by Elizabeth RuizStaff Sgt. Jason Manko was sentenced to 45 days confinement, 30 days hard labor, a demotion to Airman First Class, and forfeiture of $500 of his salary every month for three months.
Manko pleaded guilty Monday to wrongfully seeking to develop and conduct a personal relationship with a trainee," said Joint Base San Antonio spokesman Brent Boller.
He admitted exchanging sexually explicit text messages and photos with the trainee.
"He also admitted to wrongfully engaging in sexual activities with the trainee by kissing, touching and performing oral sex on her and receiving the same from her," said Boller.
The woman took the stand during the sentencing phase of the court martial Monday at Lackland.
"She testified as to the progression of their relationship," Boller told 550 KTSA News.
The woman in this case was a technical trainee, not a basic trainee, which means Manko did not oversee her training at Lackland, but Boller says that even if their relationship was consensual, it violates Air Force rules.
Manko is the fifth training instructor to be court martialed in connection with the sex scandal at Lackland.
Nineteen have been investigated and the Air Force has identified 43 trainees as victims in the case. Six training instructors have been charged.
