WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- An Army hearing officer has proposed only an administrative penalty for a U.S. officer charged with firing a gun to scare a confession from an Iraqi detainee.
Lt. Col. Allen West's attorney, Neal Puckett, told the Washington Times the decision was good news and what he believed the Army should have done from the beginning.
The recommendation goes to Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno, the 4th Infantry Division commander, who can accept it, reject it and order a court-martial, or dismiss the charge.
Under the hearing officer's recommendation, West would appear before Odierno. The general would be limited in his punishment options to a written reprimand, forfeiture of pay or confinement to quarters.
If court-martialed, West would risk dismissal from the Army, which would mean losing all retirement benefits for the married father of two children.
The Times said West admitted breaking Army rules Aug. 20, when he pulled an Iraqi detainee from a cell, took him outside and fired two shots from a 9mm pistol while threatening to kill him. West had been told the Iraqi, a police officer, knew of an assassination plot against the colonel and his men.
