By AP
Fort Campbell, KY – Prosecutors opened the court martial of an army soldier accused of carjacking a sheik in Iraq by accusing the sergeant of plotting a cover-up.
Sergeant First Class James Williams is charged with armed robbery and willful dereliction of duty. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
Prosecutors say he forcefully took a sheik's SUV then met with platoon members to try and hide the crime.
Williams' attorney says he properly took the vehicle in April 2003 under rules of engagement. The attorney says those rules allow personal property to be taken for military use.
In this case, it's alleged Williams' Lieutenant instructed his soldiers to find him a vehicle, then plotted the cover-up after they did not leave a receipt for the SUV.