Travis King to Plead Guilty to Desertion and Other Charges

Travis King, an American soldier stationed in South Korea, is set to plead guilty to five military offenses, including desertion and assault on a noncommissioned officer, according to his attorney, Franklin Rosenblatt.

The guilty plea is anticipated to take place during a general court-martial scheduled for September 20, where King will explain his actions, respond to questions from a military judge, and receive sentencing for his conduct.

Rosenblatt indicated that King will accept responsibility for his actions and enter a guilty plea, while he plans to plead not guilty to the remaining charges, which are expected to be dismissed.

The U.S. Army has confirmed the expectation of King’s guilty plea but has not provided further details on the specific charges he will admit to. Michelle McCaskill, spokesperson for the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, stated that the acceptance of King’s guilty plea will depend on the military judge’s approval.

After crossing into North Korea last year, King was held by the regime, which reported that he confessed to entering illegally. He was later expelled and returned to U.S. custody in September 2023.

Following his release, King faced multiple charges from the Army, including desertion and making unlawful statements, as well as possession of child pornography and assaulting fellow soldiers.

King’s mother, Claudine Gates, expressed her unconditional love and concern for her son’s mental health, emphasizing her belief that her son was not in a sound state of mind during his deployment.