More on accused’s who go UA/AWOL after findings but before sentencing.

Detention policy questioned after soldier’s escape

By Steve Mraz  and Seth Robbins, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, August 28, 2009

Army officials are investigating how a Special Forces soldier was able to simply disappear last week, a few hours after his conviction for the kidnapping and sexual assault of a German woman.

Kelly A. Stewart was not guarded, and legal experts point to a gray area in the U.S. Military Manual for Courts-Martial that leaves the securing of a convicted soldier to a judge’s discretion. It also requires that the government specifically demand the soldier be detained before sentencing.