Politics & Government

Staff Sgt. Blaine Dugas Sentenced on Friday

Dugas pleads guilty to one charge, found guilty of second in connection to Pvt. Danny Chen's death.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. –Staff Sgt. Blaine Dugas, an infantryman assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, plead guilty to violating a lawful general order by wrongfully possessing and consuming alcohol and was found guilty by a military judge of one count of dereliction of duty during a court-martial.

Dugas was sentenced to reduction in grade from E-6 to E-5 and three months confinement with 90 days credited for pretrial confinement.

These charges pertain to the dereliction in the performance of his supervisory duties where Dugas failed to foster a climate where all are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of race and failing to prevent his subordinates from maltreatment and engaging in abusive conduct toward Pvt. Danny Chen. The second charge against Dugas involves him allegedly making a false statement to an investigating official regarding Chen’s death, claiming he wasn’t informed of the maltreatment.

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Two soldiers were sentenced last month and five other soldiers from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division face charges relating to Pvt. Danny Chen's death and will be tried by courts-martial in the coming months.

Sgt. Adam Holcomb was found guilty July 30 by a court-martial panel of two specifications of maltreatment and one specification of assault. He was sentenced to reduction in rank to E-4, forfeiture of pay equaling $1,181.55 and 30 days confinement.

Find out what's happening in Fort Braggwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Spc. Ryan Offutt was sentenced Aug. 13, to reduction in rank to E-1, confinement for 6 months and a bad conduct discharge for hazing and maltreatment, following as guilty plea.


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