Alberto F. Islas, 59, of Los Angeles, California, pleaded guilty today to assault with intent to commit aggravated sexual abuse at Fort Benning Military Reservation—a crime committed at gunpoint in the early hours of September 25, 2016. The guilty plea, entered before Chief U.S. District Judge Clay D. Land in Columbus, Georgia, marks the end of a six-year federal case rooted in violence and coercion on federal military grounds.
Court documents reveal that Islas confronted a woman on the Fort Benning installation and brandished a firearm, using the threat of deadly force to attempt to coerce her into sexual relations. The attack unfolded in a secluded area of the base, where the victim was overpowered and terrorized. Her immediate report to military authorities triggered a swift and aggressive response from Fort Benning Military Police, who secured the scene and initiated a joint investigation with federal agents.
The FBI’s Columbus field office took over within hours. Agents moved fast—detaining Islas the same day as the assault, collecting physical evidence from the scene, and locking down witness testimony that would later form the backbone of the prosecution’s case. According to U.S. Attorney G.F. “Pete” Peterman, III, the rapid coordination between military and federal law enforcement was instrumental in preventing Islas from fleeing or destroying evidence.
Islas has remained in federal custody since his arrest on September 25, 2016—locked up without bond as the legal process ground forward. Now, after years of pretrial proceedings, he faces the full weight of federal sentencing guidelines: a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or both. A presentence investigation is underway, with formal sentencing scheduled approximately 60 days from the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melvin E. Hyde, Jr. is leading the government’s prosecution, building a case that relied heavily on forensic evidence and the victim’s firsthand account. No plea deal was disclosed that would reduce the charges or cap the sentence, signaling federal prosecutors refused to cut corners in a case involving weaponized sexual violence on military property.
“This matter was resolved through swift action by the Military Police at Fort Benning and rapid investigation by the FBI,” said Peterman in a statement. “They arrested Mr. Islas and obtained the physical and testimonial evidence necessary to this successful prosecution on the day of the incident.” Questions about the case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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