Court martial begins for ‘carjacking’ sergeant

FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky – An Army sergeant accused of carjacking a sheik’s sports utility vehicle in Iraq orchestrated a cover-up with other soldiers, the prosecution argued in the first day of his court-martial.

Sgt 1st Class James Williams, 37, is charged with armed robbery and willfull dereliction of duty. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.”This is a case about a non-commissioned officer that decided in Iraq that the law no longer applied to him,” Capt Howard Hoege, an Army prosecutor, said Tuesday.Bernard Casey, Williams’ civilian attorney, argued the SUV was taken properly in April 2003 under rules of engagement allowing personal property to be seized for military use.Casey said the vehicle was taken only after Williams’ lieutenant instructed soldiers to find him a vehicle, and that it was the lieutenant, Bradley Havlik, who came up with the cover story that the SUV was found abandoned.Hoege said Williams pointed a handgun at the driver of the SUV, as another soldier, Staff Sgt Alberto Lozano, pointed his rifle at the driver and told him to raise his hands.- Nampa-APIf convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.”This is a case about a non-commissioned officer that decided in Iraq that the law no longer applied to him,” Capt Howard Hoege, an Army prosecutor, said Tuesday.Bernard Casey, Williams’ civilian attorney, argued the SUV was taken properly in April 2003 under rules of engagement allowing personal property to be seized for military use.Casey said the vehicle was taken only after Williams’ lieutenant instructed soldiers to find him a vehicle, and that it was the lieutenant, Bradley Havlik, who came up with the cover story that the SUV was found abandoned.Hoege said Williams pointed a handgun at the driver of the SUV, as another soldier, Staff Sgt Alberto Lozano, pointed his rifle at the driver and told him to raise his hands.- Nampa-AP