Judge spends night in jail with veteran

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina judge sentenced a retired Special Forces sergeant to a night in jail for violating probation but then spent the night in the cell with him.

Media outlets report that 41-year old Joe Serna, who suffers post-traumatic stress disorder after three tours in Afghanistan, was diverted to Cumberland County Veterans Court after being charged with driving under the influence and other traffic offenses.

He was told to stay sober and return to the court every two weeks.

But when he appeared before Judge Lou Olivera, a Gulf War veteran, on April 12 Serna admitted his last urinalysis had been positive.

Olivera sentenced him to a night in jail but the judge shared the cell with him. Serna said the two spent the hours talking about their military experiences.

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