Drill instructor sentenced in recruit abuse

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A military jury on Thursday sentenced a Marine drill instructor to six months in the brig and gave him a bad-conduct discharge for abusing 23 recruits.

Sgt. Jerrod M. Glass also received a reduction in rank to private and pay forfeiture. He had faced a maximum sentence of 10 years of confinement.

Former colleagues lined up to hug Glass and shake his hand after the verdict was read. Glass, 25, hugged his parents. His mother broke down in tears in the courtroom filed to capacity, mainly with Glass’ supporters, including some of the recruits he was accused of abusing.

Earlier, prosecutors recommended he spend two years in the brig and receive a bad-conduct discharge.

“You need to send the message this is not tolerated,” Marine Capt. Brent Sticker told jurors.

The instructor’s attorney had asked jurors to take into account Glass’ previous exemplary record and sentence him to 60 days of restricted duty and reduction to a rank of their choice.

“There’s ways to deal with Sgt. Glass without throwing him out,” Capt. Greg Jensen said.

“This wasn’t meaningless, senseless violence,” Jensen said of the alleged abuse. “It was done with the intent to assist [recruits].”

On Wednesday, Glass was found guilty of eight counts of cruelty and maltreatment, destruction of personal property, assault and violating orders on how to properly treat recruits. The jury deliberated two hours before handing down the sentence Thursday.