Conscientious objector Spc. Agustin Aguayo will enter a plea February 2nd and begin trial March 6th in Wurzburg, Germany. So ordered a military judge on January 25th, Stars and Stripes reports. Charges against Aguayo include desertion which carries a possible penalty of seven years. Latest pretrial negotiations.

The Army is proceeding with this court martial despite precedents which give regular federal courts jurisdiction over CO cases. Aguayo carried this issue to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and his attorneys say that the decision of the D.C. Circuit Court will likely "influence the willingness" of the U.S. judiciary to rein in "the executive's refusal to honor the right of U.S. military personnel to exercise their freedom of religion...." The case was argued in Washington late last year and a decision is pending.

Courage to Resist is working in support of Spc. Agustin Aguayo.

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