VILSECK, Germany — A Vilseck-based soldier was sentenced to one year in prison Friday for leaving his unit three times this year and stealing a car, the 1st Infantry Division’s staff judge advocate said.

Spc. Marcus A. Powell, 23, of the 94th Engineer Battalion, pleaded guilty to three counts of absence without leave and one of misappropriation of a car, said Maj. Todd Federici, the chief of criminal law.

Federici said that during his first two absences in February and March — of five and six days — Powell would leave his barracks room at Warner Barracks before 6 a.m. and return after 9 p.m. to avoid contact with his superiors or military police. During the third absence, in May, he left the base for 16 days. He also kept a rental car for one month past its scheduled return day. He was arrested by German police after the rental company reported it missing.

The military judge, Col. Stephanie Browne, also ordered Powell reduced to the lowest enlisted rank and given a bad-conduct discharge.

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