Fort Stewart officials released the identity of a soldier who was detained after a social media video post showing him behaving in a chaotic manner at Oglethorpe Mall on July 15 went viral.
Private second class Chance Johnson was charged with one specification
of absence without leave and
one specification of failure to report, in violation of Article 86, Uniform Code
of Military Justice; one specification of willfully disobeying a superior commissioned
officer, in violation of Article 90, UCMJ; one specification of willfully disobeying a superior
noncommissioned officer, in violation of
Article 91, UCMJ; one specification of domestic violence, in violation of Article
128b, UCMJ; and one specification of disorderly conduct, in violation of
Article 134, UCMJ, according to Lt. Col. Patrick Husted, 3rd ID.
Johnson was seen yelling expletives at people who were waiting on a parking
space at a mall in Savannah. He was recorded shoving the woman that was with
him, grabbing her firmly by the wrist and shoving her arm behind her back. The
video also shows that the incident took place in front of a young child who was
already strapped in the car seat in the back seat of the vehicle. Johnson
allegedly threatened the people around him.
Husted advised that the charges against Johnson are allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a judicial proceeding.
“His charges are currently pending review by a preliminary hearing
officer in accordance with Article 32,
UCMJ, who will make a recommendation to the command as to the disposition of
the charges,” Husted said in an email. Johnson remains in military custody.