Further, testimony was accepted by one man who was known to have previously given a false statement to the CID, and some of the testimony contradicted the laws of physics. This is important because Hatley was convicted solely on testimony, and that testimony was contradictory and inconsistent. At his trial, Hatley told his lawyer that five men were taken into custody, and his lawyer told him not to bring it up or they might just charge him with another murder. According to Hatley and several others on the patrol that day, five men – not four – were taken into custodyand released.
There were no bodies, no brass, and no evidence of a crime.
This was a routine scenario for American soldiers, and First Sergeant Hatley made the decision to take the five detained prisoners to the outskirts of their sector and release them, which, according to Hatley, they did without incident. Unfortunately, this effort culminated in a witch-hunt like frenzy that ultimately led to a myriad of questionable court-martials of soldiers who were simply carrying out their duties in combat situations and were not guilty of any wrongdoing. In April 2009, Hatley was sentenced to life, with the possibility of parole.
December 26, 1936 — October 18, 2024
A former Army first sergeant has been paroled following more than 11 years in prison for his role in the deaths of four Iraqi detainees in February 2008. Hatley was sentenced to life in prison with an opportunity freejohnhatley.com for parole, reduction to E-1, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances. This is despite the lack of any ballistic or forensic evidence but based solely on the testimony of a few soldiers who had taken pre-trial agreements in exchange for testimony leading to his conviction. Hatley pleaded not guilty to the crimes at his 2009 trial and continues to deny that the killings took place at all.
Area soldier convicted in death of detainees awaits clemency decision
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- To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John “Jack” C.
- In February 2009, Sergeant Leahy pled not guilty butwas found guilty of premeditated murder and was sentenced, as required by UCMJart.
- Further, testimony was accepted by one man who was known to have previously given a false statement to the CID, and some of the testimony contradicted the laws of physics.
- The Army told Hatley he could probably receive parole if he would only admit guilt and express remorse.
- CID also interviewed the neighbors of the surrounding areas who stated that no one from their neighborhood was missing.
- He was convicted by a 2009 Court Martial of murdering four Iraqi insurgent arrestees in Baghdad following a 2007 ambush and firefight, and dumping the bodies into a Baghdad canal.
- Hatley was also involved in the Army’s official criminal investigation into the article in The New Republic as necessitated by his position as the senior non-commissioned officer in Beauchamp’s company.
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Again, the only “evidence” was from compelled statements from a few soldiers who claimed that “four men of middle-eastern descent” were killed. The additional charges, which were either dismissed or for which Hatley was found “not guilty,” were all alleged by the same individual who was pending legal action that made the original allegations. Despite the verdict, former Company A members have remained loyal to Hatley. Additionally, CID conducted extensive interviews with the family members of the detained men who stated that no one from their family was missing. CID also interviewed the neighbors of the surrounding areas who stated that no one from their neighborhood was missing.
Central Texas soldier imprisoned 12 years for war crime gets married on day of release
- Coupled with the anomaly of the military’s incredibly high conviction rate in spite of a lack of evidence, this created fertile ground for the convictions of innocent soldiers.
- Granting parole does not alter a person’s conviction or guilty status, it is a means by which to release prisoners who have served a portion of their sentences and shown good conduct.
- A seven-man dive team searched the canal where the bodies were supposedly dumped found nothing.
- At the time of the murders the three American soldiers were assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion of the 18th Infantry Regiment.
- Hatley, unaware at the time of the tactics used in a military court-martial, trusted his counsel implicitly.
- In 2015, Blackmon had approved the parole of the co-accused soldiers, Leahy and Mayo, who had been convicted with the same culpability as Hatley.
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John Hatley resumes & CV records 43
This action can reasonably be viewed as an attempt to please their boss, which violates their obligation to give each case a full and fair evaluation. Again, there were no bodies, no names, no physical or forensic evidence—only the testimony of men with something to gain. If they testified as they were told by Army lawyers, they would receive a much better deal. Immunity was not granted, but his attorney had already given CID the file. All men in the patrol were interrogated intensely with some being threatened with life in prison. All of them but John Hatley took plea deals rather than risk “life in prison.” The threats were probably similar to what Lieutenant General Michael Flynn was subjected to by the FBI in the whole Russian collusion caper.
- There is a new deputy assistant secretary now, so Hatley, his family, attorneys, the congressional delegations and thousands of supporters around the country are hoping this time will be different and Hatley will be home in time for Thanksgiving.
- The exam tests candidates on elements of the commissioning process, as well as general understanding of building systems and how commissioning fits in with the construction process.
- The unit picked up the men, Cunningham said, and Hatley and Mayo suggested killing them to prevent the suspected insurgents from being released and posing a future threat.
- First Sgt. John Hatley, of Groesbeck, was released Friday and did not waste any time marrying Pamela Miller, whom he met while in prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
- In 2018, the same board that had granted parole in 2017, denied it on the basis that John had not taken responsibility for his actions (i.e., he hadn’t confessed to a crime he did not commit).
- Leavenworth for the premeditated murder of four men of Middle Eastern descent.
- He’s going to tell you the truth and the truth is he didn’t commit four murders,” said Gohmert.
