Soldier accused of negligent homicide not guilty

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) – A military jury has found an Army sergeant not guilty of negligent homicide in the death of an Army private who killed himself in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Adam Holcomb was found guilty Monday on two lesser charges, maltreatment of a subordinate and assault. He faces a maximum of 2 1/2 years in prison.

The 10-member jury deliberated for two hours in military court at Fort Bragg Monday after hearing closing arguments.

Holcomb was the first of eight soldiers to be court-martialed for the alleged racial hazing of Pvt. Danny Chen, who killed himself last October.

Throughout the trial, the defense painted Chen as an incompetent soldier disowned by his family. Prosecutors said Holcomb abused Chen and drove him to suicide.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)