thedrifter
10-31-07, 08:28 AM
Another S.A. soldier charged with murdering an Iraqi
Web Posted: 10/30/2007 10:48 PM CDT
Scott Huddleston
Express-News
A second soldier from San Antonio has been charged in the death of an Iraqi and could face the death penalty if convicted.
Details are sketchy of the June 24 incident involving Sgt. Leonardo Treviņo, 30, then stationed at a base about 50 miles northeast of Baghdad. A Web site created to promote awareness of his case and help raise funds for his defense describes a battle between U.S. soldiers and al-Qaida insurgents, based on witness accounts.
Treviņo was sent with an Army "small kill team" to expose and clear enemy insurgents from a hostile location in Iraq, the site says. The team, perched on a rooftop, fought armed insurgents, killing one instantly and severely wounding another. Treviņo and other members of the team chased the wounded man to a house, where he was killed.
"The government claims Sgt. Treviņo killed an Iraqi insurgent who engaged his team, and the alleged killing wasn't justified," said his attorney, Richard Stevens.
Treviņo was charged with premeditated murder, assault and obstruction of justice on Sept. 15.
Army officials would not comment on the case or confirm the charges.
Veronica Treviņo said her husband has told her he's done nothing wrong, and she believes him.
"I'm disappointed in the Army," she said.
She isn't a stranger to military life, having served in the Army Reserve as a human resources specialist. But nothing, she said, could prepare her for news that her husband stands accused of murder.
Her greater fear had been that he might get killed or wounded. As a sniper with Fort Hood's 1st Cavalry Division, Treviņo was often at risk while tracking down insurgents.
"That's what he did every day when he was there," she said. "Every day was a task to find the enemy."
Stevens, a civilian lawyer defending Treviņo in the case, said the information on the Web site is derived from statements by witnesses. The possibility of the death penalty hasn't been addressed in the case, which is set for an Article 32 hearing at Fort Hood as early as late November, when Treviņo's unit is scheduled to begin returning.
"We look forward to all of the facts eventually coming out," Stevens, who is based in Prattville, Ala., said Tuesday.
But he said the truth may not surface until a court-martial is well under way. Other soldiers have been charged in the incident, Stevens said.
"I suspect the full picture is not going to come out in the Article 32," which is similar to a civilian grand jury hearing.
Treviņo's mother, Maria Valadez, said she can't believe the boy she raised, who sang George Strait songs in school talent shows and raised pigs and sheep at Burbank High School for junior livestock events, would commit murder as an adult. Born and reared on San Antonio's South Side, he never had a discipline problem that merited a school visit, she said.
"No matter what he did, he was very loyal, and willing to go the extra mile," Valadez said.
Less than a month before the incident, four men under Treviņo were killed by a roadside bomb. One of them, Sgt. Anthony D. Ewing, 22, had volunteered to go in Treviņo's place on a mission in Iraq's restive Diyala province. Ewing of Phoenix was Treviņo's best friend, his wife said.
Treviņo graduated from the same high school as Sgt. 1st Class Trey Corrales III, 35, the other San Antonio soldier charged with premeditated murder, this one in the June 23 death of an Iraqi near Kirkuk.
Although the two men don't know each other, Veronica Treviņo has turned to Corrales' wife for advice on getting legal counsel and raising funds for her husband's defense. She learned about the charge against Corrales and contacted local relatives, who put her in touch with Lily Corrales.
"At first, I didn't know who to call," said Treviņo, 28. "She has guided me."
She first met Leonardo Treviņo, who goes by Leonard, Len or Leo, at a family gathering three years ago, and was captivated by his brown eyes and wit. He deployed for a second tour of Iraq last October but came home on a furlough.
During those two weeks, the two were married in a small service at a relative's ranch in Von Ormy. It was his second marriage, her first.
Veronica Treviņo has sent stuffed animals, balls and plastic toys to her husband to give to children in Iraq. His son, 7, and daughter, 4, both live with their mother. She said they know their father is overseas but don't know how much trouble he's in.
Instead of hunting for a house in the Fort Hood-Killeen area, where she hopes to live with her husband and her 13-year-old son, Veronica Treviņo, a credit department employee at the San Antonio Express-News, is waiting for the military justice system to decide their future.
Until details of the case unfold, Stevens said he hopes the public won't try to judge his client. Treviņo and many thousands of other soldiers and Marines in Iraq have to make difficult, split-second, life-or-death decisions daily, Stevens said.
