Soldier could avoid the death penalty after pleading guilty

wbir.com AP
A second Fort Campbell soldier pleaded guilty to the gang rape and murder of an Iraqi teenager.

Sergeant Paul Cortez told a military judge at the Army post he held down the girl and acted as lookout while three other soldiers attacked her.

In the plea agreement, Cortez said he conspired with Private First Class Jesse Spielman, Specialist James Barker and Steven Green, who has since been discharged, to rape of Abeer Qassim al-Janabi.

Colonel Stephen Henley will decide whether to accept the agreement.

Barker pleaded guilty in November and was sentenced to 90 years in prison.

Spielman and Bryan Howard await court-martial. Green is charged in federal court in Kentucky because he was discharged before the Army became aware of his suspected involvement.

All of the defendants are or were members of the 101st Airborne Division, which is based at Fort Campbell on the Tennessee-Kentucky state line near Clarksville.