A decorated veteran who recently became a senior civilian officer at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point was fired from his post after he was arraigned Nov. 20 in Livingston County on one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.
William F. Gentry, 56, who lists Brighton as his residence on his LinkedIn account, had been employed at West Point since February.
The nature of the alleged crime was not disclosed in the court documents, according to Military.com.
In reporting in the Army Times, the alleged incident took place on Nov. 1, 2022, in Livingston County.
The case was investigated by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office. The Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office issued the charge on Oct. 24, 2023. Gentry was extradited from New York State to Livingston County; he was arraigned on Monday, Nov. 20, and he posted a $50,000 bail bond a week later, on Monday, Nov. 27. Gentry is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 5.
Those facing second-degree criminal sexual conduct charges face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison if found guilty.
“The U.S. Military Academy takes these allegations very seriously,” said Army Col. Terrence Kelley, a West Point spokesman, in a statement. “The charges are unrelated to his role at West Point, and we assisted New York State law enforcement in his arrest and extradition to Michigan, terminated his employment and he will not return to West Point.”
Gentry served in the Army from February 1986 until February 2018; he made sergeant major in April 2007. He was deployed to Afghanistan from 2004-05; and to Iraq in 2007 and 2009-10.
His LinkedIn page lists positions as a curriculum development and education senior enlisted advisor from 2015-2018 at Fort Bliss, Texas. He also lists the position of deputy director of education at the Noncommissioned Officer Center of Excellence from 2016-2018.
Gentry’s service awards include the Legion of Merit, six Meritorious Service Medals, 10 Army Commendation Medals, a Combat Infantryman Badge, and Drill Sergeant Identification Badge.
