Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller Jr. pleads guilty to all charges

October 14, 2021 carleyshaffer1 US 0

MIAMI - FEBRUARY 02: A judges gavel rests on top of a desk in the courtroom of the newly opened Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum February 3, 2009 in Miami, Florida. The museum is located in the only known structure in the nation that was designed, devoted to and operated as a separate station house and municipal court for African-Americans. In September 1944, the first black patrolmen were sworn in as emergency policemen to enforce the law in what was then called the "Central Negro District." The precinct building opened in May 1950 to provide a station house for the black policemen and a courtroom for black judges in which to adjudicate black defendants. The building operated from 1950 until its closing in 1963. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

A judges gavel rests on top of a desk in a courtroom. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 2:49 PM PT – Thursday, October 14, 2021

The decorated Marine who publicly criticized top military brass over the failed Afghanistan withdrawal pleaded guilty to all charges. Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller Jr. entered his plea on Thursday during a court martial hearing at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

In August, Scheller was relieved of his command after posting blistering videos on social media calling for accountability over the Afghanistan crisis. He was then thrown in the brig and spent a week in solitary confinement.

The 40-year-old pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor charges including disobeying a superior and conduct unbecoming of an officer. Scheller admitted he could’ve chosen to word his statements differently, but at times still defended what he had said.

“I have been fighting for 17 years. I am willing to throw it all away to say to my senior leaders, I demand accountability.” – Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller on the failures in Afghanistan that led to American servicemen dying. pic.twitter.com/JPH3nTctrG

— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) August 27, 2021

When asked by the judge why he acted the way he did, Scheller responded “a message of accountability was more important than the lawfulness of my behavior. I chose to speak out knowing it is unlawful in an effort to illustrate the hypocrisy of my senior leaders.”

Scheller’s lawyer hopes his punishment will be honorable discharge.