TENNESSEE ACCUSED SOLDIER ALSO SUSPECTED OF STEALING GOVERNMENT COMPUTER The Leaf Chronicle - www.theleafchronicle.com - Clarksville, TN


A soldier accused of shooting into a physical training formation on Fort Campbell in October has had his case referred to a general court-martial.

Pvt. Nicholas D. Mikel, 21, of DeBary, Fla., is assigned to the rear detachment of Company E, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. He faces charges of multiple attempted murder, attempted rape, multiple assaults, larceny and failing to register a deadly weapon.

Post officials announced Tuesday Mikel's case was sent to a court-martial.

Mikel's arraignment will be today, and during the proceeding, his formal charges will be read to him, and he will make his plea known to the military court.

Post officials said Mikel fired five shots from a .357-caliber handgun into the formation of fellow soldiers in his unit about 7 a.m. on Oct. 13. No one was injured.

The attempted rape charge stems from Oct. 12, when he tried to have a "romantic interlude" with a female soldier, officials have said. Mikel also is accused of stealing a government computer.

A Criminal Agency Division agent said during the Article 32 hearing in November that child pornography was found on a computer in Mikel's possession, but it was not disclosed if the images were on the stolen computer.

Additionally, Mikel is accused of failing to register a firearm with the post provost marshal.
Mikel has been confined pending the court-martial outcome recommended Thursday by garrison commander Col. Larry D. Ruggley.