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FARMINGTON, Utah (AP) -- A 24-year-old who joined the Air Force to become a pilot was sentenced to three years to life in prison for attempted rape of a 13-year-old.
On Monday, Vivek Lakhumna of Layton told 2nd District Court Judge Michael G. Allphin before sentencing that he needed counseling and believed that incarceration would be a waste of taxpayers money.
Airman 1st Class Lakhumna was stationed at Hill Air Force Base with the 75th Logistic Readiness Squadron. He said he knew he would be discharged from the Air Force because "of a really bad choice. I made a bad mistake in my life."
Lakhumna admitted that he had genital contact with the 13-year-old girl, but did not have intercourse with her. Lakhumna met the girl on the Internet in June 2002 and took her to his apartment, where the incident occurred.
The girl did not report what happened until October because Lakhumna allegedly threatened to break her neck during the incident.
Davis County Deputy Attorney Troy Rawlings asked Lakhumna why he was admitting in court that the sexual contact occurred when he would not admit to it to the Adult Probation and Parole officer who did Lakhumna's presentencing report, or to the doctor who did the psychosexual evaluation.
Lakhumna said he was afraid to admit what happened, but that he had told police officers what happened when they came to his apartment in October.
Allphin said Lakhumna was not a candidate for probation because of the reported threat.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
