FORT POLK - A general court-martial of Pvt. Robert L. Conrady concluded Friday afternoon after he was found guilty of multiple charges and sentenced to 35 years confinement at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Conrady was found guilty of raping two children, sodomizing one child, multiple indecent acts with two children and simple assault of one child, by a judge, Col. Victor Horton.

Throughout Conrady's trial each of his four victims testified to the abuse suffered by Conrady.


Each described how Conrady would touch them and perform sexual acts upon them.

Expert witnesses for both the Government and the defense also testified. After the guilty verdict was given and a brief recess, the sentencing trial began where Conrady addressed the court and the Judge.

“I am sorry for the pain I have caused,” began Conrady as he addressed the court, crying. “As a child I was sexually abused, but that doesn't excuse it.”



Conrady said that the court had found him guilty and that he wants help and he feels that he can receive that help while incarcerated.

“I am truly sorry ... and, I hope one day to make amends,” concluded Conrady.

He was the only witness that the defense called during the sentencing portion of the trial, but the Government had two of Conrady's victims along with others explain to the judge how the abuse will forever follow them and that they believe the only way to protect other children from him is for the private to be sent to prison.



One of Conrady's victims said, “I've been waiting for this to happen for so long. I never told anyone before this began,” she continued sobbing. “There is not a single day that I don't think about what he has done to me.”

Testimony from another witness chronicled the accounts when one of Conrady's victims, a juvenile under the age of 15, attempted to commit suicide by hanging.

During this portion of the trial, more than one of the attorneys and multiple witnesses and visitors of the court began crying and many exited the courtroom.



The child, unsuccessful in the suicide attempt, was hospitalized for 14 days in a mental hospital and was released only after medicated and evaluated to ensure there was no longer a danger.

This is the second sentence that Conrady has been dealt as a sex offender. His first general court-martial was held in Iraq where he plead guilty for possession of child pornography.

Conrady was sentenced to be reduced in grade from sergeant to private, to be confined for five years and to be discharged from military service with a Dishonorable Discharge.



As a part of his plea, a pre-trial agreement was reached dictating that he would only serve 18 months of the five-year confinement.

Conrady was also required to register as a sex offender.

After completing his 18 months of confinement in Fort Lewis, Wash., but prior to his scheduled Dishonorable Discharge, the newest allegations of sexual abuse were reported. Since the alleged abuse occurred on federal property he was retained by the U.S. Army and was incarcerated at the Beauregard Parish Jail awaiting trial.



The charges against Conrady are felony federal charges, and since he was found guilty and sentenced to confinement, he will serve the sentence at the United States Penitentiary at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

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