Jeremy Sivits
| Jeremy Sivits | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 21, 1979 |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | ??? - 2004 |
| Rank |
 Private |
| Unit | 372nd Military Police Company |
| Battles/wars | Operation Iraqi Freedom, Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–present |
Jeremy C. Sivits (born 21 January 1979) is a former U.S. Army reservist, one of several soldiers charged and convicted by the U.S. Army in connection with the 2003-2004 Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal in Baghdad, Iraq during and after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He was a member of the 372nd Military Police Company during this time.[1]
Sivits was the man who took some of the photographs at the prison which became notorious after some were first aired on the 60 Minutes II news television show.[2][3] His father, David Sivits, a former serviceman, claims that Sivits was trained as a mechanic, not a prison guard,[4] and that he "was just doing what he was told to do."[5] Sivits was the first soldier convicted in connection with the Abu Ghraib incidents.[6]
Charges and trial
On May 5, 2004: Sivits was charged under Uniform Code of Military Justice with the following:[7]
- Conspiracy to maltreat detainees
- Maltreatment of detainees
- Dereliction of duty for negligently failing to protect detainees from abuse, cruelty and maltreatment
His special court-martial was held on May 19, 2004 in Baghdad. Sivits pleaded guilty and testified against some of his fellow soldiers.[8] Sivits's testimony included reporting seeing Charles Graner punching a naked detainee "with a closed fist so hard in the temple that it knocked the detainee unconscious."[9] Sivits also testified seeing Lynndie England stomping on the feet and hands of detainees with her boots.[8]
The court martial sentenced Sivits to the maximum sentence, one year of confinement, in addition to being discharged for bad conduct and demoted from specialist to private.[7]
Human Rights Watch and other human rights groups were not allowed in the court room.[10]
See also
- Megan Ambuhl
- Lynndie England
- Ivan Frederick
- Charles Graner
- Sabrina Harman
- 372nd Military Police Company, the MP unit assigned to Abu Ghraib
- Standard Operating Procedure
References
- ↑ "Jeremy Sivits: Fired and Demoted?". Retrieved 19 January 2013.
- ↑ Hannah Allam (May 9, 2004). "Coalition announces first court-martial in risoner abuse scandal". McClatchy DC.
- ↑ "Military trial is set in prisoner abuse case A military policeman from Penna. is the first to face a public court-martial in the scandal. His family said he took some of the photos at the Iraq prison". Philly.com. May 10, 2004.
- ↑ Joel Roberts (May 10, 2004). "Praise For Iraq Whistleblower". CBS News.
- ↑ Gregg Zoroya (May 18, 2004). "Hometown says soldier was always eager to please". USA Today.
- ↑ Jackie Spinner (May 20, 2004). "Soldier Gets 1 Year In Abuse of Iraqis". The Washington Post.
- 1 2 "US Soldier jailed for Iraq abuse". BBC. May 19, 2004.
- 1 2 "Ex-Soldier Testifies in Abuse Hearing". The New York Times. August 31, 2004.
- ↑ Christian Davenport (May 14, 2004). "Accused soldier details prison abuse". The Seattle Times.
- ↑ Ian Fisher (May 20, 2004). "THE STRUGGLE FOR IRAQ: COURT-MARTIAL; On Arab TV, Gaza Strife Dims Trial". The New York Times.