Marine who vanished in Iraq in '04 found guilty of desertion (link fixed)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JONATHAN DREW

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A U.S. Marine who vanished a decade ago in Iraq was convicted Monday of desertion for leaving his post there and then fleeing to Lebanon after a brief return to the U.S.

The judge at Camp Lejeune, Marine Maj. Nicholas Martz, ruled in a bench trial that Cpl. Wassef Hassoun was guilty of deserting for the 2004 and 2005 disappearances. Hassoun was also convicted of causing the loss of his service pistol.

However, the judge found Hassoun not guilty of a theft charge related to his gun.

Sentencing is expected later this week after more witnesses are called. A spokesman for the U.S. Marines, Capt. Stewart Coles, said in a release that Hassoun faces a maximum penalty of 7 ½ years in prison, reduction in rank and a dishonorable discharge.

Prosecutors argued during trial that Hassoun made preparations to flee his base in Fallujah in 2004 and made comments foreshadowing his actions. They displayed quotes during opening statements attributed to Hassoun: "I'll leave and go to Lebanon. I'm not kidding."

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/197bd540e14d46aaa2be4337fcba3be7/marine-who-vanished-iraq-04-found-guilty-desertion

[brooklynite]

1. Where's the link?

[Omaha Steve]

2. Fixed

Thanks.

[valerief]

3. And Dubya and Cheney run free. nt

[George II]

4. When will bush be prosecuted for going AWOL?

[groundloop]

5. He did a fine job of protecting the skies over Houston from the Vietnamese

Not once, not one single time, did Houston come under fire from the North Vietnamese.

[kairos12]

6. Rather went down that avenue. Ended badly for him. Bush protection association in full throat.