Soldier in Chen case pleads guilty to another set of charges
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A soldier previously charged in the death of Pvt. Danny Chen has pleaded guilty to another set of charges on Fort Bragg.
Spc. Travis Carden pleaded guilty Thursday to striking and pushing another soldier, threatening to harm another soldier, negligently discharging a firearm and damaging government property, negligently discharging a pistol in a government van, and attempting to impede an investigation, Fort Bragg officials said.
He was sentenced to 10 months in prison and fined $1,001.87. He also is to be demoted to private and will receive a bad conduct discharge.
In August, Carden, then a sergeant, was demoted and forced to forfeit two-thirds of his pay for one month after he was convicted of hazing and maltreating Chen by calling him racially disparaging names and ordering him to perform pushups with his mouth full of water.
Carden was one of eight Fort Wainwright, Alaska, soldiers charged in Chen's death.
Military officials said Chen, 19, took his own life Oct. 3, 2011, following continued harassment from his fellow soldiers at a small combat outpost in southern Afghanistan.
All of the soldiers were members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. Three have yet to stand trial.
The trials are at Fort Bragg because the Alaska-based unit fell under the command of the 82nd Airborne Division in southern Afghanistan.
