Army Charges Single Mom for Going AWOL

She faces prison time for refusing to deploy to Afghanistan
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 13, 2010 2:12 PM CST
Army Charges Single Mom for Going AWOL
Angelique Hughes, center, poses with her grandchild Kamani Hutchinson and a picture of her daughter, Kamani's mother, Spc. Alexis Hutchinson in her home in Oakland.   (AP Photo/Russel A. Daniels)

The Army has filed court-martial charges against Alexis Hutchinson, an Army cook who refused to deploy to Afghanistan because she couldn't find anyone to look after her 1-year-old son. Hutchinson, 21, is charged with "missing movement" and absence without leave, among other things, reports the Savannah Morning News. Missing movement, the most serious charge, carries a maximum sentence of up to 2 years in prison and a dishonorable discharge.

Hutchinson says she missed her deployment because a superior had told her that her son would have to go into foster care; original plans to have her mom watch her son fell through. Hutchinson's attorney said she still hoped that a trial can be avoided. "There are other routes if they really want to punish her," Rai Sue Sussman tells the AP.
(More Alexis Hutchinson stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X