by Elizabeth Ruiz

A military training instructor has pleaded guilty to all charges in the latest court martial linked to a sex scandal at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, but this time, the defendant also was charged with assault.  

Staff Sgt. Ryan Deraas was accused of  having unprofessional relationships with five female technical training students and assaulting male basic trainees.

During the evidentiary hearing, witnesses testified that Deraas ordered his squadron to fill their canteens with water from the toilet.  They also said that after a long day of training during which they drank a lot of water, he refused to allow them to use the latrine and when two of the trainees disobeyed his orders, he grabbed them and pulled them away from the toilet. One of them reportedly fell to the floor.

"Staff Sgt. Deraas had a pre-trial agreement with the government and he pleaded guilty to two charges, which included a total of 8 specifications, or counts," said Joint Base spokesman Brent Boller

The judge accepted the guilty pleas Monday and sentenced Deraas to 3 months behind bars, reduction in rank from E5 to E3 and a bad conduct discharge.