1st Lt. Michael Behenna

First Lt. Michael Behenna, 26, of Edmond, Okla., is serving a 15-year sentence for the death of Ali Mansur Mohamed.

After graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2006, Behenna sought a commission in the U.S. Army. After attending officer candidate school and infantry officer training, Behenna was selected to attend Army Ranger School. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division as the platoon leader for the 5th Platoon, Delta Company, of the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment. He deployed to Iraq in 2007.

Behenna’s platoon was returning to its base north of Baghdad on April 21, 2008, with two detainees when the convoy was hit by a roadside bomb. Spc. Adam Kohlhaas and Spc. Steven Christofferson were killed; several others were wounded.

On May 5, 2008, Behenna received information about a man believed to be responsible for the April 21 attack. Based on that information, Behenna’s platoon raided a house where they found Mansur, a cache of ammunition and a light machine gun. The platoon returned to base with Mansur and turned him over to officials for questioning.

Less than two weeks later, intelligence officials said they did not have sufficient evident to hold him longer and Mansur was ordered released. Behenna’s platoon was ordered to return Mansur to his home. On May 16, while waiting for a dust storm to clear, Behenna tried to question Mansur about the April 21 attack. Mansur was uncooperative; Behenna threatened Mansur with death if he refused to talk by the end of the day. After the storm cleared, Behenna ordered his platoon to stop and again questioned Mansur. Platoon members heard two gunshots; Mansur was dead. Behenna was charged with premeditated murder on July 31.

In February 2009, Behenna was found not guilty of premeditated murder, but guilty of a lesser offense of unpremeditated murder in a military court. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Behenna is appealing his verdict based material the prosecution withheld that would have corroborated Behenna’s account of the shooting as self-defense. Motions for mistrial also were filed; a military judge refused to declare a mistrial, but a military panel reviewed the case and reduced Behenna’s sentence to 20 years. Behenna’s family also appealed to the Army’s Clemency and Parole Board; Behenna’s sentence was again reduced, this time to 15 years. The case remains on appeal.

Learn more about Michael Behenna and his case at defendmichael.com.

Write to him at:
Michael Behenna
Inmate #87503
1300 N. Warehouse Road
Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027