Barkesdale NCO convicted of negligent homicide Published July 5, 2006 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- A panel of officer and enlisted Airmen found a Barksdale senior NCO guilty of negligent homicide and careless driving during a three-day special court-martial that ended here June 15. The court sentenced Master Sgt. Kenneth Sciara, 2nd Maintenance Squadron, to 30 days confinement, forfeiture of $100 pay per month for nine months, a reduction in rank to technical sergeant, and a reprimand for his role in an August 2005 automobile accident. The maximum possible sentence at a special court-martial is confinement for 12 months, forfeiture of two-thirds pay per month for 12 months, reduction to E-1, and a bad conduct discharge. Sergeant Sciara pleaded not guilty to the two crimes. Prior to the night of the crash, Sergeant Sciara routinely drove from Bossier City to New Orleans and back on weekends to visit his wife - a four and a half hour drive - after working normal 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. workdays, Monday to Friday. He routinely returned to Bossier City late Sundays. As required for any member of the 2nd Bomb Wing, making a drive of more than three hours, Sergeant Sciara would receive a written pre-departure safety briefing from his supervisor before leaving, said Col. Gerald Bruce, 2nd Bomb Wing Staff Judge Advocate. On July 31, 2005, Sergeant Sciara left New Orleans at 9:15 p.m. and stopped once to refresh himself. Later, as he approached his exit near Shreveport at about 1:30 a.m. morning, he fell asleep, drifted off the highway, and struck a group of people standing on the shoulder. The group, four adults and a 15-year-old youth, were about to load a broken-down motorcycle onto the back of a truck. Sergeant Sciara's car hit them, killing the youth and severely injuring three adults. At the time of the court-martial, Sergeant Sciara had served 19 years in the military and except for this incident had a good military record.