FORT BRAGG, N.C. – An Army sergeant who pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife was sentenced by the military judge to five months in prison and a bad conduct discharge during his trial Aug. 26 at the Fort Bragg courtroom.
Sgt. Francisco Zarate, 29, a motor transport operator assigned to 189th Division Sustainment Support Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, also pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon.
On Jan. 18, 2026, Zarate returned to his home in Fayetteville, North Carolina, that he shared with his estranged wife and found her in the living room with a Soldier from his unit watching television.
He demanded that the Soldier leave and pointed a loaded firearm at her. Upset and in fear of her safety, the Soldier fled the house.
A confrontation escalated between Zarate and his wife and became physical. During the altercation, Zarate placed his hand over his wife’s mouth and shoved her onto the couch.
The Fayetteville Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance call at the residence. His wife declined to press charges so no arrests were made.
That afternoon Zarate called a colleague and told her that he pulled a gun on the Soldier and assaulted his wife. Subsequently, he informed his supervisors about the incident and took full responsibility for his actions. Zarate also provided a statement about the incident to agents with the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
“Every conviction for domestic violence victims shows that the Army takes abuse seriously and that we hear them when they call for help. His time in jail should serve as a warning to those who believe that laying hands on their spouse is acceptable,” said Maj. Lauren Browning, prosecutor, Second Circuit, Army Office of Special Trial Counsel.
Zarate will serve his prison sentence at the Midwest Joint Regional Confinement Facility at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
This case was investigated by Army CID’s Carolinas Field Office and the Fayetteville Police Department. It was prosecuted by Browning and Capt. Nicole Rodrigues, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, 82nd Airborne Division.
About the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel: The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel is composed of specially trained military lawyers, legal professionals and support staff responsible for the expert prosecution of murder, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, kidnapping and other serious criminal offenses. Headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Va., OSTC has eight regional headquarters that oversee 28 field offices located worldwide, including locations in Europe and Korea. For more information visit www.army.mil/ostc.
To Report a Crime: If you would like to report a crime, have information about a crime, or have been the subject or survivor of a crime, you can submit anonymous tips to Army CID at www.p3tips.com/armycid.