Army Pilot Pleads Guilty, Says He Was Showing off Before Fatal Helicopter

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBL6W02E8E.html

Army Pilot Pleads Guilty, Says He Was Showing off Before Fatal Helicopter Crash in Afghanistan

WHEELER ARMY AIR FIELD, Hawaii (AP) - An Army helicopter pilot pleaded guilty to negligent homicide on Thursday, admitting he was showing off before his Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Afghanistan last year and killed the crew chief.

Under a plea agreement, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Darrin R. Rogers, 37, was sentenced to 120 days at Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas and forfeiture of all pay and allowances. He also must retire from the Army but will retain his pension.

Judge Col. Debra Boudreau had sentenced Rogers to four years and two months imprisonment, forfeiture of all pay and dismissal from the Army.

The plea agreement, however, superseded Boudreau's sentence because it capped the maximum punishment for Rogers.

[Catch22Dem]

1. What a foolish thing for a career warrant officer to do...

However, I'd bet my house the rest of the guys on the helicopter were egging him on, including the one who was killed. It's horribly tragic, but I certainly don't think he's a murderer here. I agree he should be punished for terrible decision making that led to the death of another.

[sendero]

2. It sounds like..

.... a reasonably fair resolution to me.

You know what I like? The guy is admitting the ugly truth instead of trying to spin and hide and make excuses. That goes a long way with me - he did something wrong, he admits it, he accepts his punishment.

Someone send a link to Tom Delay.

[Jacobin]

3. He's 37 and was showing off

That's a pretty mature age chronologically for him to be acting that way.