Charges dropped in Afghan probe

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – The Army on Friday dropped all charges against the fifth soldier it had accused of murdering Afghan civilians for sport during a 2010 deployment.

Spc. Michael Wagnon, 31, of Las Vegas, had been charged with the unlawful killing of one Afghan civilian in February 2010. He had been expected to go to trial in March.

In a statement, Joint Base Lewis-McChord said the charges were dismissed “in the interest of justice.”

An Army investigating officer had twice recommended that prosecutors dismiss the case against Wagnon.

Wagnon had testified that he shot at an Afghan on the day in question because he believed the man had fired at Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs.