There were recommended for four more soldiers accused of persecuting Manhattan Pvt Danny Chen at his death, but they will not be prosecuted for manslaughter.
Instead, the Quartet a minor but still faces serious allegations which could result in conviction, imprisonment, military said.
Immigrant parents of Chen living on the Lower East Side, had to deal with the latest development in the case Tuesday following tragic.
In January, family friends crying coverup after army investigators dropped manslaughter charges against one of the alleged ringleaders, Offutt Spc. Ryan.
Staff Sgt. Andrew VanBockel, Sgt Jeffrey Hurst, Sgt Adam Holcomb and Spc. Thomas Curtis will be prosecuted for charges including dereliction of duty, maltreatment, remiss, murder, assault, reckless endangerment, communicating a threat and violation of the General Regulation, the military said Tuesday.
The judgment is the equivalent of an indictment in a civilian court, the army said.
Chen, 19, who dreamed of joining the NYPD, ended months of merciless derision and hazing for his Chinese ancestry in October when he shot himself while in a watchtower in Afghanistan.
With Chen family and Chinese-American activists demanding action, the army eased eight soldiers of their duties and ordered administrative hearings to determine the final charges against them.
Offutt, who had been accused of attempted rape before he joined in 2006, was the first to be formally charged. Tried to
negligent homicide, assault and reckless endangerment.
First Lieutenant Daniel Schwartz, the ranking officer accused of looking the other way while his soldiers abused Chen, accuses faces eight counts of dereliction of duty.
Prosecutors also recommended Sgt Travis Carden, who allegedly participated in the abuse, will be pursued on all charges he faced, including violating a lawful general regulation, ill-treatment and assault.
A decision about the eighth soldier, Staff Sgt. Blaine Dugas, is pending.
All soldiers accused are all based in Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
csiemaszko@nydailynews.com
