Slater, a retired lieutenant colonel with top secret clearance who worked at Offutt Air Force Base, pleaded guilty to sharing classified military information through a dating site's messaging platform with a coconspirator, who posed as a woman in Ukraine.

He admitted to sharing sensitive information about the Russia-Ukraine war from February to April 2022, during a period that coincided with the Russian invasion and Valentine's Day, describing the relationship as a 'secret love'.

Slater, who retired in 2020, was arrested in March 2024 after the investigation revealed his actions, and he communicated regularly with the coconspirator, sharing classified national defense information.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, with his sentencing scheduled for October 8, 2025, pending approval of the plea agreement by U.S. District Judge Brian Buescher.

Slater faces a maximum sentence of 10 years, along with three years of supervised release and a fine up to $250,000, with the final decision on his punishment to be made by Judge Buescher.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys have agreed on a sentencing range of approximately five years and ten months to seven years and three months, with a recommendation for the lower end of that spectrum.

The investigation continues, but the identity of the coconspirator and the dating platform used have not been disclosed.

Slater had access to highly classified briefings on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which underscores the severity of the breach.

He maintained regular contact with the woman, identified as 'co-conspirator 1,' sharing classified information during the early months of 2022.

U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods emphasized the importance of safeguarding classified information and noted that Slater's military background should have raised suspicions about the woman's motives.

Ultimately, U.S. District Judge Brian Buescher will decide whether to accept the plea deal and determine Slater's final sentence.