WICHITA FALLS, Texas—An Air Force colonel was acquitted Wednesday of raping a civilian worker but convicted of indecent assault and other charges involving two other women at Sheppard Air Force Base.

Col. Samuel Lofton III, the base’s former 82nd Training Group commander, faced up to life in prison if he had been convicted of rape. The indecent assault charges each carry a maximum sentence of five years; he was also convicted of two counts of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, which carries a possible one-year sentence.

The military jury of seven men and two women deliberated about five hours. The verdict did not have to be unanimous; two-thirds had to agree.

When the verdicts were read, the woman who said she was raped ran out, while another civilian worker who had accused him of assault cried and hugged her relatives.

The Associated Press does not usually identify alleged victims of sex crimes.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys declined to comment after the verdict.

Lofton was removed from his post about a year ago as he was being investigated for misusing his government travel card.

He pleaded guilty last week to 17 counts of larceny, being absent without leave nearly a dozen times and two counts of dereliction of duty. He could be sentenced to more than 100 years in prison and dismissed from the Air Force—which would end his 27-year military career.

Sentencing for all charges was set for Thursday morning.

The conduct unbecoming charges stemmed from sexually suggestive comments and calls Lofton made to a high-ranking enlisted member when she was at her home.

The two civilian workers had testified for several hours, sometimes fighting back tears, saying that he forcibly kissed them and placed their hands on his genitals. One woman said she was assaulted twice in the fall of 2006, the other twice in the spring of 2007. Neither worked for Lofton but all worked in the same building.

During closing arguments Wednesday, lead defense attorney Maj. Mark Etheridge said the accuser’s account of the rape was “impossible.” She testified that Lofton spun her around, held her back down and with his other hand, pulled her skirt up and pantyhose down. She testified that after he asked to keep her pantyhose as a souvenir, she threw them at him after wiping herself.

He also reminded jurors about several friendly and flirtatious work e-mails she sent to Lofton after the alleged incidents, even after he was removed from his post. One e-mail sent the day after the alleged rape says, “I would be foolish to say I’m not interested in a promotion.”

But the military prosecutor, Capt. Brett Landry, had told jurors that the woman remained on friendly terms with Lofton because she was afraid of losing her job. He said all of the women were credible.