Dog Handler Convicted
by TChris
Update: Cardona received a reduction in rank and a sentence of 90 days at hard labor.
original post:
Another Army dog handler has been convicted of committing military crimes at Abu Ghraib.
Sgt. Santos A. Cardona is the 11th soldier convicted of crimes stemming from the abuse of inmates at the prison in late 2003 and early 2004. Cardona, 32, of Fullerton, Calif., was convicted of dereliction of duty and aggravated assault for allowing his dog to bark within inches of a prisoner's face.
Cardona was acquitted of more serious charges, "including unlawfully having his dog bite an inmate and conspiring with another dog handler to frighten prisoners into soiling themselves." Cardona's defense counsel argued that Cardona's career depended on pleasing people who were monitoring the progress made at Abu Ghraib.
By late November, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Deputy Secretary Paul Wolfowitz were said to have taken an intense interest in gathering intelligence from Abu Ghraib, even calling nightly to check on information, according to trial testimony.
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