Lisa Nowak Could Face Military Prosecution

ORLANDO, Fla. - WESH.com

A former astronaut pleaded to a lesser charge and avoided jail time for attacking a romantic rival in Orlando on Tuesday, but she could still face military prosecution.

Lisa Nowak changed her plea to guilty on two of the counts she faced in the attack of a former romantic rival in 2007. Nowak, 46, pleaded guilty to a lesser third-degree felony, burglary of a conveyance, and to misdemeanor battery in connection with an incident at Orlando International Airport. The state agreed to drop the attempted kidnapping charge.

Nowak, who is a captain in the U.S. Navy, attacked Colleen Shipman, who at the time was a captain in the U.S. Air Force. Prosecutors say Nowak, who was a NASA astronaut at the time, drove to the Orlando International Airport and confronted Shipman, who also was romantically involved with Bill Ofelein, another NASA astronaut at the time.

Shipman has since retired due to lingering physical and emotional problems brought on by that attack. She and Ofelein have married and live in Alaska.

Experts on military law said Nowak could be forced to retire at a lower rank or take a dishonorable discharge as a result of the guilty plea. Nowak was dismissed as an astronaut in 2007 and Judge Marc Lubet told Nowak she will have to answer to her military superiors as well.

"The Navy has been keeping a pretty close eye on you because I spoke with your commanding officer," he said. "All of this may affect your career. In fact, I'm sure it's going to affect your career in the U.S .Navy and probably your pension."

The U.S. Navy and other branches of the service often will reject prospective recruits who have a felony of any kind on their record or require they receive a waiver to sign up. Given that Nowak is a highly paid officer, her ultimate fate could rest on whether the military finds that the burglary was a clear cut act of violence.

Nowak remains on active duty at the Naval Air Station at Corpus Christi, Texas. The Navy has not commented on her future.

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