New motions, hearing in Fort Bragg soldier's shooting case
FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- Attorneys for a Fort Bragg soldier convicted for opening fire on local first responders are asking military and civilian courts to lighten their punishments.
Staff Sergeant Joshua Eisenhauer, 34, is serving an 18 year sentence for shooting at Fayetteville police and firefighters during a 2012 standoff in his apartment complex. Eisenhauer's defense team has argued the soldier was going through an episode tied to PTSD. Military health officials have disagreed with civilian doctors, citing substance abuse as the issue ailing the young soldier.
Eisenhauer, who was sentenced in Cumberland County last month, will face a military separation board on October 8. His military defense attorney Todd Conormon plans to request the Fort Bragg board to allow him to finish his service agreement instead of discharging him.
While Conormon would not detail his argument, he offered another line of reasoning for the case.
"I think it's important the public needs to understand the effect of combat on our soldiers" Conormon said over the phone Thursday.
In addition to the military hearing, Eisenhauer's civilian defense team has filed motions to reduce the soldier's sentence. Larry McGlothin is also asking that Cumberland County Superior Court judge Jim Ammons recuse himself from the case.
In court documents, McGlothin said Ammons did not have enough time to review defense evidence before sentencing Eisenhauer.
