A Fort Bragg soldier was sentenced to 11 years confinement and a dishonorable discharge on Oct. 23, according to a news release from the 82nd Airborne Division.
Spc. Robert L Barnett III was found guilty of desertion and producing and viewing child pornography. He was reduced in grade from E4 to E1.
“The military court found that Barnett, age 35, engaged in lewd web camera exchanges with numerous female minors between Feb. and Oct. 2012,” said the news release. “On Oct. 16, 2013, Barnett deserted from his unit and fled the United States to the United Kingdom with his wife and children.”
Barnett was arrested May 31, 2019 with international cooperation between 82nd Airborne Division Staff Judge Advocate and Provost Marshal, U.S. Air Force Europe, the U.S. State Department, the British Ministry of Defence, and the London Metropolitan Police.
The 82nd Airborne Division Commander, Maj. Gen. James Mingus, praised his team’s “perseverance” and significant interagency and bilateral support that was instrumental to securing Barnett’s return.
Before his desertion, Barnett served for approximately one year as an Infantryman assigned to HHC, 2-325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. He was previously enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.
