SAVANNAH, GA: A former U.S. Army 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 Harm or a Lethal Weapon, and Retaliation In opposition to a Witness Involving Bodily Harm, stated David H. Estes, U.S. Legal professional for the Southern District of Georgia. The phrases of the plea settlement, which U.S. District Court docket Decide R. Stan Baker will take into account at sentencing in deciding whether or not to just 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 america Uniformed Providers. 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. Army Colonel. “They’ll now be held accountable for his or her bloody conspiracy.”
In his prior responsible plea, Booker, a former U.S. Army sergeant, admitted he and Brown, a former U.S. Army specialist, mentioned “silencing” Specialist Austin J. Hawk, 21, at Fort Stewart Navy Reservation. Hawk’s subsequent homicide was in retaliation for Hawk reporting Brown to U.S. Army management for marijuana use that resulted in a preliminary inquiry for a court docket martial continuing in opposition to 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 health worker later famous that Hawk obtained 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 exceptional teamwork between the Division of the Army Felony 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. Army Felony Investigation Laboratory and the FBI Crime Lab analyzed tons of of items of proof, and the CID forensic science professionals that responded from numerous places 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 unprecedented quantity of paperwork, pictures, video recordings and digital information on this investigation.”
“Brown’s plea is a direct results of the laborious work and persistence put in by the FBI Savannah Resident Company and our companions on the U.S. Army 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 mates won’t ever be rid of the ache this mindless homicide has induced them, however hopefully it provides them some sense of resolve to know that justice will probably be served.”
The Division of the Army Felony Investigation Division and the FBI are investigating the case, which is being prosecuted for america by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Darron J. Hubbard.
U.S. Legal professional Estes additionally recommended the work of CID Forensic Science Technicians from Fort Stewart, Fort Bragg, Fort Gordon, and Fort Jackson; the analysts with the U.S. Army Felony 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.
