A Russian court sentenced U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, 34, on Wednesday to three years and nine months in a penal colony for allegedly robbing and threatening to murder his Russian girlfriend.
According to Russian media, Black was arrested on May 2 in the eastern Russian port city of Vladivostok after his girlfriend, Alexandra Vashuk, reported him to the police following an argument.
Vashuk accused Black of stealing about 10,000 rubles (about $120) from her and physically attacking her. She said he grabbed her by the neck during the confrontation, which she interpreted as a threat to her life.
Russian court officials said Black “partially” acknowledged his guilt on the theft charge, although he said he planned to return the money he took from her purse. Black said he took Vashuk’s money because he could not access his own funds while in Russia and accused her of…
