Family of GI seeks action after his suicide

[unhappycamper]

Family of GI seeks action after his suicide
By P. Solomon Banda - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday May 5, 2008 21:46:29 EDT

DENVER — A soldier facing a rape charge told his family that he didn’t commit the crime and was taking the blame for somebody else shortly before he jumped to his death.

Pvt. Tommie Edward Jones, whose family said he suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome, jumped off an interstate overpass to his death March 25 outside an entrance to Fort Carson near Colorado Springs.

Post spokesman Maj. Sean Ryan on Monday said Jones, 27, was scheduled for a hearing that day.

Jones faced charges of rape, sodomy, and several other allegations, including having sex with several partners in a hot tub in public view and videotaping another person’s intimate parts without the person’s consent. The alleged crimes happened on Feb. 11, 2007.

Ryan did not immediately know if Jones’ hearing was a court-martial or another court proceeding. The rape charge he faced carried a maximum penalty of death, but Ryan said defendants rarely get the maximum penalty.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/ap_suicide_jones_050508/