Holcomb gets demotion, 30 days in battery of soldier

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — An Army sergeant has been sentenced to 30 days in prison, forfeiting a month of pay and a demotion for his role in the alleged hazing and suicide of a fellow soldier.

A 10-member military jury today sentenced Sgt. Adam Holcomb of Youngstown, a day after he was convicted of maltreatment of a subordinate and assault consummated by battery, but cleared him of the most serious charge of negligent homicide.

Military prosecutors said Holcomb and seven other soldiers physically and emotionally abused 19-year-old Pvt. Danny Chen before he committed suicide. Their unit is based at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

The defense argued Chen was an incompetent soldier who killed himself because his family disowned him. The second of eight court-martials in Chen's death is scheduled for Aug. 13.