THE U.S. MILITARY ON SATURDAY ANNOUNCED IT HAD FILED CHARGES AGAINST TWO SOLDIERS IN THE FEBRUARY KILLING OF CIVILIAN NEAR RAMADI. IT SAID SPEC. NATHAN B. LYNN WAS CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER FOR ALLEGEDLY SHOOTING AN UNARMED MAN ON FEB. 15. LYNN AND SGT. MILTON ORTIZ, JR., BOTH OF THE 1ST BATTALION, 109TH INFANTRY (MECHANIZED) OF THE PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL GUARD, WERE EACH CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE FOR ALLEGEDLY CONSPIRING WITH ANOTHER SOLDIER WHO ALLEGEDLY PUT AN AK-47 NEAR THE BODY OF THE MAN IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT LOOK AS THOSE HE WAS AN INSURGENT. ORTIZ ALSO WAS CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF ASSAULT AND ONE COUNT OF COMMUNICATING A THREAT FOR A SEPARATE INCIDENT ON MARCH 8 WHEN HE ALLEGEDLY PLACED AN UNLOADED WEAPON AGAINST THE HEAD OF AN IRAQI MAN AND THREATENED TO SEND HIM TO PRISON, ACCORDING TO A MILITARY STATEMENT. BOTH SOLDIERS ARE BEING HELD IN BAGHDAD WHILE AWAITING ARTICLE 32 HEARINGS _ A DETERMINATION IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO PROCEED TO A COURT-MARTIAL, ACCORDING TO A REPORT OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
