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General's sex charge trial halted as plea negotiations ensue
Source: Los Angeles Times
General's sex charge trial halted as plea negotiations ensue
By David Zucchino
March 11, 2014, 9:09 a.m.
FT. BRAGG, N.C. -- The sexual assault case against Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair was suspended indefinitely Tuesday as the general’s lawyers began negotiating a possible plea deal with Army prosecutors.
The abrupt halt came after a military judge, in an extraordinary ruling, declared Monday that he found evidence of improper political interference by the Army in the highly publicized case. He gave Sinclair’s lawyers an opportunity to seek a plea agreement even though testimony in the case began last week.
The judge, Army Col. James L. Pohl, told a jury panel of five male two-star generals Tuesday that he did not know how long the court-martial might be suspended. Sinclair’s lead attorney, Richard L. Scheff, said he expected the delay to last several weeks as the two sides negotiate.
If a plea agreement is reached, a new military commander with no previous ties to the case would decide whether to approve the deal. Under military law, a senior commander -- called a "convening authority" -- decides whether to bring sexual assault charges and approves plea deals.
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By David Zucchino
March 11, 2014, 9:09 a.m.
FT. BRAGG, N.C. -- The sexual assault case against Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair was suspended indefinitely Tuesday as the general’s lawyers began negotiating a possible plea deal with Army prosecutors.
The abrupt halt came after a military judge, in an extraordinary ruling, declared Monday that he found evidence of improper political interference by the Army in the highly publicized case. He gave Sinclair’s lawyers an opportunity to seek a plea agreement even though testimony in the case began last week.
The judge, Army Col. James L. Pohl, told a jury panel of five male two-star generals Tuesday that he did not know how long the court-martial might be suspended. Sinclair’s lead attorney, Richard L. Scheff, said he expected the delay to last several weeks as the two sides negotiate.
If a plea agreement is reached, a new military commander with no previous ties to the case would decide whether to approve the deal. Under military law, a senior commander -- called a "convening authority" -- decides whether to bring sexual assault charges and approves plea deals.
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Read more: http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-sinclair-sex-charges-20140311,0,5198138.story
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
at least one rank to bird col and cut loose with a BCD. I doubt both of these actions will be taken against Poppa Bear Sexy Pants. 
