Fort Drum soldier gets up to life for killing pals

[unhappycamper]

Fort Drum soldier gets up to life for killing pals
October 29, 2010

WATERTOWN, N.Y.—A Fort Drum soldier who admitted stabbing two Army buddies to death at their apartment near their military post was sentenced Friday to 45 years to life in prison.

Spc. Joshua Hunter pleaded guilty last month to killing Waide James, 20, of Cocoa, Fla., and Diego Valbuena, 23, of Port Saint Lucie, Fla., in November at the duplex the three men shared near Fort Drum's main entrance.

The Watertown Daily Times reported that Hunter apologized for the killings when he was sentenced, but offered no explanation for the crimes.

"I'm sorry there is nothing I can say to make anybody feel better or make changes to what happened or what I did," he said. "I just hope that God is merciful enough to forgive me for what I did because there is no one else that can be blamed for this and I truly am sorry and they didn't deserve what they got."

The 20-year-old Hunter, who was raised in Ona, W.Va., pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in a deal to avoid life in prison without parole. He will be first eligible for parole in 45 years after drawing consecutive 22-year terms for the murder counts and an additional year for pleading guilty to holding his wife, Emily, against her will in October 2009.

[w8liftinglady]

1. Am I dreaming,or is this escalating?

you seem to hear more and more stories of troops killing/injuring their buddies and families...usually after they had done one or more tours in Iraq/Afghanistan.

[unhappycamper]

2. I'm seeing somewere between 3 ~ 10 stories a day about veterans in trouble with the law.

Killing people, waterboarding girlfriends, gang activity, etc. And many, if not most of the soldiers being charged have done time in the sandbox.

It's depressing. :(