ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- An investigation led by the Office of Special Investigations Detachment 814 closed March 17, 2022, ending with a sex abuser being sentenced to 10 years and a month behind bars.
“Det. 814 led the way to ensure justice was served for the survivor in this case,” said Brig. Gen. Terry L. Bullard, OSI commander. “The Department of the Air Force has no room for sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic violence or interpersonal violence – period.”
According to his indictment, on June 15, 2019, Zechariah Freeman, a civilian, went to a gathering at a house on Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, where he sexually abused the survivor while she was physically incapable of declining or communicating her unwillingness to participate.
Freeman was indicted Jan. 9, 2020, and was subsequently convicted of sexual abuse by a federal jury July 30, 2021. Upon leaving prison, Freeman must undergo five years of supervised release and be required to register as a sex offender.
The OSI investigation received support from the Albuquerque Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.
“This case was extremely thorough and well documented, it took a team effort to investigate and prosecute the case,” said Special Agent Molly Bloom, investigator at OSI Det. 623 at Misawa Air Base, Japan. Then-stationed at Det. 814, SA Bloom led the investigation. Bloom added that local authorities were critical to the case.
The collaboration between OSI and local authorities was critical, saying that working with the Albuquerque Police Department “was pivotal to gathering the needed information and the steps [they] took when taking the initial allegation were key to the success of the case,” Bloom said.
“This case is another example of the importance the partnerships OSI has with local law officials,” Bullard said. "I am proud of the professionalism OSI Special Agents have when investigating these crimes and helping to take down these criminals."
Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know has been victimized by sexual assault, you are not alone. The Department of the Air Force offers multiple resources intended to help survivors. Visit https://www.resilience.af.mil/SAPR/ for more information