A soldier is serving 10 months in jail after pleading guilty at a court-martial last month to missing movement and disrespect toward commissioned and noncommissioned officers.
Spc. Chance McDonald, 25, of the 1st Battalion, 33rd Field Artillery Regiment in Bamberg, Germany, also was reduced in rank to private and given a bad-conduct discharge at the Oct. 22 hearing.
In April 2004, McDonald, who was deployed to Iraq, went on emergency leave when his half-brother died suddenly. McDonald was scheduled to return to his unit on April 24, but went drinking instead, deliberately missing movement, according to a summary provided by the legal office in Würzburg, Germany.
Less than two weeks later, he became angry during a physical training formation because there was a shortage of training rifles, the summary stated. At the time, he was disrespectful to two NCOs and his rear detachment commander.
He was placed in pre-trial confinement June 4.
McDonald was sentenced to 14 months’ confinement, but as part of a pre-trial agreement for his guilty plea, he will serve no more than 10 months in jail, minus 141 days of pre-trial confinement.
Judge (Col.) Stephanie Browne asked the convening authority to waive forfeitures of pay and allowances for six months.
The case now goes to the convening authority for review and action.
