FORT BRAGG -- Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair has agreed to a plea deal that includes having the sexual assault charges against him dropped, according to his defense attorneys. Lawyers representing Sinclair, in a news release, said he will plead to lesser charges and in return the sexual assault charges will be dropped. Along with two other charges that might have required that Sinclair register as a sex offender.

The news release reads that the agreement has been approved and signed by the high-ranking general overseeing the case. Defense attorney Richard Scheff says that Sinclair admits his mistakes through this plea deal, and that it is time to put the matter in the past.

Sinclair was accused, by a female captain under his command, of forcing her to perform oral sex on him twice during their three-year extramarital affair.