U.S. Army Private Travis King, who traveled to North Korea last year, pleaded guilty to charges of desertion, assault and disobeying orders, the Army said. said Friday blog post.
King pleaded guilty to three counts of insubordination to a superior officer, one count of desertion and one count of assault on a non-commissioned officer. His arraignment took place Friday before a military court at Fort Bliss, Texas.
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, with the Army saying time already served since his arrest and release in the U.S. will count toward his sentence. He was also demoted to E1, the lowest rank in the Army, and given a dishonorable discharge.
“The outcome of today's court-martial is a fair and just result that reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed by Private King and will promote good order and discipline within the U.S. military by deterring service members from committing similar crimes in the future,” prosecutor Maj. Allison Montgomery said in a statement.
King, 24, was deployed to South Korea and was due to return home in July last year, but encountered North Korea while inspecting a border town. After returning home in October 2023, King was indicted on 14 charges for various alleged violations.
Attorney Franklin Rosenblatt said nine charges will be dropped as part of the guilty plea.
King was being held at the Otero County Jail in New Mexico prior to his court appearance on Friday. It is unclear whether he will remain there.
“Travis King has faced significant challenges throughout his life, including a difficult upbringing, exposure to a criminal environment and struggles with his mental health,” Rosenblatt said Friday night. statement“All of these factors compound the challenges he faced in the military.”
“While he accepted responsibility at his court-martial today, make no mistake: the negative public perception and ongoing repercussions of his actions, as well as the incarceration he has endured, represent a punishment Travis King will continue to endure for the rest of his life,” he added.
