COLORADO SPRINGS — A soldier who fled to Canada rather than fight in Iraq has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of desertion.
Pvt. Robin Long, 25, of Boise, Idaho, told a military judge at his sentencing Friday that he left the country over moral objections to what he called an illegal war.
Prosecutors argued Long abandoned his duty and his country.
Long was stationed at Fort Carson when he fled to Canada in 2005. Canadian authorities denied his request for refuge and deported him in July of this year.
Long reached an agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to desertion with intent to remain away permanently, a lesser charge than desertion with intent to shirk hazardous duty.
The Associated Press
