. Barrios\u2019 conduct \u201ccompromis[ed]…the integrity of supervisory authority\u201d and harmed good order and discipline in the unit, per the charge sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\t