JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. (AP) — An Army staff sergeant charged with shooting at unarmed Afghans this year has pleaded guilty in a deal that requires him to testify against other defendants.
Staff Sgt. Robert Stevens of Portland, Ore., admitted to aggravated assault and other charges at his court-martial Tuesday. Prosecutors dropped a conspiracy charge.
Five soldiers are charged with murdering three Afghan civilians for kicks this year. Stevens is not one of them, but he admitted that in March he followed an order from Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs to shoot at two Afghans in a field who posed no threat. Those Afghans were not injured.
Gibbs is accused of leading the alleged murder conspiracy. He maintains the shootings were all justified.
A military judge still must accept Stevens’ plea deal.
