Posted: Monday, January 12, 2009 12:00 am
Star-Tribune staff reports
A private in the Wyoming Army National Guard pleaded guilty Monday to being absent without leave after missing mandatory drills, including one to prepare soldiers for deployment overseas.
A judge sentenced Scott Andrew Hett, 18, to six months probation after the private said he was willing to report to future drills. Hett also received a six month suspended jail sentence.
Police arrested Hett on Friday at the Casper apartment of a relative.
"He was in Casper basically hiding out," said Maj. Francisco Romero with the Wyoming Army National Guard.
Hett's national guard unit is set to deploy to the Middle East in April. He didn't show up this weekend to a soldier readiness event in Casper designed to prepare for the deployment, Romero said.
Hett also missed a mandatory drill in December and missed half of a drill in November, according to a police affidavit.
Wyoming law allows civilian prosecutors to pursue charges against National Guard members in state court.