WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE — The former commander of the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) has pleaded guilty at his court-martial.
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Colonel Christopher Meeker pleaded guilty to a charge of disobeying a lawful order and a charge of fraternization as part of a plea agreement.
In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors withdrew the charge of unlawful sexual conduct that he was also facing, News Center 7’s Mike Campbell reported.
As previously reported by News Center 7, Meeker was removed on Dec. 29, 2023, “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead.”
Meeker was charged in October 2024 with three violations of “Articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice” after an investigation.
On Tuesday, Meeker admitted he had disobeyed a lawful order after ignoring a no-contract order involving a female staff sergeant he’d developed a relationship with.
A visiting judge questioned Meeker, who admitted, “I was ordered to have no contact with this person and I had contact with this person...due to my own lack of discipline, I did not obey my no-contact order.”
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As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, things got even more awkward for Meeker as the judge, Air Force Colonel Matthew Stoffel, questioned him about his guilty plea to the fraternization charge. The judge said that included a personal and sexual relationship with the female staff sergeant.
Meeker admitted he and the woman “became on a first-name basis with each other, cooked together, and had lunches and dinners together.”
The judge asked Meeker if the activity also included a sexual relationship, to which Meeker confirmed. He also confirmed it took place on multiple occasions.
As reported on News Center at 6:00, prosecutors played five excerpts of interviews with the female staff sergeant the married Meeker was involved with. Among other things, she told them sex was a regular part of their relationship.
Meeker told the judge that he, “was in an emotional and psychological struggle to do the right thing and still help the person I care about.”
A tearful Meeker added, “I was faced with a choice to risk her life or do I take her in and try to help her. She helped me, so I chose to help her.”
Meeker could have faced dismissal from the Air Force and seven years of confinement as a maximum penalty. He was ultimately sentenced to 21 days of confinement Tuesday afternoon, a reprimand, and forfeiture of $7,000 pay per month for two months.
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