Accused Navy SEAL denies accusations

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - A Navy SEAL pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges related to the alleged mistreatment of an Iraqi suspect in the 2004 mutilation-slayings of four U.S. contractors.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan E. Keefe is one of three SEALs accused in the alleged incident, which also includes an assault charge against one of the special operations forces sailors.

Keefe, of Yorktown, entered his plea to charges of dereliction of duty and making a false official statement. He was arraigned before a military judge at Naval Station Norfolk.

An April 6 court-martial was tentatively scheduled.

The two other SEALs were arraigned earlier this month.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe is accused of striking the detainee in the midsection, dereliction of duty for failing to safeguard the detainee, and lying to investigators. He deferred entering a plea until his Jan. 19 trial.

Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas of Blue Island, Ill., pleaded not guilty plea to charges of dereliction of duty, lying to investigators and impeding an investigation. His trial was set for Jan. 11.

The charges against the three involve Ahmed Hashim Abed, who has been linked to the 2004 deaths of four Blackwater contractors who were mutilated before their bodies were hung from a bridge. McCabe is accused of punching Abed in the face after his September arrest, while the others are accused of falsifying statements on the episode.

The charges against the SEALs have sparked anger in some quarters, though the dozens of supporters who were outside the huge Navy base during the previous arraignments were absent Tuesday during Keefe's appearance.

Military officials have cautioned against prejudging the charges, saying a true picture will emerge when all the evidence is heard.

Members of Congress have also sent letters supporting the three men to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Army officials.

If they are convicted at trial, they could get up to a year in jail, a bad conduct discharge, or a loss of rank or pay.

The SEALs, based at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Norfolk, are not in custody.