Bergdahl faces judge

FORT BRAGG, NC — Wearing a dress blue uniform, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl faced a military judge Tuesday for the first time since the Army decided to proceed with a military trial that could result in a life sentence for his disappearance in Afghanistan in 2009.

Bergdahl (left, Tuesday), who was held by the Taliban for five years after he walked off a base, was arraigned during a short hearing on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, a relatively rare charge that carries the severe punishment.

If convicted of desertion, he could get up to five years in prison.

Bergdahl deferred entering a plea and did not decide whether he wants to face a courtmartial with a jury or one with just a judge.

He said little beyond answering “yes” and “no” to questions about whether he understood his rights and the court proceedings.

He appeared demure, sitting mostly still in his chair, then walking deliberately with his head down as he left the courtroom. He talked quietly with his military attorney before and after the hearing.

The next pretrial hearing was scheduled for Jan. 12 before Army Judge Col. Jeffery Nance, who will preside over future hearings in the case.

Bergdahl, 29, of Hailey, Idaho, walked off his post in eastern Afghanistan’s Paktika province on June 30, 2009.

He was released in late May 2014 as part of a prisoner swap, in exchange for five Guantanamo Bay detainees.

The move touched off a firestorm of criticism, with some in Congress accusing President Obama of jeopardizing the safety of the country for a single US prisoner.

A preliminary hearing officer initially recommended a special courtmartial, which is a misdemeanorlevel forum.

But earlier this month, the Army announced Bergdahl would face the more serious general courtmartial.