John Hatley places of employment 24
- It’s shining more light on a tragic story,” said Rick Rand, Hatley’s brother-in-law.
- Finally, the man who owned the plot where the bodies were allegedly disposed of was also interviewed.
- Ten months after this event, Cunningham was facing two charges of striking a fellow NCO and one charge of threatening an officer with great bodily harm.
- Due to the extenuating circumstances of his trial, his honorable service, and impeccable record before and since the conviction, he is seeking a presidential pardon.
- The farmer who owned the land of the supposed killings said he knew of no one being killed.
- Mrs. Hatley now spends endless hours on the internet and the phone, mustering support for her husband’s release.
This is understandable considering the Army has a conviction rate of nearly 98% and the full weight of the US government behind them. Hatley was offered the same deal if he would roll over on his superior, but Hatley would neither plead guilty to something he didn’t do or falsely implicate someone else. Eventually, all of the men except Hatley made pretrial agreements to plead guilty. Sometime during March or April of 2007, a firefight occurred between First Sergeant Hatley’s unit and a group of Iraqi fighters. In the wake of the backlash, the Army upper echelon engaged in an effort to “prove” that they held US soldiers to high standards of engagement and accountability for their actions. Hatley has maintained his innocence since the beginning and has refused to waiver and compromise his honor.
First Sergeant John Hatley’s Release Celebrated
The pardons were opposed by military leaders including Defense Secretary Mark Esper who felt the move undermined their authority and threatened the “good order and discipline” in the military. John deployed the company for a second tour in 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Baghdad, Iraq. After deployment, he served approximately 12 months as the US Army Garrison Housing Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge in Schweinfurt, Germany. On October 16, 2020, John was finally paroled and released from Fort Leavenworth.
The continued tragedy of military fratricide hits Air Force Special Operations Training Center
- Hatley, unaware at the time of the tactics used in a military court-martial, trusted his counsel implicitly.
- The soldiers of Alpha Company st Army Infantry knew him to be the first into a hot spot and the last to come out.
- In 2015, Blackmon had approved the parole of the co-accused soldiers, Leahy and Mayo, who had been convicted with the same culpability as Hatley.
- A seven-man dive team searched the canal where the bodies were supposedly dumped found nothing.
- Granting parole does not alter a person’s conviction or guilty status, it is a means by which to release prisoners who have served a portion of their sentences and shown good conduct.
According to testimony this week and at previous courts-martial, four Iraqis were taken into custody in spring 2007 after an exchange of fire with Hatley’s unit. In an emotional closing statement earlier today, the career soldier urged the jury to let him complete 20 years of military service. Master Sgt. John Hatley, 40, also will have his rank reduced to private, forfeit all pay and receive a dishonorable discharge, a jury of eight Army officers and noncommissioned officers decided. John Hatley was a highly decorated combat veteran of nineteen years and six months military service.
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The family, however, finds comfort in the fact that his case has attracted a lot of high profile attention from people who aren’t likely to give up. The city will pause some pension contributions and spend one-time funds to prevent a $7.9 million deficit. Previous courts-martial related to the incident resulted in murder convictions of two other soldiers who served in Hatley’s unit.
Despite the rigorous efforts of the investigating team, they did not find one shred of physical or forensic evidence to suggest that any men were missing, much less killed. As the war dragged on, tens of thousands of jihadists who were taken prisoner during or after fire-fights in Baghdad went to the Detention Holding Area Annex (DHAA), which is military terminology for a jail. Astonishingly, the DHAA personnel released nearly all of them shortly after their arrests, for “lack of sufficient evidence to detain.” Most of the prisoners were released. That coupled with his client’s exemplary behavior while incarcerated for nearly a dozen years and testimony and letters of support likely played a large role in his parole being granted.
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The prosecutors were aware that “witnesses” could not agree on how many people were allegedly executed, but this did not deter them in seeking a conviction. According to CID, no bodies, no items of clothing, no personal belongings, no bone fragments, no bullets, or no casings were found. CID had one of the soldiers take them to the house where the five enemy fighters had been apprehended to interview the family members of the supposed victims. Ten months after this event, Cunningham was facing two charges of striking a fellow NCO and one charge of threatening an officer with great bodily harm.
Hatley received a dishonorable discharge to go along with his life sentence. You have to come to grips that sergeant Hatley is a man of such integrity that he’s not going to tell you what you want to hear. He’s going to tell you the truth and the truth is he didn’t commit four murders,” said Gohmert. It’s shining more light on a tragic story,” said Rick Rand, Hatley’s brother-in-law. “The kind of support out there for Hatley and the kind of guy he is, I can’t see any decision here would be anything but his release,” said retired Lt Col Colby Vokey, a criminal defense lawyer. This is the fourth time 1SG John Hatley’s case has come up for review and there is a growing number of people who are hoping the fourth time will be the charm and Hatley will be able to go back home to Groesbeck, Texas.
Some of our readers probably remember the alleged “canal killings” in 2009. The United States Army effectively created a depiction of First Sergeant (1SG) John E. Hatley as a cold-blooded killer who executed four Iraqis. The Army told Hatley he could probably receive parole if he would only admit guilt and express remorse. The key evidence was testimony from other soldiers who themselves were facing discipline for other reasons and could have been anxious to cut a deal.