"In general terms, it's easy to sit back in the comfort of our own safe environment and second-guess what's going on over there," he said.
shuddleston@express-news.net
Ellie
Web Posted: 10/30/2007 10:48 PM CDT
Scott Huddleston
Express-News
A second soldier from San Antonio has been charged in the death of an Iraqi and could face the death penalty if convicted.
Details are sketchy of the June 24 incident involving Sgt. Leonardo Treviņo, 30, then stationed at a base about 50 miles northeast of Baghdad. A Web site created to promote awareness of his case and help raise funds for his defense describes a battle between U.S. soldiers and al-Qaida insurgents, based on witness accounts.
Treviņo was sent with an Army "small kill team" to expose and clear enemy insurgents from a hostile location in Iraq, the site says. The team, perched on a rooftop, fought armed insurgents, killing one instantly and severely wounding another. Treviņo and other members of the team chased the wounded man to a house, where he was killed.
"The government claims Sgt. Treviņo killed an Iraqi insurgent who engaged his team, and the alleged killing wasn't justified," said his attorney, Richard Stevens.
Treviņo was charged with premeditated murder, assault and obstruction of justice on Sept. 15.
Army officials would not comment on the case or confirm the charges.
Veronica Treviņo said her husband has told her he's done nothing wrong, and she believes him.
"I'm disappointed in the Army," she said.
She isn't a stranger to military life, having served in the Army Reserve as a human resources specialist. But nothing, she said, could prepare her for news that her husband stands accused of murder.
Her greater fear had been that he might get killed or wounded. As a sniper with Fort Hood's 1st Cavalry Division, Treviņo was often at risk while tracking down insurgents.
"That's what he did every day when he was there," she said. "Every day was a task to find the enemy."
Stevens, a civilian lawyer defending Treviņo in the case, said the information on the Web site is derived from statements by witnesses. The possibility of the death penalty hasn't been addressed in the case, which is set for an Article 32 hearing at Fort Hood as early as late November, when Treviņo's unit is scheduled to begin returning.
"We look forward to all of the facts eventually coming out," Stevens, who is based in Prattville, Ala., said Tuesday.
But he said the truth may not surface until a court-martial is well under way. Other soldiers have been charged in the incident, Stevens said.
"I suspect the full picture is not going to come out in the Article 32," which is similar to a civilian grand jury hearing.
Treviņo's mother, Maria Valadez, said she can't believe the boy she raised, who sang George Strait songs in school talent shows and raised pigs and sheep at Burbank High School for junior livestock events, would commit murder as an adult. Born and reared on San Antonio's South Side, he never had a discipline problem that merited a school visit, she said.
"No matter what he did, he was very loyal, and willing to go the extra mile," Valadez said.
Less than a month before the incident, four men under Treviņo were killed by a roadside bomb. One of them, Sgt. Anthony D. Ewing, 22, had volunteered to go in Treviņo's place on a mission in Iraq's restive Diyala province. Ewing of Phoenix was Treviņo's best friend, his wife said.
Treviņo graduated from the same high school as Sgt. 1st Class Trey Corrales III, 35, the other San Antonio soldier charged with premeditated murder, this one in the June 23 death of an Iraqi near Kirkuk.
Although the two men don't know each other, Veronica Treviņo has turned to Corrales' wife for advice on getting legal counsel and raising funds for her husband's defense. She learned about the charge against Corrales and contacted local relatives, who put her in touch with Lily Corrales.
"At first, I didn't know who to call," said Treviņo, 28. "She has guided me."
She first met Leonardo Treviņo, who goes by Leonard, Len or Leo, at a family gathering three years ago, and was captivated by his brown eyes and wit. He deployed for a second tour of Iraq last October but came home on a furlough.
During those two weeks, the two were married in a small service at a relative's ranch in Von Ormy. It was his second marriage, her first.
Veronica Treviņo has sent stuffed animals, balls and plastic toys to her husband to give to children in Iraq. His son, 7, and daughter, 4, both live with their mother. She said they know their father is overseas but don't know how much trouble he's in.
Instead of hunting for a house in the Fort Hood-Killeen area, where she hopes to live with her husband and her 13-year-old son, Veronica Treviņo, a credit department employee at the San Antonio Express-News, is waiting for the military justice system to decide their future.
Until details of the case unfold, Stevens said he hopes the public won't try to judge his client. Treviņo and many thousands of other soldiers and Marines in Iraq have to make difficult, split-second, life-or-death decisions daily, Stevens said.
"In general terms, it's easy to sit back in the comfort of our own safe environment and second-guess what's going on over there," he said.
shuddleston@express-news.net
Ellie