Charge: Aiding the enemy, Trial: Oct 15-20, 2007

Source: MNF-I.

BAGHDAD – An officer accused of aiding the enemy will stand trial Oct. 15-20. In a pre-trial session held at Camp Liberty, Iraq, Oct. 7, Lt. Col. William H. Steele plead guilty to three of the seven charges facing him. The charges Lt. Col. Steele plead guilty to carry a maximum penalty of six years confinement, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and dismissal from the service.

Those charges include:

CHARGE IV: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 92
Specification 1: In that Lt. Col. William H. Steele did, between on or about 18 February 2007 and 21 February 2007, violate a lawful general regulation, to wit: paragraph 7-4, Army Regulation 380-5, dated 29 September 2000, by wrongfully storing classified information in his living space.

Specification 2: In that Lt. Col. William H. Steele did, between on or about 1 September 2006 and 21 February 2007, violate a lawful general regulation, to wit: paragraph 4-32, Army Regulation 380-5, dated 29 September 2000, by improperly marking classified information.

Specification 4: In that Lt. Col. William H. Steele did, between on or about 18 February 2007 and 21 February 2007, violate a lawful general order, to wit: paragraph 2e, Multi-National Corps-Iraq General Order Number 1, dated 16 December 2006, by wrongfully and knowingly possessing pornographic videos.

Lt. Col. Steele still faces four remaining charges. The charges below do not represent a finding of guilt and Lt. Col. Steele is presumed not guilty.

CHARGE I: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 104.

Specification: In that Lt. Col. William H. Steele, did, between on or about 1 October 2005 and 31 October 2006, aid the enemy by providing an unmonitored cellular phone to detainees.

CHARGE II: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 134
Specification: In that Lt. Col. William H. Steele, did, between on or about 31 October 2006 and 22 February 2007, having unauthorized possession of classified information, violate Title 18, United States Code, Section 793(e), by knowingly and willfully retaining the same and failing to deliver it to the officer or employee of the United States.

CHARGE III: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 133
Specification: In that Lt. Col. William H. Steele, did, between on or about 1 December 2005 and 11 December 2006, knowingly and wrongfully provide special privileges to and maintain an inappropriate relationship with an interpreter, wherein such acts constituted conduct unbecoming an officer in the armed forces.

CHARGE IV: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 92
Specification 3: In that Lt. Col. William H. Steele, having knowledge of a lawful order issued by the 89th Military Police Brigade Deputy Commander, did, on or about 22 February 2007, fail to obey the order.

The trial has been previously postponed twice. August and September trial dates were delayed to allow additional trial preparation. Lt. Col. Steele is expected to remain in confinement at the Theater Field Confinement Facility at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, until trial.

Charges against Lt. Col. Steele were referred to a general court-martial June 10. The remaining charges carry a maximum possible punishment of life imprisonment.

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