Update - Ex Marine D.I. Convicted

San Diego - In the biggest such case in decades at the Marine Boot Camp here, former Marine Corps drill instructor Sgt. Jerrod Glass was convicted Wednesday by a military jury on 8 counts related to the abuse of recruits. Glass 25, who was charged with kicking, punching, slapping and ridiculing the young men, could face 91/2 years in prison and a dishonorable discharge. Jurors indicated, however, that they did not believe dozens of specific allegations in which the only witnesses were the alleged victims themselves. That could count in Glass's favor when he is sentenced. In a four day trial, nearly two dozen former recruits testified that Glass abused them for minor mistakes during training at the Marine Corps recruit depot San Diego and at Camp Pendleton. After convicting Glass, the Marine jury of three officers and three senior staff noncommissioned officers heard testimony concerning his sentence. The jurors will begin deliberations on sentencing today.