Charges referred against Hill Airman in Syria bombing case

  • Published
  • 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Charges have been referred to a general court-martial against Tech. Sgt. David W. Dezwaan, Jr., 75th Air Base Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) for: destroying military property, reckless endangerment, and aggravated assault.

Dezwaan is accused of making and detonating bombs at a U.S. military base in Syria. He was deployed to Syria as an explosive ordnance disposal specialist. An Article 32 UCMJ preliminary hearing was held Aug. 23 at Hill.

Arraignment and motions hearing are scheduled for Oct. 11.  Additional motions will be heard in February, with trial projected to begin on March 6, 2023.

Two previously preferred charges against Dezwaan were dismissed: failure to protect classified information and intentionally accessing a government computer with an unauthorized purpose.

Case details and trial dates are available for this case on the Department of the Air Force’s public docket:  https://legalassistance.law.af.mil/AMJAMS/PublicDocket/docket.html.

As in all military justice cases, the accused is presumed innocent until or unless found otherwise by competent legal authority.