Airman convicted of lesser charge in vault theft case

[unhappycamper]

Airman convicted of lesser charge in vault theft case
By Vince Little, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, November 14, 2008

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — A six-member jury panel found a Yokota airman guilty of wrongful appropriation late Thursday but cleared him of a more serious theft charge in a case in which more than $9,000 went missing from the 374th Comptroller Squadron’s vault.

Tech. Sgt. Craig Camacho, 38, who had pleaded not guilty, was expected to be sentenced Friday at his court-martial.

Camacho, an 18-year veteran, was accused of stealing the government funds for personal use between February and September 2007 when he worked as a deputy disbursing officer with the unit.

His civilian defense attorney, Michael Waddington, argued the prosecution overstated its case and said Camacho admitted to taking advances and paying them back.

"They say he took money with the intent of never paying that money back," Waddington told the court. "Not only did it not happen, but it’s impossible to steal money you’re liable for."


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58817