FORT LEWIS, Wash. — Neither mental disorders nor claims of good intent were enough to spare a National Guardsman from being convicted of attempted treason or a recommended sentence of life in life prison.
Spc. Ryan G. Anderson, 27, a tank crew member whose 81st Armor Brigade unit is in Iraq, was convicted late Thursday on all five counts of trying to give al-Qaida terrorist network information on U.S. troop strength, tactics and vulnerabilities.
Early Friday the same nine commissioned officers from Fort Lewis who had found him guilty recommended a life prison term with the possibility of parole and a dishonorable discharge.
Anderson, a Muslim convert, sat nearly motionless without any change of facial expression as the recommendation was announced. His mother, Linda Tucker, wept quietly and wiped her eyes with a tissue.
Military officials said it was unclear what he would have to do to win parole or how long that process could take.
The offenses were described as tantamount to attempted treason. Army officials said a sentencing decision is at least four months away.
Witnesses testified that Anderson adopted the name Amir Abdul Rashid in communications on extremist Web sites that brought him to the attention of investigators.
In a secretly recorded videotape that was played to the jury, he also told undercover agents posing as terrorists how to damage the M1A1 Abrams, the Army’s primary battle tank, and kill American soldiers.
In closing arguments Thursday, the Army prosecutor, Maj. Melvin Jenks said Anderson was clear about his intentions in cellular phone text messages, e-mails and meetings with the people he thought were terrorists.
“It shows that … the information he has he’s willing to share it with al-Qaida,” Jenks told jurors.
“See Amir Abdul Rashid for what he is,” Jenks said. “A traitor. A traitor who betrayed our country, a traitor who betrayed our Army and a traitor who betrayed our fellow soldiers.”
Defense lawyer Maj. Joseph Morse argued that prosecutors failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Anderson intended to help al-Qaida, saying his client was too mentally disturbed to form the criminal intent required for conviction.
Anderson’s grandiose ideas, actions and tendency to ramble reflected disorders that, according to testimony, include bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, and Asperger’s syndrome, a relatively mild form of autism that impairs cognitive and social functioning, Morse said.
“We’re not saying he doesn’t know right from wrong,” Morse contended. “It’s like his good-idea filter is broken.”
At the announcement of the verdict, Anderson’s father, Bruce Anderson, reached over and placed a hand on the back of his son’s wife, Erin, who sobbed quietly.
The panel deliberated about 4 1/2 hours on the verdict and 3 1/2 hours on the sentencing recommendation. The vote counts were not announced, but a two-thirds majority was needed to convict.
Anderson, who did not testify in the penalty phase, made a tearful plea for leniency in the sentencing phase, saying he felt “really lousy” about what he had done and apologizing to his country and his family.
“I would rather give my life” than do anything to discredit the military, he said.
Tucker, who also testified in his behalf, struggled to breathe and talk through her tears as she extended her arms to the jury.
“Honest to goodness, if you could just look under the surface of Ryan, you’d see that he’s not a bad person,” she said.
Anderson’s father also testified on his behalf as defense lawyers projected photos of the young man as a child and teenager.
Anderson’s defense team has 10 days to review the trial record, which then must go through further reviews lasting four to six months before a sentence is determined, Army Lt. Col. Bill Costello said.
The sentence is up to the post commander, currently Lt. Gen. Edward Soriano, who is scheduled to leave in November, so the decision will be up to his replacement Maj. Gen. James Dubik, Costello said.
Whatever Anderson’s sentence, he will receive credit for 203 days in jail since his arrest Feb. 12.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
