WSMV Channel 4 Fort Campbell soldier pleads guilty over Army property

Fort Campbell soldier pleads guilty over Army property

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. (AP) - A Fort Campbell soldier acquitted last year in a fatal northern Kentucky crash has pleaded guilty to having musical equipment belonging to the Army.

Defense attorney Paul J. Dickman says his 28-year-old client, Sgt. Riley Ealy, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property Wednesday in Grant County Circuit Court.

Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Crawford says prosecutors will recommend that Ealy be sentenced to five years. Ealy would have to serve six months and spend the remainder on probation, The Kentucky Enquirer reported. Sentencing will be next month.

Richard Kerns, Ealy's father, and Ealy's friend and fellow soldier, 26-year-old Evan Johur of Carlsbad, Calif., also pleaded guilty and will receive the same sentence.

Ealy was acquitted last March of second-degree manslaughter, first-degree wanton endangerment and drunken driving in a fatal 2009 wreck.

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