Records: Many recruits have history of legal troubles

Pvt. 1st Class Steven D. Green, accused of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and murdering her family, entered the Army with a criminal record for minor offenses that included possession of drug paraphernalia.

But a yearlong examination by The Sacramento Bee found that Green's court record was not the worst among former and current Midland residents applying for the military since the Iraq war began, and he's not the only one to later be charged with committing offenses in the military.

Unlike other courts approached by The Bee, the Midland Municipal Court retained records of all military requests for searches -- requests that are routine when someone applies to join the military. Those records provide a rare look at a microcosm of the more than 250,000 applicants for military service every year.

Of the 534 former and current Midland residents who applied to serve between January 2003 and July 2007, The Bee found, 150 had histories ranging from theft, traffic or alcohol offenses and failure to appear in court to more serious offenses such as sexual assault. Of those 150, at least 50 entered the military. Others were offered positions but did not enlist.

Among those who enlisted was a man with a history of inpatient treatment for mental illness. Others with records of drug possession, assault, theft and illegally carrying weapons. At least 10 had outstanding charges, fines or sentences when they applied for military service.

When Green applied for the Army in 2005, a court record noted that he owed outstanding fines and "must contact court immediately."

The following year in Iraq, Green got drunk before going to a house he'd previously visited, where he emerged from a room to tell fellow soldiers, "I just killed them. All are dead," according to an affidavit from an FBI agent.

Green was discharged from the Army "due to a personality disorder," the affidavit says. He was subsequently charged by a federal court in Kentucky with murdering and sexually assaulting Abeer Kassem Hamza al-Janabi and killing her parents and sibling. He was arrested in Marion, N.C., and arraigned in Charlotte.

Two months ago, Green's attorneys notified prosecutors that they may use insanity as a defense.

Texas produces more military recruits than any other state, and Midland is as patriotic as can be, the proud childhood home of President Bush. With a population slightly more than 80,000, Midland hosts an annual dinner to honor wounded war veterans from across the country, and people in military uniforms frequently find their restaurant tabs picked up by strangers.

Still, Midland presents unique recruiting challenges. Well-paying, entry-level oil field jobs are plentiful, so much so that the local sheriff has trouble finding deputies for positions paying about $30,000.

Sgt. 1st Class Shawn L. Miller, station commander for the local Army recruiting office, said that at the beginning of the war, he needed a revolving door to handle the seemingly endless line of applicants to the Army recruiting station. These days, his job is much harder.

"It's been pretty challenging," he said.

Drugs and alcohol

More than 100 of the 150 Midland applicants identified by The Bee with court and criminal records had drug or alcohol charges -- or both -- and at least 35 were accepted anyway.

The Marine Corps Recruiting Information Support System-Recruiting Station database shows that 64 Midland recruits applying between 2003 and 2007 required one or more waivers and that the largest number of waivers, 43, were for marijuana use.

Of the more than 30 people the Army checked through the Midland Municipal Court who did not enlist, at least two were allowed to sign contracts but dropped out, and the others were disqualified for excessive weight, medical issues or criminal histories, an Army spokesman said.