European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 20, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday april 20 2007 stars and stripes pages most charges dropped against go accused of by Matt Moxham stars and stripes Mannheim charges levelled against a Soldier accused in the alleged gang initiation death of sgt Juwan Johnson in 2005 have been dismissed pc Bobby Morissette faced More than a half dozen of charges including involuntary manslaughter aggravated assault Haz ing and belonging to a gang these four charges As Well As a charge that Morrissette made a false official state ment were dismissed thursday the government now has 72 hours to Appeal the decision according to a us army Europe spokesman the reason for the dismissal said maj Jeremy Robinson Morrissette Lead de sense attorney was that prosecutors we rent Able to show that statements mor Rissette made after being granted testimonial immunity we rent being used against him Morrissette and another Soldier were Given testimonial immunity in december 2005 that meant that any truthful state ment Morissette gave could not be used against him if charges were later levelled against him both Morrissette and the other Soldier pvt florentine Gharris were interviewed More than once by army criminal investigators after they were Given immunity and the same investigator interviewed both men Robinson argued that the trial attorneys and criminal investigators might have used the soldiers testimonies to glean additional information by turning them against each other but that int allowed he said when a Soldier is Given testimonial immunity the government is supposed to create Safe guards to prevent such Cross Contarina Tion Robinson argued in this Case the government didst do any of that Robinson said he contends that army lawyers working for the prosecution and army criminal investigators were As a group exchanging information about the testimonies Given by the two soldiers Robinson argued that the government1 s Case against Morrissette who was thought to have been a member of the gangster disciples could have included information that came As a result of statements Morris Sette made while he had immunity the uniformed code of military Justice wont allow statements made under immunity to be used either directly or indirectly against a person later accused of a crime Morrissette is still charged with inde cent acts indecent language and two violations of a no Contact order but these charges carry far lighter penalties than the Dis missed charges Robinson said altogether the charges could have carried a sentence of up to 40 years the remaining charges carry fewer than 10 he said All the offences around sergeant Johnsons death Are no longer against specialist Morrissette Robinson said the government however can Appeal to have the charges reinstated prosecutors Are studying the judges Rul ing according to Bruce Anderson an army spokesman the government has Michael and stripes pc Bobby Morrissette leaves the staff judge advocates building on Kleber Kaseane in Kaiserslautern Germany where his article 32 hearing took place dec 6 the Soldier at right is not identified Many of the most serious charges against Morrissette were dropped thursday two Basic alternatives he wrote in an email to stars and stripes proceed with the remaining charges or Appeal the judges ruling to the army court of Crimi Nal appeals if that court rules in favor of the govern ment the charges might be brought to trial Anderson wrote Anderson also said that the ruling does not affect the charges pending against three others charged in the death staff sgt Alre l Hudson 41 of head quarters and Headquarters company 21st theater support command faces four charges in relation to Johnsons death in voluntary manslaughter hazing aggravated assault and conspiracy to violate army policy on hazing pfc Terrence a Norman 22 of head quarters and Headquarters company 29th support group faces six charges involuntary manslaughter hazing obstructing jus Tice aggravated assault conspiracy to Vio late army policy on hazing and making a false official statement sgt Rodney h Howell 30 also of hic 29th support group is confronted with five charges involuntary manslaughter hazing aggravated assault conspiracy to violate army policy on hazing and Mak ing a false official statement email Matt Millham at new training command chief expect More change Byset Robson stars and stripes Grafe Wohr Germany the fast Pace of changes to us army training programs in Europe will continue says the new chief of the joint multinational training command the a mys Premier overseas training facility Brig Gen David r Hogg 48 who took Over leadership of the command thursday from Brig Gen David g Perkins said his first focus will be upcoming rotations for several units headed on overseas missions change which has been rapid at Jmc Over the past few years will continue at a fast Pace added the Omaha neb native we cant afford not to change because the environment we Are in is constantly changing if you dont change you become a Dino Saur you cant afford not to be cause it is about soldiers lives he said when Perkins took command at Jmc in August 20051st in Fantry division tanks still sent rounds downrange in the training area while Bradley fighting vehicles ground their Way through the Forest nearby now the tanks Are Long gone re placed by infantry from the 2nd cavalry Stryker regiment and other Europe based units that use the same ranges to train for the War on terrorism at the change of command Cere Mony Perkins had to speak Over the sound of builders hammering away on some of the Many new facilities that have sprouted up at Grafe Wohr to Cater to thousands of troops due to arrive from other parts of Germany Over the next few years Perkins said the exercise at Hohenfels joint multinational readiness Center last month was a Good example of the Way the training Center has changed soldiers Parade in front of their new Headquarters in Grafe Wohr Germany at a ceremony thursday to change Leader ship of the joint multinational training command Seth Robson stars and stripes the exercise was the largest at Hohenfels involving More than 6000 troops from the Ira bound 12th combat aviation brigade and the Afghanistan bound 173rd airborne brigade As Well As 1st infantry division military Transi Tion teams headed to Afghani Stan troops from Poland Bulgaria and Afghanistan plus police and staff from a combat surgical Hospital also took part it was really a great example of everything we tried to bring to Gether in the last couple of years said Perkins adding that the exercise looked a lot like what the 173rd will face in Afghani Stan each time we do it run a train ing it gets More com plex we want to have the Maxi mum amount of participation of the elements the soldiers will see downrange when a Soldier gets off the plane in Iraq or Afghani Stan it should be very similar to what they saw in training with no big surprises he said speaking at the ceremony per Kins praised the Jmc trainers for their efforts you Are the last source of Good ideas before they deploying troops go Forth to face our ene Mies around the world you influence thousands upon thousands of individuals it is not Long be fore they Start pulling those Spe Cial skills out and Start using them on the Battlefield and be cause of that thousands upon thou Sands of them return Home and re unite with their families he said email Seth Robson at