WEST

MARINE FOUND GUILTY IN ABUSE OF PRISONERS CAMP

PENDLETON, Calif. – A Marine reservist was found guilty yesterday of dereliction of duty and the abuse of prisoners last year at a makeshift detention camp in Iraq, but cleared of assaulting a 52-year-old Iraqi man who later died there. Marine Sergeant Gary Pittman’s wife cried as the military jury’s verdict was read following four hours of deliberation. Sergeant Pittman, wearing a khaki-and-green uniform adorned with his service ribbons, stood without reaction. Sergeant Pittman, 40, a federal prison guard in New York in his civilian life, was acquitted of the most serious charge, of karate-kicking 52-year-old Nagem Hatab in the chest shortly before the Iraqi was found dead in a dusty yard at the facility known as Camp Whitehorse. An autopsy found Hatab had six broken ribs, as well as several deep bruises, and apparently died from suffocation caused by a broken bone in his throat. Sergeant Pittman embraced his wife and defense attorney before leaving the courtroom accompanied by his brother, an Army major. He didn’t stop to speak with reporters. The jury was to begin sentencing deliberations today. Pittman could receive up nine months in a military prison and a bad-conduct discharge. – Associated Press REPORT: JACKSON PAID $2 MILLION TO ANOTHER ACCUSER LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson allegedly paid $2 million to the son of an employee at his Neverland Ranch in 1990 to stave off an accusation of child molestation, according to a report by “Dateline NBC.”

The television news magazine did not disclose its source for information about the reported payment, which was the subject of a segment to be broadcast Friday night.

In that segment, retired Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Thomas, now an NBC news analyst, said the accusation came to his office’s attention in 1993 as it investigated another boy’s claim.

That boy reportedly was paid $15 million to $20 million by Mr. Jackson to avoid charges he thought would damage his career even if proved untrue.

Mr. Jackson has denied ever harming any child and is currently fighting charges he molested a boy in 2003. Mr. Jackson’s lawyer, Thomas Mesereau Jr., did not immediately return a call yesterday.

– Associated Press

NORTHWEST

JURY CONVICTS SOLDIER OF TRYING TO AID AL QAEDA

FORT LEWIS, Wash. – A soldier accused of trying to give Al Qaeda information about American troops, including methods for killing soldiers, was found guilty yesterday on all five counts of trying to help the terrorist network. The verdict in Ryan Anderson’s court-martial, which began Monday, was announced late yesterday afternoon. Anderson, a tank crewman whose 81st Armor Brigade unit is now in Iraq, was accused of trying to give terrorists information about U.S. soldiers’ strength and tactics. The terrorists he though he was meeting with were actually undercover federal agents, prosecutors said. A military spokesman has said the charges amount to attempted treason. Conviction required agreement by two-thirds of the jury of nine commissioned officers – all from Fort Lewis. The jury vote was not immediately announced. Anderson, a 27-year-old Muslim convert, could face a maximum penalty of life in prison. The court took a brief recess after the verdict was announced, then planned to reconvene to consider his sentence.

– Associated Press

WASHINGTON

GOSS SAYS INTERROGATIONS REMAIN KEY TO WAR ON TERROR

Porter Goss, tapped as the next CIA director, says the Senate lacked “balance” in its public hearings investigating the Iraqi prison scandal and should not have plucked military commanders from the field to question them about the abuse.

Mr. Goss took a hard line on interrogations in interviews with the Associated Press earlier this year, saying “Gee you’re breaking my heart” to complaints that Arab men found it abusive to have women guards at the Guantanamo Bay terror camp – statements that could draw scrutiny during his Senate confirmation hearing, possibly next week.

During one interview in May, the eight-term House Republican from Florida said he couldn’t count the number of ongoing prison abuse investigations, but “we’ve got the circus in the Senate, which is always the likely place to look for the circus.”

“Even though I say that lightheartedly, I do honestly question whether or not they have balance over there on this issue,” said Mr. Goss, who has declined interviews since President Bush nominated him last month.

The comments are interesting not only because they show Mr. Goss’s more guarded approach to Congress’s key oversight role on intelligence matters, but also because of the criticism of his Senate colleagues, who will decide whether to confirm him as Bush’s intelligence chief.

– Associated Press

MIDWEST

BLAZE BURNS 4,000 ACRES IN BADLANDS

AMIDON,N.D.- A fire in the Badlands burned about 4,000 acres and sent flames 80 feet into the air yesterday, and fire officials feared the blaze could quickly grow because of high winds and drought conditions. “We have a very serious fire here,” said a Forest Service spokeswoman, Colleen Reinke. “The fire weather is expected to be very severe today. It is zero percent contained….In the worst-case scenario, this has the potential to go to 10,000 acres.” The fire, burning in a sparsely populated area full of dry grass and timber in southwestern North Dakota, began Wednesday afternoon. The fire was caused by people, although the exact cause was under investigation, said a ranger for the U.S. Forest Service, Ron Jablonski. Firefighters evacuated a lodge in the fire’s path yesterday. Mr. Reinke did not know how many people were involved. The forecast called for temperatures in the 80s and wind up to 25 mph, making the blaze very dangerous for firefighters, Mr. Reinke said.

– Associated Press