Sergeant Convicted in Sex Scandal Apologizes to His Wife and Victims

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — A drill sergeant facing life in prison for raping six female trainees apologized to his victims and his family Monday.

“After I started down this path, I became blind to my inability to live by the moral values I learned from childhood,” Staff Sgt. Delmar Simpson said.

Simpson apologized to his wife, Juliet, his fellow drill sergeants and his victims. “I apologize to the trainees who believe I brought them harm,” he said. “I was your drill sergeant, and I failed you.”

With the help of family, “I believe I can regain my moral compass,” he said.

Earlier, his mother, Edna Simpson, 61, testified: “I would say to the panel, to the judge, please have mercy on my son.”

Simpson was convicted last week of 18 counts of rape involving six trainees and 29 other offenses, mostly sexual misconduct. Closing statements in his sentencing hearing are scheduled for today, to be followed by jury deliberations.

The allegations against Simpson led to charges against 12 staff members at Aberdeen Proving Ground and prompted investigations into sexual misconduct at U.S. military bases worldwide.

Leaders of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People and the Congressional Black Caucus have demanded an investigation to determine whether the Aberdeen inquiry was racially biased because all of those charged were black. The Army denies it.