Summary Court-Martial Results Published June 1, 2011 Base Legal Office MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- On May 6, 2011 a summary court-martial was convened to hear the case of the United States versus Staff Sgt. Nzilani Hayes, 5th Security Forces Squadron. Sergeant Hayes was charged with one specification of an assault consummated by a battery upon a child under the age of 16. Sergeant Hayes was accused of striking her child with a military uniform utility belt several times during the evening of 9 February 2011. Col. Clifford Stansell, 5th Maintenance Group commander, sat as the summary court-martial. Sergeant Hayes pleaded guilty to the charge and specification of violating Article 128 of the UCMJ, and was sentenced to a reduction to the grade of Senior Airman and a $500 fine. Capt. Cassandra J. Gilbert from Family Advocacy stated, "Under the Air Force Family Advocacy Program guidelines anytime you strike a child and leave more than a superficial bruise or cause the child to experience pain for more than 24 hours, or strike any child in the face or head, or cause an injury to a child under two, this will be categorized as child physical abuse by the Air Force." Capt Gilbert also stated, "Under the North Dakota Century Code, it is illegal to strike a child with an object and leave a mark while disciplining."