Court-Martial Trial Practice Blog
August 06, 2009
Associated Press
FORT HOOD, Texas — A Soldier who refused to deploy to Afghanistan over his beliefs that the war violates international law was sentenced here Wednesday to a month in jail.
Spc. Victor Agosto, 24, of Miami, pleaded guilty to disobeying a lawful order to report to a site that performs medical, legal and other services for troops before they deploy. The judge also reduced his rank to the Army’s lowest level, a private, which also was part of the maximum penalty he faced in his plea agreement with the military.
It appears he was sentenced at a Summary Court-Martial, unless the Army has reduced itself to O-3 judges.
/tip Military.com
And this from Rebecca LaFure, Killeen Daily Herald, Agosto pleaded guilty to charges during court-martial
About 50 supporters, including several active-duty Fort Hood soldiers, assembled outside the Fort Hood East Gate Wednesday evening, toting signs that read, "Free Victor," and "You can imprison the person, not the idea."
He did apologize:
My only apologies are to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. I hope that someday they can forgive me for my contributions to their distress." (emphasis added.)
He apparently was unable to apologize to the soldiers he let down by having to take on his workload, or perhaps a soldier who is getting some short notice orders to deploy in his place.