Hurst Found Guily of Dereliction of Duty, Pvt. Danny Chen Trial

FORT BRAGG, N.C. –  Sgt. Jeffrey Hurst, an infantryman assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, was found guilty of one specification of dereliction of duty during his court-martial at Fort Bragg Nov. 9, 2012.  His five-day trial was in connection with the Oct. 3, 2011, death of Pvt. Danny Chen.

Hurst was sentenced to reduction in rank to E4 and hard labor without confinement for 45 days by a panel of eight officer and enlisted members. Earlier in the week the charges of hazing and maltreatment were dismissed.

The eight-member jury deliberated about four hours before reaching a verdict today. At least six jurors had to concur for a guilty verdict, said the military judge, Col. David Robertson according to a Fayetteville Observer report.

The military judge for the Hurst court-martial was Col. David Robertson. The prosecution team consisted of Maj. Joshua Toman and Maj. Stephen Hernandez, and the defense team was civilian counsel Haytham Faraj and Capt. Jamie Gurtov.