Soldier Who Fled To Canada Now In Washington Jail

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Army deserter from Idaho who was deported from Canada is being held in a county jail in Washington state pending a transfer to military custody.

Pvt. Robin Long, 25, of Boise, fled to Canada in 2005 to avoid serving in Iraq, but was deported this week after losing a court battle to stay in that country.

Authorities say he is being held in the Whatcom County Jail until he can be turned over to military police and transferred to Fort Carson, Colo.

Long sought refuge in Canada on grounds that the U.S. Army wanted him to take part in a war he considered an illegal war of aggression.

Military officials will decide whether he should be discharged, returned to duty, court martialed or given a less severe punishment.