PYEONGTAEK, South Korea — An Army private, who went absent without leave just after an inspection turned up stolen property hidden above his bathroom ceiling, was sentenced Thursday at Camp Humphreys, officials said.
After pleading guilty to being drunk on duty and AWOL, Pvt. Marque L. Stewart was sentenced to 60 days in jail and forfeiture of two-thirds pay for two months, said prosecutor Capt. Veronica Hansen.
But judge Col. Gregory Gross acquitted Stewart of concealing the stolen property: a laptop computer, two digital cameras and a USB charger, Hansen said.
Stewart is stationed at Camp Humphreys as a technical supply specialist. Because he spent 85 days in pretrial confinement, he will serve no further jail time in the case, Hansen said.
Stewart pleaded guilty to being drunk on duty on July 7, and with having been AWOL for 13 days in October. He pleaded not guilty to charges that in October he concealed the stolen property.
The property was found above his bathroom during a regularly scheduled battalion “health and welfare” inspection six days after the items had been reported stolen from elsewhere on the camp.
Stewart told authorities someone else hid the items and that he’d been unaware they were there before the inspection, Hansen said.
Hansen’s co-prosecutor was Capt. Marlin Paschal. Stewart’s defense lawyers were Capt. Jack H. Ko and Capt. John Cho.