National Guard Deliberating What Action to Take Against Soldier with Sex Conviction

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma National Guard may soon initiate the process to discharge a Sayre soldier who deployed to Iraq from August 2008 to October 2009, despite being a convicted sex offender.

Lt. Col. Max Moss said Wednesday the process to discharge Johnathan James Sokoll, 27, had begun. However, he later retracted that statement because the process had not officially begun.

Sokoll pleaded guilty to a felony charge of Soliciting Sexual Conduct with a Minor in September 2007.

Moss said Sokoll didn't inform his chain of command of his conviction before deploying to Iraq with the 45th Fires Brigade, and was therefore able to deploy.

"His conviction is inconsistent with his ability to serve in the National Guard," Moss said.

More on News9.com: Soldier Deploys to Iraq Despite Sex Conviction