RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The first American civilian charged with mistreating a detainee during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan was convicted Thursday of assaulting an Afghan man who later died. Prosecutors said the verdict against former CIA contract worker David Passaro sets a precedent for bringing others accused of such wrongdoing overseas back to the U.S. to stand trial. Human-rights advocates, however, noted that no other U.S. civilian has been charged publicly with abusing detainees in the two years since Passaro's arrest.After about eight hours of deliberations, a federal jury found Passaro guilty of three counts of simple assault and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, lesser charges than prosecutors had sought. He faces up to 11 1/2 years in prison, and no sentencing date was immediately set.
Passaro, 40, was impassive as the jury verdict was read. After jurors left the courtroom, he stood up and quietly extended his wrists so federal marshals could handcuff him.