S.D. man given 6 months in death of fellow soldier at general court martial
A soldier from San Diego stationed at Fort Riley, Kan., has been sentenced to six months in a military prison for the shooting death of a fellow soldier, also from San Diego, at an off-base apartment.
Sgt. Castulo J. Salas, 27, was convicted last week in a general court martial on charges of negligent homicide, obstruction of justice and wrongfully leaving the scene of a shooting without providing assistance. A military judge in Topeka, Kan., sentenced him to serve time at the Fort Sill, Okla., Regional Confinement Facility.
Salas was convicted in the unintentional shooting death on July 28 of Spc. Christian Quinones, who died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The soldiers were celebrating Quinones’ 21st birthday at an apartment in Junction City. They were assigned to the 1st Armored Division’s 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor.
The case will be reviewed by Maj. Gen. Robert Durbin, commander of the division and of Fort Riley. Durbin can accept or reject the court-martial decision, or grant clemency. If the conviction is upheld, Salas can appeal to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals. –A.P.
The was posted to this blog by Michael Waddington, court martial defense lawyer and military criminal attorney.
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