Marine who vanished in Iraq is jailed

A US marine who vanished a decade ago in Iraq was sentenced on Monday to two years in prison for leaving his post there and then fleeing to Lebanon after a brief return to the United States.

The judge at Camp Lejeune, Marine Major Nicholas Martz, ruled that Corporal Wassef Hassoun was guilty of deserting when he disappeared in 2004 and 2005. Hassoun was also convicted of causing the loss of his service pistol.

The corporal will get credit for the eight months he spent in pretrial confinement. Hassoun will also have his rank reduced, lose his pay and receive a dishonorable discharge as part of the sentence.