Soldier Sentenced to One-Year Confinement
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 20, 2004 – The first soldier to receive a court martial in
connection with the Abu Ghraib prison abuse was sentenced May 19 in Baghdad.
A military judge sentenced U.S. Army Spc. Jeremy Sivits to one year in
confinement, a bad conduct discharge and a reduction in rank to private.
As part of a pre-trial agreement, Sivits pleaded guilty to one count of
conspiracy to maltreat detainees, two counts of maltreatment of detainees and
one count of dereliction of duty, according to Central Command officials.
Sivits remains eligible in future trials to be called as a witness by either
the prosecution or the defense, a command spokesman said in a May 19 press
release.
Charges against Sivits were filed in March, following an investigation by the
Criminal Investigation Division. Defense officials have been investigating
allegations of prisoner abuse since Jan. 13, when a soldier brought his
concerns to the attention of the chain of command.
After a short confinement at a temporary facility, Sivits will be transferred
to a military regional confinement facility.
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