European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 24, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 stars and stripes saturday March 24 2007 go found guilty after wife moped death Humphreys Soldier jailed discharged for negligence in deadly Accident by Franklin Fisher stars and stripes Camp Humphreys South Korea a Soldier whose admit Ted negligence with a moped led to the death of his wife was sentenced thursday to seven months in prison and a bad conduct Dis charge during a grief fraught court martial at Camp Humphreys pfc Jaime d Gonzalez 23 also was sentenced to reduction to pay Grade Al and forfeiture of All pay and allowances Hes As signed to company a 304th Sig Nal battalion at Camp Humphreys in a Yongtaek the Case stemmed from a june 2006 moped Accident near Camp Humphreys in which Gonzalez Al Lowed his wife Elizabeth to ride As a passenger even though the moped was meant for Only one rider when the moped Over turned she sustained head injuries from which she later died when we got into that Acci Dent that night my whole world just stopped a tearful Gonzalez told the judge during an unworn pre sentencing statement every goal every dream i Ever had revolved around my wife throughout thursday morn Ings proceedings Gonzalez wept continually and his voice broke often prosecutors initially charged Gonzalez with manslaughter violating government regulations and making a false offi Cial statement a charge that was later dismissed but under a pretrial agreement Gonzalez guilty to negligent homicide and three counts of violating govern ment regulations driving an unregistered moped allowing a Sec Ond person to ride on it and driving it without a License army col Gregory Gross chief judge for the 6th judicial circuit imposed the sentence after deliberating about an hour the night of june 11 the Cou ple had been drinking at several clubs near Camp Humphreys and decided to go with other soldiers to an of Post residence of a Diers acquaintance Gonzalez had had a few drinks and his wife was heavily intoxicated the prose 41 when we got into that Accident that night my whole world just stopped pfc Jaime d Gonzalez company a 304th signal battalion pleaded cution said the soldiers got into a taxi headed for the residence and the couple followed it on the squat red moped Gonzalez had bought the Day before Gonzalez was wearing a Hel met his wife was not when the moped overturned Gonzalez suffered scrapes and bruises his wife head struck the pavement and she died from head injuries july 26 after weeks of hospitalization i will regret that every Day of my life Gonzalez told Gross i Wake up thinking it was just a bad dream i have to live with this for the rest of my life he told Gross that he first saw the woman who would become his wife in a Church in Florida and was so taken with her he later went through the Days visitors cards to learn who she was he called her and they soon grew close talking stay ing up late walks along the Beach in Florida he said Gonzalez asked Gross to spare him a jail sentence and allow him to go Home to his family emotions in the courtroom ran High again during testimony from the wife father Edward Rodriguez of Florida i didst know How to Deal with it i Felt helpless he testified his voice quavering but though he at first tried to blame Gonzalez he has forgiven him he said in part for the Way he stood by his wife during her on going struggle with Lupus he honoured her and loved her Rodriguez said whenever she was sick whenever she went to the Hospital he was by her Side he never left for that i Honor him prosecutor capt Joon k Hong who co chaired with capt Justin a Evison told Gross the Case is not about How much Gonzalez has suffered from the death of his wife it is a matter of holding a him accountable for negligence and flouting of regulations but the defense team of capt Patrick Davis and capt Jack h to asked Gross to impose no jail term or discharge if there was Ever a Case for mercy this is that Case Davis told Gross after sentencing Gonzalez was taken to the Camp Humphreys jail email Franklin Fisher at 1200 from so Smeu extended on Okinawa by Jeff Schogol stars and stripes Arlington a the Marine corps has extended about 1200 marines and sail ors temporarily attached to the Okina abased 31st Marine expeditionary unit corps officials said thursday the marines and sailors will stay in the Pacific to give other Marine units the time they need in the United states to train for Iraq the affected troops had been expected to return Home in August but now will be extended five months until january officials said the following units have been extended 2nd battalion 1st Marine regiment based in Camp Pendleton Calif Battery e 2nd battalion Lith Marine regiment based in Camp Pendleton 2nd platoon company c 3rd Light a Mored reconnaissance battalion from Twenty nine Palms Calif 4th platoon company a 3rd amphibious assault battalion from Camp Pendle ton Marine attack Squadron 214 based in Yuma Ariz detachment Marine heavy helicopter Squadron 462 from Miramar Calif detachment Marine Light attack Squadron 267 from Camp Pendleton by keeping these marines in the Pacific longer other marines who had been slated to replace them will now have the requisite time they need to train for Iraq and will not have to break dwell time or the time ser Vic members spend at their Home bases be tween combat Tours corps officials said Cindy and stripes Lance Cpl Sean Omara 20 from Albuquerque no provides Security with a 2406 machine gun at the Edge of combat town in the Central training area last month some 1200 marines with the 31st Marine expeditionary unit will have their attachment extended by five months currently Marine units spend seven months in combat and seven months at Home but corps commandant Gen James Conway has said he wants to expand the corps to give marines 14 months off be tween Tours the Extension is separate from the corps ongoing review of whether marines should be permanently stationed on Okinawa in oneyear unaccompanied Tours corps officials said extending the marines for five months essentially skips a rotation to Okinawa said capt Burrell Parmer a spokesman for the 31st Meu Parmer said he did not know if the marines will get any bonuses or other form of compensation for being extended the extended marines who Are now training in South Korea were informed a few Days ago that their stay in the Pacific would be longer than expected he said Parmer called the Extension a morale Booster saying when marines anywhere get extended they get excited email Jeff Schogol at real estate brokers must be certified by to Flack stars and stripes Seoul of base realtors Are not Al Lowed to use uncertified brokers in their businesses local officials clarified thurs Day late last week an official with the land Register division of Yon san District of fice told stars and stripes that it was not illegal for an uncertified broker to work a housing contract and allow a certified Bro Ker to later sign the final Deal after the Story was published on March 20 an organization consisting of realtors authorized to conduct business with the us military Community in area ii delivered a letter to the Yon san District office complaining about the inaccurate information provided to stripes in your judgment do you consider the example and Content quoted in the above mentioned article Legal the realtors asked the Yon san office in the letter in a faxed response to the questions which the realtors provided to stripes the Yon san office confirmed the practice is illegal and violates the Laws governing real estate transactions a Yon san District official confirmed that the initial information his office provided was incorrect area ii officials said they Cut the list of approved brokers from 60 to 21 on March 2 following allegations of bribery kick backs and fraud under a new set of conditions approved companies must have brokers who can speak English hold a real estate certification sign nondiscrimination and ethical practice declarations and Complete other paperwork Hwang Harrym contributed to this report email the Korea Bureau at