Fifth Soldier Sentenced to 3 Month Term in Courts-Martial Trial

Spec. Thomas Curtis, an infantryman assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, plead guilty to five charges during a court-martial the Fort Bragg courthouse and was sentenced to reduction to E1 and three months confinement, with seven days credit for time served.

Curtis pleaded guilty in hazing, maltreatment by kicking and dragging Chen and striking Chen with his knee, and admitted to the judge that he knew his actions were wrong and went too far. Curtis previously served with the Marines and placed the blame of the behavior being acceptable in that environment.

According to a Fayetteville Observer report, Curtis apologized to Chen's family during the trial.

During the proceedings, Curtis described forcing Chen to wear a green helmet and shout instructions in Chinese for the amusement of the soldiers, grabbing Chen by his helmet and repeatedly striking him in the thigh.

Three other soldiers remain from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry
Division facing charges relating to Chen’s death and will be tried by
courts-martial in the coming months.

Sgt. Adam Holcomb was found guilty July 30 by a court-martial panel of two
specifications of maltreatment and one specification of assault. He was
sentenced to reduction in rank to E-4, forfeiture of pay equaling $1,181.55
and 30 days confinement.

Spc. Ryan Offutt was sentenced Aug. 13, to reduction in rank to E-1,
confinement for 6 months and a bad conduct discharge for hazing and
maltreatment, following as guilty plea.

Staff Sgt. Blaine Dugas plead guilty to charge one, specification one, which
is a violation of a lawful general order number one, by wrongfully
possessing and consuming alcohol. He was found guilty by a military judge of one count of dereliction of duty during a court-martial here Aug. 17. Dugas was sentenced to reduction in grade from E-6 to E-5 and three months confinement with 90 days credit for pretrial confinement.

Sgt. Travis Carden was was sentenced to reduction in rank to E-4 and forfeiture of 2/3 pay for one month. He was charged and convicted of Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 92, hazing Chen, and Article 93, maltreatment by calling him racially disparaging names, and ordering him to perform pushups with his
mouth full of water.