Posted on 05/21/2004 4:40:17 PM PDT by bgcountry187
May 21, 7:15 PM (ET)
By RUSS BYNUM
(AP) Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia, right, an infantry squad leader in the Florida National Guard, shakes...
FORT STEWART, Ga. (AP) - A U.S. soldier who said he left his unit in Iraq to protest an "oil-driven" war was convicted of desertion Friday and sentenced to a year in jail and a bad conduct discharge.
A military jury met for about 20 minutes before giving the maximum sentence to Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia, an infantry squad leader with the Florida National Guard.
"I have no regrets. Not one," Mejia said before his sentencing.
In his comments to the jury of four officers and four enlisted soldiers, Mejia said he was not afraid of going to jail. "I will take it because I will go there with my honor, knowing I have done the right thing," he said.
Mejia, 28, says he refused to return to his unit after a two-week furlough in October because he believes the war in Iraq is unjust. He turned himself in to the Army in March and sought status as a conscientious objector.
Military prosecutors argued that Mejia abandoned his troops and didn't fulfill his duty.
"He enjoyed all the benefits of the military, just not the duty," Capt. A.J. Balbo, the lead prosecutor, said in his closing argument. "The defense says he accomplished all his missions. Except the most important one - showing up."
Mejia's commander in Iraq, Capt. Tad Warfel, said the verdict would send a message that "deserters are punished, regardless of what their arguments are or their excuses."...
for full article go to: http://apnews.myway.com//article/20040521/D82N8R081.html
Since this guy is not an U.S. citizen he should be deported once he serves his sentence.
Honor? Didn't he take an Oath? Where's the honor in lying and breaking an oath?
You mean bumped his head on the bulkhead don't you? Couldn't have happened even if he was smart. Don't forget this guy isn't an upper crust Northeasterner who was being groomed by Teddy himself.
Good one!!!!!
This cowardly pile of crap on the sidewalk will become a celebrity lap dog for the Sedition when he gets out of Leavenworth. Mark my words.
http://www.palos118.org/South/curriculum/team6c/midages/vikingss/vikingman.gif
I did not see that information in the article. I do know that he is the son of a stark raving communist Sandinista singer from Nicaragua.
The filthy POS should be stripped of his uniform, his insignias and be doing 5 years hard time in Levenworth. Then Dishonorably Discharged and charged for his meals while incarcerated.
"Since this guy is not an U.S. citizen he should be deported once he serves his sentence."
A creative "halfway house" sentence might have him working for his grub on an offshore oil rig.
after he spends a year in jail does he have to give back the money the goverment paid him??
It wasn't in the article. Fox reported it today.
Agreed. You make a commitment, you fullfil your promise to serve your prescribed time honorably. Do as you please when you are discharged, but be prepared to face the consequences of your actions. That goes for JF'nK also.
Agreed!
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