KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — An airman who ripped off packages from the Kadena post office was sentenced Wednesday to six months’ confinement, reduction in rank to E-1 and a bad-conduct discharge.
Senior Airman Daniel Holland, 23, who worked in the post office as part of the 18th Communications Squadron, pleaded guilty to stealing mail and using marijuana.
A Fender Stratocaster guitar, an Xbox 360, an iPod and other personal electronics were among the items recovered during an investigation into the theft after authorities were tipped off by Holland’s wife.
Prosecutor 1st Lt. David Illingworth said Holland’s theft betrayed the trust of those stationed at Kadena and disturbed an important “lifeline to the outside world.”
Holland, who has served in the military for almost four years, said he stole the inbound packages from September 2006 until January, giving the contents to his wife or keeping them for himself.
Giving the first package to his wife “made her happy, so I did it again,” said Holland, who noted that his marriage was troubled and both he and his wife suffered from mental health problems.
He smoked pot while in North Dakota, where his wife had been taken for treatment at a hospital, Holland said.
“Not only was my lack of judgment severe,” he told the judge before sentencing, “it was just stupid.”
It was unclear Wednesday whether the packages have been turned over to their rightful owners.
