US Army Pvt. Travis King to Plead Guilty to Charges After North Korea Incident
US Army Private Travis King is expected to plead guilty to several charges brought against him by the military, The Hill reports, citing his attorney, Franklin Rosenblatt.
The plea is scheduled for September 20 before a military judge at Fort Bliss, Texas.
King, who was deployed to South Korea, made headlines in July 2023 when he crossed into North Korea during a tour of a border town. After being returned to the United States, he faced a total of 14 charges for various alleged offenses. Sources indicate that King will plead guilty to five of these charges, including desertion, with the Army expected to dismiss the remaining charges following his plea.
“Travis is grateful to his friends and family who have supported him, and to all outside of his circle who did not pre-judge his case based on the initial allegations,” attorney Rosenblatt said in a statement.
The charges against King were announced in October 2023 and include allegations of unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement, possessing child pornography, and assaulting officers. The litigation process saw some speculation about a guilty plea when a hearing was canceled in July amid ongoing negotiations between the defense and prosecution.
