COURT-MARTIAL Jury: Give soldier life in prison

The Muslim convert wept and apologized for his actions.
FORT LEWIS, Wash. (AP) -- A National Guardsman was convicted of what military officials said amounts to attempted treason for trying to aid Al-Qaida, and a jury recommended he be sentenced to life in prison.
The verdict in Spc. Ryan G. Anderson's court-martial, which began Monday, was announced late Thursday afternoon. The sentence recommendation came early today.
Anderson, a tank crewman whose 81st Armor Brigade unit is now in Iraq, was accused of trying to give terrorists information about U.S. troops' strength and tactics. The terrorists he thought he was meeting with were actually undercover federal agents, prosecutors said.
The 27-year-old Muslim convert, who did not testify during the guilt phase of his trial, took the stand Thursday evening in the penalty phase and wept, apologizing to his country and his family.
"I would rather give my life" than do anything to discredit the military, he told the jury of nine commissioned officers from Fort Lewis. He said he felt "really lousy" about his actions.
Mother's plea
His mother, Linda Tucker, struggled to breathe and talk through her tears. Extending her arms in a plea to jurors, she said, "Honest to goodness, if you could just look under the surface of Ryan, you'd see that he's not a bad person."
His father, Bruce Anderson, also testified on his behalf in the penalty proceeding as defense lawyers projected photos of Ryan Anderson as a child and a teen.
The jury deliberated about 4 1/2 hours Thursday before finding Anderson guilty. A two-thirds majority was needed to convict, but the vote was not announced.
Jurors deliberated another 3 1/2 hours before recommending early today that Anderson be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole and a dishonorable discharge. The post commander is expected to decide on a sentence in four to six months.