SAVANNAH, GA: A former U.S. Military service member has admitted his involvement in a plot that led to the stabbing demise of a former fellow soldier whose physique was present in his Fort Stewart barracks room in June 2020.
Jordan Brown, 21, of St. Marys, Ga., awaits sentencing after coming into a plea of responsible to Assault Upon a U.S. Servicemember Involving Bodily Damage or a Lethal Weapon, and Retaliation Towards a Witness Involving Bodily Damage, stated David H. Estes, U.S. Legal professional for the Southern District of Georgia. The phrases of the plea settlement, which U.S. District Courtroom Decide R. Stan Baker will take into account at sentencing in deciding whether or not to simply accept the plea, topic Brown to a sentence of not lower than 198 months in jail, nor greater than 240 months, together with potential fines and restitution, adopted by three years of supervised launch upon completion of his jail time period. There isn’t a parole within the federal system.
Brown’s co-defendant, Byron Booker, 29, of Ludowici, Ga., awaits sentencing after beforehand pleading responsible to Premeditated Homicide of a Member of the USA Uniformed Companies. In accordance along with his plea settlement, Booker faces a compulsory minimal sentence of life in jail.
“The responsible pleas of those two defendants firmly set up their culpability within the despicable homicide of a former fellow soldier in retaliation for performing his duties as a service member,” stated U.S. Legal professional Estes, a retired U.S. Military Colonel. “They are going to now be held accountable for his or her bloody conspiracy.”
In his prior responsible plea, Booker, a former U.S. Military sergeant, admitted he and Brown, a former U.S. Military specialist, mentioned “silencing” Specialist Austin J. Hawk, 21, at Fort Stewart Army Reservation. Hawk’s subsequent homicide was in retaliation for Hawk reporting Brown to U.S. Military management for marijuana use that resulted in a preliminary inquiry for a court docket martial continuing towards Brown. After conspiring with Brown, Booker admitted that he gained entry to Hawk’s barracks room shortly after midnight on June 17, 2020, the place he “slashed and stabbed Hawk repeatedly with a sharp-edged weapon.” A medical expert later famous that Hawk acquired 40 separate stab or slash wounds.
Hawk’s physique was present in his Fort Stewart barracks room the subsequent day.
“The joint response by the Division of Protection and Division of Justice to this homicide exemplifies the outstanding teamwork between the Division of the Military Legal Investigation Division, FBI, and the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Southern District of Georgia,” stated Rusty Higgason, Assistant Particular Agent-in-Cost of the CID Southeast Subject Workplace. “The U.S. Military Legal Investigation Laboratory and the FBI Crime Lab analyzed a whole bunch of items of proof, and the CID forensic science professionals that responded from numerous areas to course of the location did a tremendous job. I’d additionally like to focus on the relentless, behind-the-scenes work by investigative analysts who meticulously reviewed a rare quantity of paperwork, pictures, video recordings and digital knowledge on this investigation.”
“Brown’s plea is a direct results of the exhausting work and persistence put in by the FBI Savannah Resident Company and our companions on the U.S. Military and the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Southern District of Georgia,” stated Keri Farley, Particular Agent in Cost of FBI Atlanta. “Hawk’s household and associates won’t ever be rid of the ache this mindless homicide has brought about them, however hopefully it offers them some sense of resolve to know that justice shall be served.”
The Division of the Military Legal Investigation Division and the FBI are investigating the case, which is being prosecuted for the USA by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Darron J. Hubbard.
U.S. Legal professional Estes additionally counseled the work of CID Forensic Science Technicians from Fort Stewart, Fort Bragg, Fort Gordon, and Fort Jackson; the analysts with the U.S. Military Legal Investigation Laboratory and the FBI Crime Lab; the Workplace of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner; the DOJ Cybercrime Lab; Bevel, Gardner & Associates, Inc.; and Peace River K9 Search and Rescue.
