The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

August 13, 2012

Trial set to open for man charged in soldier’s suicide

-----

GREENVILLE — The trial of a former Greenville soldier charged in the Oct. 3 death of a private while both were serving in Afghanistan is set to begin today at Fort Bragg, N.C., according to The Fayetteville Observer.

Spc. Ryan Offutt is one of eight soldiers charged in the death of 19-year-old Pvt. Danny Chen, who shot himself after what investigators say were weeks of physical abuse, humiliation and racial slurs.

An investigative hearing recommended that Offutt, 32, be court-martialed on charges including assault, negligent homicide, and reckless endangerment, a statement from U.S. military said.

When the charges were first made public, Offutt’s mother, Carol Tate of Sharon, told The Herald she believes there are things about the case that haven’t surfaced publicly.

Offutt, who has a criminal record in Mercer County, joined the Army in 2006 and served 14 months in Iraq before being deployed to Afghanistan.

Offutt was charged in 2001 with beating and trying to rape an ex-girlfriend in his Greenville home.

He pleaded guilty to indecent assault on a person with a mental disease or defect and simple assault for the attack. Offutt was sentenced to 4 months to 2 years in jail for the assault, served the minimum and was paroled in July 2002, according to court documents.

Offutt’s trial is the second in the case, which implicates seven other soldiers.

According to the Observer’s story, which was published Sunday, Sgt. Adam Holcomb was convicted last month of mistreating Chen days before Chen’s suicide, but he was acquitted of being a cause of Chen’s death. Holcomb was sentenced to 30 days in a military prison, demotion of one rank and forfeiture of more than $1,100 in pay.

All of the soldiers are in the 25th Infantry Division, which is based at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, but was under the command of the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan.

Offutt also is charged with reckless endangerment, three counts of assault, four counts of maltreatment of a subordinate and two counts of violation of a lawful general regulation, according to the Observer.

The newspaper also reported Offutt is accused of calling Chen derogatory names, kicking him and throwing rocks and water bottles at him. He also grabbed Chen by his vest and dragged him, court documents say.

Text Only
Local News
  • IUs could control special ed funding for cybers, rep says

    A state lawmaker has proposed that all special education services for cyber school students be funneled through the state’s regional educational intermediate units.

    May 25, 2013

  • Prosecutor doesn’t want kids to testify in person

    A man accused of raping three young children while he babysat them was “ready to go forward” with his preliminary hearing Thursday but the prosecution put the brakes on, arguing that the children shouldn’t have to testify in the man’s presence.

    May 24, 2013

  • Hearing in fatal shooting case delayed

    More than 20 family and friends gathered Thursday outside the Farrell district court of Judge Ronald Antos to support the man accused of shooting Andrew T. Walko to death on May 13.

    May 24, 2013

  • Ex-PTO officers in court on embezzlement charges

    Two women accused of stealing more than $35,000 from the Hermitage Parent-Teacher Organization turned themselves in at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Hermitage police station.

    May 24, 2013

  • Urban decay creates hazard for schoolkids

    Sharon schools Superintendent John Sarandrea shook his head Thursday afternoon as he surveyed a partially collapsed building across the street from Musser Elementary School.

    May 24, 2013

  • Voters choose 4 newcomers, unseating 2 board members

    Sharon residents likely will be seeing four new faces at school board meetings starting in December.

    May 23, 2013

  • Plan for Speedway station gets nod from commissioners

    Alan Baldarelli asked whether he could appeal Hermitage commissioners’ decision to approve a land-development plan for a Speedway gas station and convenience store, but did not say whether he planned to appeal.

    May 23, 2013

  • PTO officers charged with theft

    Hermitage police on Wednesday charged two officials of the Hermitage Parent-Teacher Organization with stealing more than $35,000 from the organization between May 2012 and March.

    May 23, 2013

  • Memorial Day events

    Area communities announced their Memorial Day commemorations for 2013.

    May 23, 2013

  • Was land feud motive?

    Ralph L. Young wanted to build some kind of ministry on the family property where he grew up in Franklin.

    May 23, 2013