U.S. Soldier In Iraq Convicted Of Absence Without Leave And Striking An Officer

BAGHDAD (AP) _ A U.S. soldier was convicted by a court-martial of returning to Iraq late from a scheduled break and punching an officer in the face, the military said Saturday. <br/><br/>Army Spc. Sean

Saturday, April 28th 2007, 8:34 pm

By: News On 6

BAGHDAD (AP) _ A U.S. soldier was convicted by a court-martial of returning to Iraq late from a scheduled break and punching an officer in the face, the military said Saturday.

Army Spc. Sean J. Maxwell was sentenced to 10 months of confinement, a reduced rank and a bad conduct discharge, the military said in a statement. The court-martial was held April 17 at Camp Victory, the main military base outside Baghdad.

Maxwell, of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 324th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade, ``intentionally failed to return to Iraq after his scheduled leave'' on Jan. 20 and was listed as absent without leave from Jan. 23 to about Feb. 5, the military said.

He then punched his first sergeant in the face and head after returning to Kuwait on Feb. 7, it added. The statement did not provide further details.