Report: 3 years, 9 months in prison for German who joined Islamic State group

German Kreshnik Berisha waits for the verdict in his trial at a higher regional court in Frankfurt, Germany, Friday, Dec. 5, 2014. He is accused of having been a member of the Islamic state group in Syria. He was arrested when he came back to Germany in December 2013. German news agency dpa reports that he has been convicted and sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) (The Associated Press)

German Kreshnik Berisha, left, waits for the verdict in his trial at a higher regional court in Frankfurt, Germany, Friday, Dec. 5, 2014. He is accused of having been a member of the Islamic state group in Syria. He was arrested when he came back to Germany in December 2013. German news agency dpa reports that he has been convicted and sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) (The Associated Press)

German news agency dpa reports that a German man has been convicted of joining the Islamic State terrorist group and sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison.

Kreshnik Berisha was accused of traveling to Syria last year and fighting for the group, before returning to Germany five months later.

The news agency reported Friday that the sentenced handed to the 20-year-old by the Frankfurt regional court was halfway between those requested by prosecutors and the defense.

Berisha had avoided the maximum 10-year sentence possible under German law by testifying during the trial.