Sex offender still active-duty Airman

HULBURT FIELD, Fla. (WALA) - According to the Florida Sex Offender Registry, a convicted sex offender is living in the dorms at Hulbert Field and still listed as active-duty.

Authorities said 22-year-old Airman Michael Anthony Armstrong Jr., pleaded no contest to felony attempted lewd or lascivious battery on a victim 12 to 15 years old in June 2011 and spent almost a year in the Escambia County Jail.

Pensacola Police Detective Jeffrey Brown said he was shocked to learn Armstrong was an active-duty Airman.

"I'm a little shocked that he was active-duty, but in this area, this is a heavily populated military area, the three counties are. So you are going to pull some from that. It's nothing against them; it's just you're going to pull from that demographic," Brown said.

That conviction now requires Armstrong to register as a sex offender.

"The sentence did require that he register as a sexual offender, and he will have to continue to register as a sexual offender in the future," said Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille.

And sure enough, FOX10 News found him on the Florida Sex Offender Registry, but his listed address was a dorm at Hurlburt Field.

According to Air Force officials, once Armstrong lost his off-base housing, they had no choice but to allow him to live on base.

Captain Belena Marquez, a spokesperson for the 1 ^st Special Operations Wing, issued us this statement:

"As a result of his confinement, Airman Armstrong's military pay and allowances were suspended. Because he is currently a member of the Air Force, we have an obligation to ensure that his basic needs are met. He is currently residing on base at Hurlburt Field."

And we wanted to know why Armstrong, a now convicted felon, remains active-duty. Here's that answer:

"As military members we must adhere to the highest standards of personal and professional conduct, Airmen know the Air Force expects integrity and honesty from all of its members and that the Air Force does not tolerate illegal behavior. Appropriate actions are taken by the Air Force after any Airman is convicted of a civilian offense."

Ultimately, Air Force officials said it's the base commander's responsibility to keep or part ways with Armstrong, and we're told that process has already begun.

FOX10 also wanted to know if taxpayers were footing the bill for Armstrong to live on the base.  We were told the Airman is not receiving any of his entitled living allowance as a result of the conviction.

According to the State Attorney's Office, Armstrong is currently on probation.