Family, judge convinced of soldier’s innocence in sex assault case
The Killeen Daily Herald reports:
A judge gave hope to the family of a soldier convicted of sexual assault last week when he said he plans to recommend the conviction be overturned.
During the sentencing phase of Pfc. Thomas A. Chestnut’s court-martial July 2, Col. Gregory Gross said he researched how to overturn the conviction himself, but he couldn’t find a way to do it.
“I’ll recommend the convening authority overturn the conviction,” the judge said.
Chestnut was found guilty by a military jury June 24 of one specification of sexual assault and found not guilty of one specification of assault consummated by a battery. He was sentenced July 2 to three years in prison, reduction in rank to private and a dishonorable discharge.
