Jeremy Sivits

Jeremy Charles Sivits (December 10, 1979 – January 16, 2022) was a United States Army reservist. He was one of several soldiers charged and convicted by the U.S. Army in connection with the 2003–2004 Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal in Baghdad, Iraq, during and after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Sivits was a member of the 372nd Military Police Company during this time.[1]

Jeremy Sivits
Birth nameJeremy Charles Sivits
Born(1979-12-10)December 10, 1979
Jonesboro, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedJanuary 16, 2022(2022-01-16) (aged 42)
Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service?–2004
RankPrivate
Unit372nd Military Police Company
Battles/warsOperation Iraqi Freedom
Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–2011

Sivits took photographs at the Abu Ghraib prison which became notorious after being aired on 60 Minutes II.[2][3] His father, Daniel Sivits, a former serviceman, said that he was trained as a mechanic, not a prison guard,[4] and that he "was just doing what he was told to do."[5] Sivits was the first soldier convicted in connection with the Abu Ghraib incidents.[6]

He died from COVID-19 in Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania, on January 16, 2022, at age 42, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania.[7]

Court martial

On May 5, 2004, Sivits was charged under Uniform Code of Military Justice with conspiracy to maltreat detainees, maltreatment of detainees, and dereliction of duty for negligently failing to protect detainees from abuse, cruelty and maltreatment.[8] His special court-martial was held on May 19, 2004, in Baghdad.

Sivits pleaded guilty and testified against some of his fellow soldiers.[9] Sivits' testimony included reporting seeing Charles Graner punching a naked detainee "with a closed fist so hard in the temple that it knocked the detainee unconscious."[10] Sivits also testified seeing Lynndie England stomping on the feet and hands of detainees with her boots.[9] Human Rights Watch and other human rights groups were not permitted to attend the trial.[11]

The court martial sentenced Sivits to the maximum sentence, one year of confinement, in addition to being discharged for bad conduct and demoted from specialist to private.[8]

In a 2018 interview, Sivits showed remorse for his actions, claiming "to hate himself".[12]

See also

References
  1. "Jeremy Sivits: Fired and Demoted?". 19 May 2004. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  2. Hannah Allam (May 9, 2004). "Coalition announces first court-martial in risoner abuse scandal". McClatchy DC.
  3. "Military trial is set in prisoner abuse case A military policeman from Penna. is the first to face a public court-martial in the scandal. His family said he took some of the photos at the Iraq prison". Philly.com. May 10, 2004.
  4. Joel Roberts (May 10, 2004). "Praise For Iraq Whistleblower". CBS News.
  5. Gregg Zoroya (May 18, 2004). "Hometown says soldier was always eager to please". USA Today.
  6. Jackie Spinner (May 20, 2004). "Soldier Gets 1 Year In Abuse of Iraqis". The Washington Post.
  7. "Jeremy Charles Sivits". 19 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  8. "US Soldier jailed for Iraq abuse". BBC. May 19, 2004.
  9. "Ex-Soldier Testifies in Abuse Hearing". The New York Times. August 31, 2004.
  10. Christian Davenport (May 14, 2004). "Accused soldier details prison abuse". The Seattle Times.
  11. Ian Fisher (May 20, 2004). "THE STRUGGLE FOR IRAQ: COURT-MARTIAL; On Arab TV, Gaza Strife Dims Trial". The New York Times.
  12. McKelvey, Tara (2018-05-16). "I hated myself for Abu Ghraib abuse". Retrieved 2019-10-23.
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