U.S. Army Private Travis King plans to plead guilty to several charges brought against him by the military, his lawyer said.
King had been deployed to South Korea but was scheduled to return home in July 2023 after encountering North Korea while inspecting a border town.
King faces 14 charges related to various criminal offenses and is expected to plead guilty to five of them on September 20 in a military court at Fort Bliss, Texas, according to his lawyer, Franklin Rosenblatt.
Rosenblatt added that after he pleaded guilty to charges including desertion at a court-martial, the Army would drop the other charges he faces.
“Travis is grateful to his friends and family for their support and to all those around him who did not prejudge his case based on initial allegations,” his lawyers said in a statement.
The Hill has reached out to the Army for comment.
In October 2023, about a month after being extradited from North Korea to the United States, King was indicted on charges including illegal possession of alcohol, making false statements, possession of child pornography and assaulting a police officer.
There was speculation that King might plead guilty, but the trial was halted in July amid negotiations between the defense and prosecution.
