US soldier Travis King was sentenced to 12 months of confinement after pleading guilty to desertion as part of a plea agreement. However, due to good behavior and time served, he was released.
King fled into North Korea in July last year during a sightseeing tour of the Demilitarised Zone while stationed in South Korea. He faced 14 charges related to desertion, assault, and disobeying orders but pleaded guilty to five charges, including desertion, assault on a noncommissioned officer, and three counts of disobeying orders.
After being detained by North Korea, King was expelled in September for illegally intruding into the country. His lawyer cited a difficult upbringing, exposure to criminal environments, and struggles with mental health as contributing factors to his actions.
The US Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel confirmed King’s guilty plea and stated that all other charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. The prosecutor, Major Allyson Montgomery, deemed the outcome of the court martial as a fair and just result reflecting the seriousness of King’s offenses.
King’s lawyer, Franklin Rosenblatt, expressed that the plea deal included a reduction in rank to private, forfeiture of pay, and a dishonorable discharge. Despite facing significant challenges in his life, King has now been released and is set to return home.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
