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Charges dismissed against Nevada soldier detained in Abu Dhabi
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Nicholas Moody
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
An off-duty Nevada soldier, who served this year with the National Guard's 221st Cavalry Wildhorse Squadron in Afghanistan, will be heading home in a couple of weeks after his case in the United Arab Emirates for stowing firearm accessories in his luggage was dismissed Monday, his mother said.
Nicholas Moody, of Reno, was relieved to be processing paperwork to have authorities in Abu Dhabi return his passport even though it might take two weeks to obtain it, his mother, Lorina Moody, said in a phone interview from her home in Susanville, Calif.
"He called when his case was dismissed and said he was free to leave the country," she said. "His lawyer told him it could be two weeks."
Lorina Moody said his family is relieved that the charges have been dismissed "but we won't be completely relieved until he's here and I see him."
Nicholas Moody, a 23-year-old infantry mortarman who still has an inactive duty obligation to the Nevada Army National Guard, was incarcerated 64 days in Abu Dhabi after airport officials there found firearm accessories in his luggage on Sept. 29. He was returning to Reno from Iraq, where he worked as an armed guard for a private security contractor.
After a layover in Abu Dhabi, airport officials found a sling, a cleaning kit, a pistol grip, a stock, a finger grip and a wrench in his bags.
Lorina Moody has said her son's apparent violation of law in United Arab Emirates was not intentional.
While in al Wathba, Abu Dhabi's central prison, he met Persian Gulf War veteran Erik Bergman, of Las Vegas, who was being held for some ammunition that was found in his luggage after he arrived in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 13 to visit his wife, who is a teacher there.
Both Moody and Bergman were released on bail from al Wathba earlier this month. Bergman is still in Abu Dhabi awaiting a court appearance. Authorities have confiscated his passport to ensure he appears for his hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
In a phone interview Monday, Bergman said he talked to Nicholas Moody earlier in the day. "He is relieved," Bergman said.
Lorina Moody said her son has resigned his position with the private security contractor and plans to enroll at the University of Nevada, Reno next year.
Contact reporter Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308.
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I'm still suffering from PTSD from being away from the ladies too long... and seeing WAYYYY to much ocean. I don't remember how to be a civilian.
That's what happens to good old boys that are allowed to go do private contracting jobs while still having an obligation to 221 Cav. How about taking care your soldires that were injured......CAV!! Where's the story on that?
I'm very glad to hear this, for both him and his family.
Now if he just told them he knows how to fly 747's into tall buildings, they would have let him go right away!