Sergeant Apologizes To Wife, Rape Victims

A drill sergeant facing life in prison for raping six female trainees apologized to his victims and his family Monday after his mother begged the court for mercy.

“After I started down this path, I became blind to my inability to live by the moral values I had 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.”

Simpson was convicted last week of 18 counts of rape involving six trainees, plus 29 other offenses, mostly sexual misconduct.

Closing statements in his sentencing hearing are scheduled for this morning, followed by jury deliberations.