FAYETTEVILLE, NC — A military jury has found an Army sergeant not guilty of negligent homicide in the death of an Army private who killed himself in Afghanistan.
Sgt. Adam Holcomb was found guilty yesterday on two lesser charges, maltreatment of a subordinate and assault. He faces a maximum of 2 1/2 years in prison.
The 10-member jury deliberated for two hours in military court at Fort Bragg, NC, yesterday after hearing closing arguments.
Holcomb was the first of eight soldiers to be court-martialed for the alleged racial hazing of Pfc. Danny Chen, who killed himself last October.
Throughout the trial, the defense painted the Chinese-American infantryman as an incompetent soldier disowned by his family.
Prosecutors said Holcomb abused Chen and drove him to suicide.