Infantry Officer Faces New Murder Charges

[Judi Lynn]

Infantry Officer Faces New Murder Charges
By JOHN MILBURN, Associated Press Writer

Monday, November 14, 2005
(11-14) 21:04 PST Topeka, Kan. (AP) --

An Army officer who was cleared 10 months ago in the killings of three Iraqi civilians is facing new charges in two of the deaths.

Fort Riley prosecutors allege that 2nd Lt. Erick J. Anderson, 26, is responsible for deaths in 2004 that landed four of his soldiers in prison. Charges against Anderson include two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy and making a false statement.

A hearing begins Wednesday to determine whether he must face a court-martial that could send him to prison for life, if he is found guilty.

Anderson, of Twinsburg, Ohio, led a platoon that deployed to Iraq in June 2004. The cases in which he's charged happened while his men were battling followers of a radical Shiite cleric near Sadr City two months later.
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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/11/14/national/w210452S28.DTL

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Only last month:

Date: October 19, 2005

Congressmen LaTourette and Ryan introduce measure in Congress
blasting prosecution of Twinsburg, OH, soldier accused of murdering
Iraqi civilians and asking that charges be dropped

Soldier’s commanders rated his performance “outstanding” during time of alleged crimes, and urged he be promoted “ahead of peers”


(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Reps. Steven C. LaTourette (R-OH) and Tim Ryan (D-OH) today introduced a resolution condemning the military for bringing new murder charges against Army platoon leader Erick J. Anderson nine months after earlier murder charges were dropped. LaTourette and Ryan have also requested hearings before the House Committees on which they serve, Government Reform and Armed Services, respectively.

“This is a great kid who enlisted in the Army after 9-11, and I fully believe in his innocence,” LaTourette said. “What the Army is doing is shameful, and I can’t find any plausible explanation for why they are trying to ruin this young man’s life and career.”

Added Ryan, “At a time when our military is having great difficulty recruiting new soldiers, the Army’s actions in this case are baffling. This young man served dutifully in Iraq – and continues to serve his country even now. This is no way to treat our soldiers. I strongly encourage the Army to re-evaluate its position in this case.”
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http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/oh14_latourette/erick.html