Charles Graner

Charles A. Graner Jr., born on November 10, 1968, is a former American soldier and corrections officer whose military career became infamous due to his involvement in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal. As a member of the 372nd Military Police Company, Graner was implicated in the mistreatment of Iraqi detainees during the United States' occupation of Iraq, a period marked by significant controversy and scrutiny.

In January 2005, Graner faced a court-martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, where he was found guilty of multiple charges, including conspiracy to maltreat detainees, failing to protect them from abuse, and various counts of cruelty and maltreatment. His actions, which included inflicting sexual, physical, and psychological abuse, drew widespread condemnation and highlighted the darker aspects of military conduct during wartime.

Graner was sentenced to ten years in prison, demoted to the rank of private, and received a dishonorable discharge, along with the forfeiture of his pay and allowances. Notably, charges of adultery and obstruction of justice were dropped prior to the trial. After serving six and a half years of his sentence, he was released from the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on August 6, 2011.