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Camilo Mejia is a former member of the Florida National Guard charged with desertion after failing to return to his unit after an October furlough. He turned himself in during March 2004, when he claimed he did not want to fight in an "oil-driven war".
As of May 20, 2004 Mejia is under court-martial, and has claimed that he left his post in order to avoid duties that could be considered war crimes: more specifically, the abuse and torture of prisoners. His attorney, Ramsey Clark, claims that he is thus protected from desertion charges by international law.
On May 21 Mejia was convicted of desertion by a military jury and sentenced to the maximum penalty, a year in jail and a bad conduct discharge.
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