Seventh Soldier In Danny Chen Abuse Case Receives Mix of Verdicts

Staff Sargent Andrew J. Van Bockel, the seventh soldier courtmartialed in association with Private Danny Chen’s suicide, received a mix of verdicts on November 20. He was convicted of hazing Chen, allowing Chen to be hazed, and maltreating Chen by calling him racist names and making him speak Chinese instead of English.  He was found innocent of maltreating Chen by making him do a low crawl and tying sandbags to his arms. Van Bockel was demoted, reprimanded, and sentenced to 60 days hard labor for his guilty verdicts.