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Iraq
No jail time for Welshofer over Iraqi prisoner death
2006-01-25
DENVER - A US military interrogator convicted of killing an Iraqi general by stuffing his head into a sleeping bag was on Monday sentenced to a reprimand and fine but no jail time, local media reported. Chief Warrant Officer Lewis Welshofer must also give up 6,000 dollars of his pay and was confined to his base and place of worship for 60 days, according to the sentence handed down by a six-member court-martial board or jury.
He's convicted, his career is over, and he'll be known by other military people as someone who crossed the line.
Welshofer, who was convicted by the same panel on Saturday of negligent homicide, had faced a sentence of up to three years in military prison. He could have faced a life sentence had he been convicted of murder. Welshofer, who argued that his actions were not extreme and that interrogation rules were unclear, on Monday thanked those colleagues who supported him. “The military is a family when you get right down to it,” Welshofer said on Denver television’s 9News in remarks that appeared to come after the verdict. “I can’t thank them enough for their support.”

The officer was accused of torturing Iraqi Major General Abed Hamed Mowhoush, covering his head with a sleeping bag, binding him with electric cord and sitting on his chest until he died. The general died of suffocation at a detention center in Al Anbar province, near the Syrian border in November 2002.

Military officials could not immediately be reached to confirm the sentence.
Posted by:Steve White

#12  means Blackwater or equal? Better than a desk job procuring...
Posted by: Frank G   2006-01-25 23:16  

#11  The trial has been conducted here in Colorado Springs, and I've been following it in the local newspaper, the Gazette. He's a CWO-W4, the highest warrant officer rank. His career is over, but I think he only has about 14 months to go until retirement. He'll probably end up working in some administrative capacity until then. As an interrogator, he'd have to have a security clearance - that's gone. That also means no government employment after retirement.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2006-01-25 23:08  

#10  Warrant officers are the trusted agent for any officer worth a shit. They don't fall into to the "Yes Sir" and execute of the NCO corps and are not stuck in the political Regulular Army Officer crap. They mentor junior officers and give the old dog the straight answer regardless of agendas. Too bad on this one.
Posted by: 49 Pan   2006-01-25 17:06  

#9  Warrant Officers are god, Senior Warrant Officers tell God what to do.

Trust me on this, they even tell Officers where to get off, and the Officers do it.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2006-01-25 14:20  

#8  Sorry didn't have my handle on the comments above for OC. Since he was an Chief Warrant (not sure about Army ranks) I doubt he was going to get many more promotions anyway. No it's not a good trade, but someone had to answer for the prisoners death. Not knowing all the facts it sounds like this guy did cross the line, but that is just my Monday morning quarterbacking.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2006-01-25 13:14  

#7  Little trivia bit I picked up somewhere. People who are ethnic Dutch generally stink as spies. However, they are often brilliant in counter-espionage.

For this reason, the names of US Military Intelligence staff looks like the Rotterdam phone book. Now I've no idea about CWO Welshofer, but were I to guess...
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-01-25 12:49  

#6  "...Welshofer must also give up 6,000 dollars of his pay and was confined to his base and place of worship for 60 days..."

The average sentence for criminally negligent homicide in US civilian/criminal courts ranges from about 16 months to three years behind bars.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2006-01-25 12:12  

#5  I'm sure he will be allowed to retire. OC is correct in that he will most certainly apeal it but this will haunt him and his career. Military leaders will view him as a bad risk to have in their commands. His career, or and promotions, are over. This is too bad, the general's life was not worth a good Warrant officer's career.
Posted by: 49 Pan   2006-01-25 11:47  

#4  No his career is not over and they didn't give him a Dishonorable Discharge so he can retire when he gets to 20 or now if he has the time. I am sure he didn't want the guy to die so he couldn't be convicted of murder, so this sentence seems just and fair. FYI after six months he can appeal to get the money back and have the reprimand expunged. Given the circumstances the review board might just let it go with a stern warning: "Don't do that again."
Posted by: Omineting Clalet8008   2006-01-25 11:29  

#3  Would you like paper or platic bags?The 56 year old Mowhoush said he "felt sick." He undoubtedly had a pre-existing condition, compounded by an uncooperative attitude, an aversion to fart sacks, and warrant officer interrogators. He was a terrorist financier captured near the Syrian border. I'm glad he's dood, maybe some IED or some small arms ammo orders had to be cancelled. It's a tough business, cooperation and remaining alive is the key to the benefit program.
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-01-25 10:40  

#2  Correct, his career is over. He now carries a federal felony conviction on his record. If he hasn't made 18 years yet, he'll be administratively removed from service.
Posted by: Angineng Whomonter7804   2006-01-25 10:11  

#1  Accidents happen.
Posted by: gromgoru   2006-01-25 07:45  

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