A military jury today sentenced Army Sgt. Adam Holcomb to 30 days in prison for his role in the hazing death of Pvt. Danny Chen, 19, who committed suicide in Afghanistan last October.
The same jury that sentenced Holcomb found him guilty of "maltreatment of a subordinate and assault consummated by battery" in connection with Chen's death, according to the Associated Press. Holcomb was found not guilty of negligent homicide.
According to New York television station WPIX:
[Holcomb] was accused of calling Chen “Dragon Lady” and dragging him over sharp rocks, leaving large cuts on his back. The day he died in October 2011, Chen forgot his helmet and as punishment had to crawl 160 ft. across rough terrain, while other soldiers threw rocks at him.
In addition to his 30-day prison sentence, Holcomb will get a demotion and be docked one month's pay. Holcomb could've been sentenced to as much as two years in prison, and a dishonorable discharge from the Army.
Seven other soldiers await trial in the hazing death of Chen.
