US News
Second dog handler in Abu Ghraib case convicted
By DPA
Jun 2, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Washington - A US military jury on Thursday convicted a US soldier on charges related to the abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, a spokeswoman said.

Sergeant Santos Cardona, 35, was found guilty of dereliction of duty and aggravated assault and faces a maximum sentence of three- and-a-half years in prison, in a sentencing hearing scheduled to begin on Friday, Fort Meade spokeswoman Barbara Owens said.

The seven jurors acquitted him of charges of having a dog bite a prisoner and conspiracy. He could have faced more than 16 years in prison of convicted on all counts.

Cardona is the 11th US soldier convicted in connection to abuses at Abu Ghraib near Baghdad. Photos of abuse emerged in 2004, sparking worldwide outrage and badly damaged US credibility.

The dogs were used to pressure detainees during interrogations. Cardona was shown in photographs threatening naked detainees in a corner with his German shepherd.

Another dog handler, Michael Smith, was sentenced to six months in prison in March after his trial at Fort Meade, which lies just outside Washington.

The US Army last month charged Lieutenant Colonel Steven L Jordan, who oversaw interrogations at Abu Ghraib, in connection to the scandal. He is the first officer to face charges.