US player Travis King, accused of defecting to North Korea, pleaded guilty to desertion at a trial in his home country. The court sentenced him to twelve months in prison, which King's attorney announced Friday that because of King's guilty plea, he will not have to serve because of the prison sentence he has already served and his good behavior. “Travis will now be released and return home.”
“Hard Upbringing, Criminal Environment”
A total of 14 charges were brought against the ex-serviceman in a military court. In addition to fleeing, he pleaded guilty to four counts of insubordination, his lawyer said. According to the Army, the court acquitted Raja of the remaining nine charges as part of a plea deal.
“Travis King has faced significant challenges throughout his life, including a difficult upbringing, a criminal environment and mental health issues,” his lawyer said. “All of these factors compounded the difficulties he had in the military.”
Escape from prison after a fight and more
King is stationed in South Korea until the summer of 2023. He actually had to be flown to America because he got into a fight, had a run-in with the police and was in jail in South Korea. However, he managed to get out of the airport and join a tour of the Demilitarized Zone between South and North Korea. He crossed the highly secure border between the two countries marked only by a low concrete wall.
The communist regime in Pyongyang extradited him to the US in September 2023 – after lengthy behind-the-scenes negotiations. North Korea has cited racial discrimination against the king in the United States and its military as one of its motives for crossing the border.
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