WASHINGTON: A U.S. soldier who entered North Korea final 12 months pleaded responsible to desertion as a part of a plea deal on Friday (Sept. 20) and was sentenced to 12 months in jail, his lawyer mentioned.
According to the lawyer, the soldier was launched because of good conduct and time served in jail.
Travis King confronted 14 costs associated to his escape throughout the border from South Korea to North Korea in July 2023 whereas on a sightseeing tour within the demilitarized zone that divides the Korean Peninsula and different earlier incidents.
But he pleaded responsible to solely 5 counts: desertion, assault on a noncommissioned officer and three counts of disobedience to an officer, as a part of a deal accepted Friday by a army decide.
“The decide, beneath the phrases of the plea settlement, sentenced Travis to at least one 12 months in jail, discount in rank to Private (E-1), forfeiture of all pay and advantages, and dishonorable discharge,” learn a press release from King’s lawyer, Franklin Rosenblatt.
“After serving his sentence and receiving recognition for good conduct, Travis is now free and can return dwelling,” the assertion learn.
“Travis King has confronted vital challenges all through his life, together with a tough upbringing, publicity to prison environments and struggles with psychological well being,” Rosenblatt mentioned. “All of those elements compounded the difficulties he confronted within the army.”
