Third soldier pleads guilty in prison abuse case

updated 6:05 p.m. ET Nov. 2, 2004

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - The third of seven U.S. soldiers charged in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal has pleaded guilty, and was demoted and docked a half-month’s pay, an Army spokesman said Tuesday.

Spc. Megan Ambuhl, 30, of Centreville, Va., pleaded guilty Saturday at a summary court-martial in Baghdad to reduced charges of dereliction of duty for failing to prevent or report the maltreatment, Lt. Col. Steven A. Boylan said.

He said Ambuhl, who like the other soldiers charged is a member of the Maryland-based 372nd Military Police Company, was busted down to a private.

Her civilian attorney, Harvey J. Volzer, has said that Ambuhl is not shown in any of the infamous pictures from the prison near Baghdad.

She could have gotten up to 7½ years in prison on charges she watched prisoners being abused and helped set up the photograph of Pfc. Lynndie England holding a naked prisoner by a leash.

Staff Sgt. Ivan L. “Chip” Frederick II of Buckingham, Va., was sentenced Oct. 21 to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to eight counts. Spc. Jeremy C. Sivits of Hyndman, Pa., was sentenced May 19 to a year after pleading guilty to three abuse charges.

Boylan said no dates have been set for proceedings involving the remaining defendants.

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