Private Travis King, a US Army soldier, is facing a slew of charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. These charges have been levied against him and set the stage for a significant legal battle in the wake of his release from North Korean custody in September. The array of charges encompasses crimes spanning from desertion, stemming from his escape to North Korea in July, to allegations of assault against fellow soldiers and solicitation of child pornography. These developments have emerged through documents obtained by Reuters and had not been previously reported.
The chargesheet against King reveals the complexity of his legal situation. The accusations extend to a wide range of misconduct, including an attempt to escape from US military custody in October 2022, months before his audacious flight to North Korea.
One of the more troubling charges alleges that King solicited a Snapchat user in July 2023 to "knowingly and willingly produce child pornography." In addition, he faces accusations of child pornography possession. Moreover, King is charged with insubordination for violating Army regulations by leaving his base after a curfew and consuming alcohol.
King's mother, Claudine Gates, has been vocally supportive of her son, emphasizing her belief in his innocence and requesting that he be afforded the presumption of innocence. She has raised concerns about her son's deployment and has sought answers regarding what transpired at Camp Humphreys.
The US Army had previously declined to comment on whether King would face disciplinary actions, asserting that their primary focus was ensuring that the soldier received the necessary care after his two-month captivity in North Korea.
King's journey from North Korea to the United States involved intricate behind-the-scenes negotiations, which ultimately led to his release in September. This operation was executed with the involvement of the Swedish government, which retrieved the King from North Korea and facilitated his transfer to the US ambassador in China. From there, he was flown to a military hospital in Texas, where he underwent medical evaluations, including assessments of his mental health.
While details regarding King's treatment during his North Korean detention remain limited, it has not been publicly disclosed why he fled to one of the world's most isolated nations on July 19. The mysteries surrounding his actions continue to puzzle both the public and legal authorities.
Notably, King's family has assembled a legal team to mount a defense on his behalf. This team includes Franklin Rosenblatt, who previously served as the lead military defense counsel during the court martial proceedings against Bowe Bergdahl. Bergdahl, an Army sergeant, had been held by the Taliban for five years after departing his post in Afghanistan in 2009.
Claudine Gates expressed her gratitude for the legal team representing her son, and she looks forward to him receiving his day in court. King's tumultuous history in the military also includes two allegations of assault in South Korea. He had previously pleaded guilty to charges of assault and destruction of public property, related to an incident where he damaged a police car while launching a profanity-laden tirade against Koreans.
In an unusual turn of events, instead of opting to pay a fine, King had chosen to serve more than a month in detention in South Korea. His journey took a surprising turn as he was en route to his home in the United States. At Seoul's international airport, he slipped away and ventured to the border region separating North and South Korea for a civilian tour. King seized a moment to bolt across the border into North Korea and was promptly taken into custody by North Korean authorities.
One of the central charges King faces is desertion. The Army contends that he left his position in the Army in South Korea with the intent of remaining permanently absent. This desertion continued until September 27, 2023.
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