Jury Convicts Abu Ghraib Dog Handler

Sgt. Michael Smith (pictured above threatening an Abu Ghraib detainee with a dog) becomes the ninth soldier to be convicted for detainee abuse. He faces over eight years in prison.

To date, no high-ranking officials have been charged with crimes stemming from the abuses.

:

FORT MEADE, Md. — A jury found an Army dog handler guilty Tuesday of abusing detainees at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison by terrifying them with a military dog, allegedly for his own amusement.

Sgt. Michael J. Smith, 24, was found guilty of six of 13 counts.

He had faced the stiffest potential sentence of any soldier charged so far in the Abu Ghraib scandal _ up to 24 1/2 years in prison if convicted on all counts. With the six counts, he could face more than 8 years in prison, forfeiture of all pay and allowances and a dishonorable discharge. His sentencing was scheduled later Tuesday.

The military jury deliberated for about 18 hours over three days before announcing its verdict.

Link