BAGHDAD, Iraq – Two sergeants are among five American soldiers facing charges in the alleged rape-murder of an Iraqi teenager and the killing of three family members, the U.S. military said Monday.
The military announced Sunday that four soldiers were accused of rape and murder and a fifth with dereliction of duty for failing to prevent or stop it. No names were released.
On Monday, the military identified the others as Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, Sgt. Anthony W. Yribe, Spc. James P. Barker, Pfc. Jesse V. Spielman, and Pfc. Bryan L. Howard.
Yribe was charged for his failure to report the attack but is not alleged to have been a direct participant, the military said. The others face more serious charges as participants.
The five will face an Article 32 hearing, the military equivalent of a grand jury proceeding, to determine if they should stand trial.
They are charged with conspiring with former Pfc. Steven D. Green, who was arrested last month in North Carolina. Green has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and four counts of murder and is being held without bond.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox