YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Seaman Rodrick Manigault was found not guilty of attempted murder and cleared of two counts of soliciting another to commit an offense in a recent court-martial at Yokosuka Naval Base.

Manigault, 24, was found guilty of conspiring to commit aggravated assault and sentenced to 18 months of confinement at Navy Consolidated Brig Miramar in California. He is to receive a dishonorable discharge.

The court action came six months after Manigault’s Aug. 16 arrest aboard the USS Kitty Hawk when the aircraft carrier was at sea.

According to Manigault’s attorney, Lt. Justin Pilling, Manigault and several other Kitty Hawk sailors were questioned in relation to an assault that was planned but never committed against Seaman Anthony Harrell.

The lawyer said Harrell and Manigault reportedly were friends until a heated exchange when Manigault called Harrell a “sissy.”

Several other USS Kitty Hawk sailors were implicated in the crime but the Staff Judge Advocate’s Office at Yokosuka would not confirm their names or sentences due to the possibility of further criminal trials or appeals, said Jon Nylander, spokesman, Commander, Naval Forces Japan.

The Staff Judge Advocate’s Office also would not allow Stars and Stripes access to court documents because they are being prepared for the “summary of the court-martial” and will be sent for CNFJ for review, Nylander said.

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