Can they arrest this former soldier?

Federal prosecutors charged a veteran of the Iraq war with murder and rape Monday in connection with the killing of an Iraqi woman and 4 members of her family.

Steven D. Green, a 21-year-old former private first class who was discharged from the Army, appeared in a federal magistrate's courtroom in Charlotte Monday.

The charges grew out of a military investigation involving up to five soldiers in the March rape and killing of the woman in Mahmoudiya and three of her relatives.

( Note:...My question is:.....He is no longer in the military so how can they arrest him for something that happened 10,000 miles away and in a war zone. the Military should not be able to touch him. He no longer comes under the U.C.M.J.)

I'm glad that he was arrested and he should be tried and convicted of rape and murder. What he did should be considered a war crime. Are you saying that he shouldn't be? That's sickening! There have been people who have been tried and convicted of war crimes long after the war's over. He should be punshed to the fullest extent of the law.

priorsvcmarine

Hey may not fall under the U.C.M.J. currently, but he was when the crimes where committed, so, yes, they can prosecute him Federally.

flygrl16

That douchebag deserves anything henious coming his way. I hope that mofo gets it, but gest it real good:).

Truth

There is probably a statute of limitations that allows the military to pursue ex-soldiers indicted for crimes committed during their service.

AdamKadmon

YES! There is NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON MURDER IN THE U.S. Not only should they arrest him, they BETTER!

NukinHawg

He is being tried for what is esstntially a war crime. Just because you are discharged from the military does not remove clean your plate of indescretions you may perform while active. He is still accountable to the military and country for his actions while he was a member.

briang731/ bvincent

You're wrong about the UCMJ not having jurisdiction. The military can reach out years later to try a former GI for crimes he committed while in uniform. Civilian statute of limitations plays no part in the military's authority.

They certainly can. If his crime was commited while wearing the US Military Uniform he is still responsible for his actions. If he is proven guilty he should be punished no matter if he was in a war zone or not. He was under UCMJ at the time he commited his action.

eldertrouble

He can be charge under the UCMJ because he was in the service at the time and was named as a suspect in the murder. He can be "re-activated" and required to stand Court Martial for his alleged crimes because they happened while he was active in the Military.

c_jrose

Yes they can. Just because he's out of active duty dosen't mean he's out of unactive duty. Usually there is a time period after a person gets discharged from active duty when they are still in an inactive reserve component of some kind. This usually last from one to four years after. He can be called back at anytime during that time period for anything and prosecute him under the UCMJ.

But since it's for a murder charge even if he was COMPLETELY out they could still arrest him for that.

glen t

of course they can charge him for actions taken while in service. just getting a discharge does not give you a pass for crimes committed while on duty. the UCMJ covers anywhere a serviceman is and there's no staute of limitations on murder so the fact that it happened 10000 miles away, in a war zone, and some time ago in meaningless. he's on the hook and if guilty rightly so. other armies might rape and murder but our's doesn't condone it for a second.

BettyJetty

UCMJ or no UCMJ, i am sure he is in the inactive reserve, and that he can be tried, the statue of limitation hasent run out, so he should fry if he is proven guilty, and set free if it is a false acusation.

jesito_sascec

Maybe you're right, but they did arrest him. Not to sound sarcastic too much but they would not have if they thought he could get out of it so easily. But maybe they can't and in that case he should get off on that technicality.

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