Prosecution's Case Difficult in Soldier's High-Profile Desertion Trial: ; Desertion Hard to Prove; Plea Bargain Expected, Could Result in Dishonorable Discharge

Summary

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CAMP ZAMA, Japan - The U.S. Army is preparing for its biggest desertion trial in decades following the surrender earlier this month of Sgt. Charles Robert Jenkins, wanted for allegedly abandoning his patrol nearly 40 years ago and becoming a North Korean propaganda tool.

But while publicity is guaranteed, the prosecution might have a hard time winning the case, experts say. And if Jenkins does a plea bargain, as is widely expected, he may suffer nothing worse than a dishonorable discharge.

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Prosecution's Case Difficult in Soldier's High-Profile Desertion Trial: ; Desertion Hard to Prove; Plea Bargain Expected, Could Result in Dishonorable Discharge

Jenkins has been living at this base just southwest of Tokyo with his Japanese wife and two North Korea-born daughters since he surrendered on Sept. 11. Pending an investigation to determine whether a court ...

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