BAGHDAD, Iraq – A military judge ordered a U.S. Army reservist on Friday to stand trial Jan. 7 in Baghdad (search) for allegedly abusing Iraq inmates at the Abu Ghraib (search) prison outside Baghdad.
Spc. Charles Graner Jr., (search) of the 372nd Military Police Company of Cresaptown, Md., has been charged with conspiracy to maltreat detainees, dereliction of duty, maltreatment of prisoners, assault, committing indecent acts, obstruction of justice and adultery.
The judge, Col. James Pohl, set the trial date during a hearing in which he turned down a defense motion to grant immunity to several people to testify without fear of incrimination.
The list included Col. Thomas Pappas, the commander of the Military Intelligence Brigade assigned to Abu Ghraib when the offenses allegedly occurred. The low-ranking soldiers charged in the case maintain they were acting on orders of Military Intelligence to "soften up" prisoners for interrogation.
Pohl also ordered another pre-trial hearing in the Graner case to be held here Dec. 3.
Graner's adultery charge stems from a relationship with another soldier accused in the Abu Ghraib scandal, Pfc. Lynndie England (search). She was sent back to the United States before the scandal broke in April and gave birth to Graner's son this month at Fort Bragg, N.C.
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