SEOUL — Six U.S. soldiers were convicted — and one acquitted — of offenses in December in South Korean courts, according to U.S. and South Korean officials.
The soldiers’ names, units and charges for which they were tried were listed on the USFK Web site, which provided no other details of the offenses. Results of criminal prosecutions from the previous month are updated on the site — www.usfk.mil — at the beginning of each month.
Pfc. Joshua R. Avery and Pfc. Joseph S. Hathcox, both of the 702nd Main Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, were convicted Dec. 5 on charges of aggravated assault in Uijeongbu District Court.
Defense attorney Jin Hyo-geun said Thursday that the soldiers were accused of drunkenly attacking a South Korean man and threatening his girlfriend in Uijeongbu on July 14. Avery was given a 1.5 million won fine (about $1,600) and Hathcox was given eight months in confinement, suspended for two years, according to the Web site.
Jin said Hathcox paid a 500,000 won (about $540) settlement to the South Korean man and woman.
The attorney said neither soldier will appeal the court decisions.
On Dec. 7, according to the Web site, Pfc. Travis H. Jackson, of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, was sentenced in Seoul Central District Court to one year of confinement, suspended for two years, for stealing money from and beating a taxi driver, said defense attorney Lee Jang-han.
Lee said the incident occurred late last summer in Seoul’s Gangnam district. He said Jackson did not appeal the court decision.
Pfc. Joshua R. Dickson, 168th Multi-Functional Medical Battalion, was convicted Dec. 18 of inflicting bodily injury and fined 700,000 won (about $765), according to the Web site.
Legal officials from Daegu District Court could not provide additional details Thursday.
And three 2nd Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment soldiers were in Suwon District Court Dec. 28 on charges they indecently assaulted a South Korean high school girl near K-16 Air Base last summer, according to defense attorney Jung Jin-sung.
Pfc. Lucas A. Thornton and Pfc. Henry Miller III were convicted of indecent assault and each fined 2.5 million won (about $2,700), according to the Web site.
Spc. Terry L. Brown was acquitted of the charge, according to 8th Army officials.
Defense attorney Jung Jin-sung said both Thornton and Miller are appealing the court decision.
Stars and Stripes attempted to contact all seven soldiers through 8th Army officials on Wednesday, but none responded by late Thursday afternoon.
