Sailor sentenced to 12 years in prison for espionage

The Virginian-Pilot ^ | December 6, 2006 | TIM MCGLONE

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NORFOLK -– A military judge today sentenced Petty Officer 3rd Class Ariel J. Weinmann to 12 years in prison and a dishonorable discharge for espionage, desertion and other crimes.

The 22-year-old submariner from Salem, Ore. admitted guilt to the offenses earlier this week at Norfolk Naval Station in a plea agreement that spared him the maximum potential penalty of life in prison with no possibility of parole.

Weinmann, who deserted from the submarine Albuquerque in July 2005 after becoming disillusioned with the Navy, passed classified information about the Tomahawk cruise missile system to the Russians, according to a Pentagon source. He told the court he sought to live in another country.

He was sentenced by Capt. Daniel O’Toole.

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Here's the weasel. I think he should lose the top of his skull, just like the pic.

Let him serve his time, take him outback and shoot his treasonous a**.

[beansox]

Why are we wasting tax dolalrs on keeping him alive? Just shoot him like the traitor he is. Ill even buy the bullet.

[samtheman]

12 years?

who paid his bribe?

[MplsSteve]

I have to agree with you.

Treason/espionage is one of the worst crimes a person can commit.

Why?

Because it's a crime against the entire nation. It sticking your finger in the eye of a country that has given you your rights and priveleges.

I think the death penalty should apply to any and all acts of espionage - regardless of whether the crime was committed for financial gain or political reasons.

[L98Fiero]

Worthless scum. I knew some worms when I was in the Navy but none like this traitor. Hang him.

[Coldwater Creek]

EXACTLY!!

There should have been no plea bargaining. Firing squad at sunrise.

Treason might be the only cause that I would disown one of my children.

[operation clinton cleanup]

There should have been no plea bargaining.

I don't understand why there is plea bargaining in Military courts, it's not like they are swamped with cases. He should have gotten the 12 years on desertion alone.

[SmithL]

Ping

[PzLdr]

Should have been shot. Period.

[ml/nj]

Because it's a crime against the entire nation.

So too is murdering the Deputy Counsel to the President.

ML/NJ

[TChris]

Sometimes a plea agreement is the result of a case that just isn't strong enough to guarantee a conviction. A prosecutor has to weigh the possibility of a "not guilty" verdict against the lighter sentence. Better to get a guaranteed, but less-than-desirable punishment for the guy, or gamble that he may just go free?

If you absolutely will get a conviction, I say that a speedy execution should be the standard sentence.

[Doohickey]

Looks sorta like Alec Baldwin in that pic. I'm sure the simularities don't end there.

[Bottom_Gun]

Yep, we're at war and treason is punishable by death by firing squad. His being active duty military should grantee that punishment. It would be a good example to anyone else thinking about that sort of crap!

[Revolting cat!]

Unfortunately, we've become a Mr Whipple nation!

Don't squeeze the Charmin, ladies!

[Chode]

take him down to launch depth, and shoot his ass out of one of the tubes!!!

[TruthNtegrity]

I like your solution the best.

I just don't understand the plea bargain - why only 12 years.

Isn't this the jerk who wandered around with a laptop he stole with classified information, trying to sell it to anyone he could?

Then when it says that he wanted to live in some other Country, - I would so grant that wish and put his a$$ into Saudi Arabia and see how he likes it there.

Or how about Afghanistan?

Better yet - China.

[Chode]

BURN HIM...!!!

[BIGLOOK]

In NSG and all the similar agencies, information, materiel of sensitive nature that has been pilfered or lost is deemed compromised even if recovered. The remedy comes at great cost.

This clown got off light.

[IonImplantGuru]

In NSG and all the similar agencies, information, materiel of sensitive nature that has been pilfered or lost is deemed compromised even if recovered. The remedy comes at great cost.

NSG? The only NSG I'm aware of is the multi-national Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Perhaps you meant NSA?

[BIGLOOK]

NSG for Naval Security Group, ASA for Army Security Agency and USAFSS for US Air Force Security Service; all are military branches of NSA.

What gets me about this light sentence is the clown could have gotten 2-8 for desertion alone and 15-30 for the stolen material.

Don't understand this sentence.