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U.S. Marine Gets Two Years in Prison for Disappearing in Iraq, Lebanon

A judge found the Marine guilty of desertion.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- A U.S. Marine who vanished a decade ago in Iraq has been sentenced to two years in prison for leaving his post and then fleeing to Lebanon after a brief return to the U.S.

As part of the sentence handed down Monday, Cpl. Wassef Hassoun will have a reduction in rank, loss of pay and a dishonorable discharge.

He was given two years and five days' confinement.

Earlier in the day, the judge at Camp Lejeune, Marine Maj. Nicholas Martz, had found Hassoun guilty of desertion for his disappearances in 2004 and 2005. He was also convicted of losing his service pistol.

Prosecutors argued that Hassoun made preparations to flee his base in Fallujah in 2004 and told others that he planned to leave.

The defense, meanwhile, maintained he was kidnapped by insurgents and said the prosecution's case was circumstantial.

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