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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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January 18th,
2007 - Cortez Pleads Guilty in Iraq Rape, Murder Case |
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Cortez Pleads Guilty in Iraq
Rape, Murder Case By Aaron Aupperlee Desert Dispatch Thursday, January 18, 2007 Barstow - Barstow native
Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, 24, has pleaded guilty to a substantial number of the
charges against him in connection to a March raping and killing of a
14-yearold Iraqi girl and the killing of her family, his lawyer, William
Cassara, said Wednesday. "Sgt. Cortez wanted to
take responsibility for his part of what had occurred," Cassara said.
"We believe it is in his best interest. The death penalty is off the
table now." The plea Cassara could not discuss
the details of the plea agreement but said the case is no longer a capital
case, meaning Cortez cannot face the death penalty. In an arraignment in
November, the military charged Cortez with pre-meditated murder, felony
murder, kidnapping, rape and assorted military charges. Another soldier charged in
the case, Spec. James P. Barker, 23, pleaded guilty in November and received
a sentence of 90 years in prison. Cortez's plea agreement, Cassara said, is
similar to Barker's except Barker pleaded guilty to all charges against him. For Cortez, Cassara said,
the decision to plea was a tough one. He said no one likes to face the
charges Cortez faced, and from the beginning, Cortez wanted to take
responsibility for his actions. Cortez has been moved from solitary
confinement at the Christian County Jail, a civilian jail near Fort Campbell,
to the general population, where, Cassara said, "He is doing fairly
well." In late December, Cortez
submitted the plea agreement to the commanding general of Fort Campbell, Ky.,
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey J. Schloesser. According to Cassara, the plea agreement was
approved. He could only speculate as to why the military accepted the plea.
He said guilty pleas typically cost the military less money and perhaps the
military realized it would not get the death penalty in the case. Officials at Fort Campbell
could not be reached for comment. A representative from the public affairs
office at Fort Campbell said it has been policy not to comment on individual
cases in the matter because many are linked. Cortez is one of four Fort
Campbell soldiers charged in connection to the rape and killings. The case The four soldiers, Cortez,
Barker, Pfc. Jesse V. Spielman, 22, and Pfc. Bryan L. Howard, 23, and former
Army private Steven D. Green, 21, were charged in the raping and killing a
14-year-old girl in the village of Mahmoudiya, south of Baghdad. The soldiers
then, according to the reports, shot her father, mother and 6-yearold sister
and burned their bodies in an attempt to destroy evidence. Green has pleaded not guilty
to charges of rape and murder in a civilian federal court in Kentucky. Barker
received 90 years in prison for his plea agreement. The death penalty has
been dropped against Spielman and Howard is awaiting a new Article 32
hearing, similar to a grand jury hearing in civilian courts. Cortez will still go to
trial in February to determine whether or not he is guilty of the charges to
which he did not plead guilty. The judge at the trial will also issue a
sentence in the case after hearing arguments from both sides. The terms of
the plea agreement, unknown to the judge, place limits on the punishment
Cortez can receive. After the judge delivers the
sentence, the two will be compared, the judge's sentence and the plea
agreement, and Cortez will receive the lesser of the two. The trial will
begin on Feb. 20 and run for a few days, Cassara said. External link: http://www.desertdispatch.com/2006/11691349362081.html |