8-month sentence for not serving in Iraq

"A U.S. Army medic who jumped out a window of his base housing and fled to California to avoid a redeployment to Iraq was convicted of desertion Tuesday at a court-martial. He was sentenced to eight months in prison _ far short of the maximum seven-year sentence.
Spc. Agustin Aguayo, 35, who refused to return to Iraq because he believes war is immoral, admitted the less serious charge of being absent without leave but was unsuccessful in contesting the more serious desertion charge.
. . . Since Aguayo has been jailed for 161 days awaiting trial, he could be free within a few weeks. [The judge, R. Peter] Masterton also ordered that Aguayo be reduced in rank to private, forfeit his pay, and receive a bad conduct discharge at the end of his sentence.
Aguayo, who was not the first soldier to be convicted of desertion for refusing to serve in Iraq, said he enlisted in 2002 to earn money for his education. Though military operations in Afghanistan were under way and discussions about Iraq were ongoing, he said he never thought he would have to fight."

Another anti-war option. And only 8 months.

source
Frey, George. (The Associated Press). Army Medic Is Found Guilty of Desertion. March 6, 2007.

related
Hawley, Charles. (Spiegel). Aguayo Follows His Conscience to the Brig. March 6, 2007.

posted: friday, march 9, 2007, 2:19 PM ET
update: saturday, march 10, 2007, 9:43 AM ET

tags: iraq desertion Agustin Aguayo