Timeline: Army Spc. Charles Graner
17 May 2004
by Anai Rhoads
 E-mail this article
AnaiRhoads.org - Army Spc. Charles Graner, along with his co-conspirator and lover,
Pfc. Lynndie England, have become household names around the world for their methods of interrogation at the now infamous Abu
Ghraib prison in Baghdad.
The photographs of the abused Iraqi prisoners showed a dark side which prompted some to delve into Graner's past. As with any
court case, prior criminal records and accusations are brought to light, helping the jury and judge reach an appropriate
sentence, if any. Most negative reports against defendants are detrimental to their case, this case being no different.
Graner's history of abuse did not suddenly surface in 2003 when he orchestrated the abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison, but
rather was part of a long, disappointing list.
Graner's Curriculum Vitae
- 1986 - Graduated High School in Whitehall, Pa.
- 1988 - Joined Marine reserves, trained as a military police officer
- 1991 - Served in the Persian Gulf War
- 1994 - Guard for a county jail
- 1996 - Left the county jail to be a guard at a maximum-security state prison in Waynesburg, Pa.
- 2002 - Fired from the maximum-security state prison job in 2000 for abusing sick-leave, rarely being on time for work
and for disobeying orders from superiors. Graner was disciplined six times along with three suspensions and three
reprimands.
- 2002 (December) - Transferred from the Army to the reserves
- 2003 (May-October) - Sent to Iraq to work as a military patrolman, then sent to the Abu Ghraib prison with the 372nd
Military Police Company
- 2003 - Developed a relationship with the not-yet divorced, Pfc. Lynndie England which resulted in a pregnancy
State Prison
Inmates at the Pennsylvania state prison complained that Graner was abusive to them, but a majority of the charges were denied in federal
court. Sharon D'Eletto, a prison spokeswoman, said at least seven grievances were filed against Graner by inmates but only two
of the seven led to lawsuits in the city of Pittsburgh.
Graner, with the help of other guards, took out their revenge on one of the inmates who filed the report by putting a razor
blade in the man's food. Others report that Graner slammed the handcuffed African-American prisoner on the floor while
calling him derrogoratory names.
Other inmates claim Graner spit in the prisoners' meals, targeted Muslims and Arabs as well as other minorities, was known to
assist in prisoner beatings, and called inmates "homosexuals" during their strip searches.
Abu Ghraib Prison
According to court papers, Spc. Jeremy Sivits testified that Graner forced Iraqi prisoners to masturbate, withheld meals,
attacked the detainees and in some cases beat them unconscious, as well as strategetically placed them in homo-erotic positions while
photographing them for his own amusement.
 US Spc. Charles Graner of the 372nd Military Police Company gesturing thumbs-up above the body of Manadel al-Jamadi, an Iraqi who died in U.S. custody at Abu Ghraib prison.
In one incident, a detainee who had been shot in the leg prior to being arrested was beaten by Graner as the prisoner pleaded for mercy.
The 35 year-old Graner was charged on 14 May with failure to treat the Abu Ghraib prisoners respectively under the Geneva
Convention, cruel intent and overall maltreatment. These charges, along with the charges against his lover Pfc. Lynndie
England have cast doubt on the Bush Administration's intentions in Iraq as well as caused a great deal of embarrassment to
the Army.
Graner's Personal Relationships
Ex-wife Staci Graner sought three separate court orders for Protection of Abuse against Graner during their divorce. Staci
filed after Graner trespassed onto her property, broke into her home, beat her then proceeded to videotape her.
Although the Graner's divorce became final in 2000, the latest Protection of Abuse order stayed active until March 2002.
While at the Abu Ghraib prison, he met the 21 year-old reservist, Pfc. Lynndie England, who would later be entangled in the
prison abuse scandal.
The Army also charged Graner with adultery for sleeping with England. Her divorce was final in January 2004, months after the affair
began. England, into her 5th month of pregnancy, says Graner is the father of her unborn child and that the
couple plan to marry.
England was adamant that Graner "forced" her to pose with the prisoners, which is later found to be
untrue as the couple amused themselves at the expense of the Iraqi men.
©2004 AnaiRhoads.org Reproduction must be authorised in writing only, and altering the
material and this copyright is prohibited and protected by international law.
| 
