Mr. Noel, who was not present at the attack, faces the two lesser counts and a sentence of four years if convicted.

Under military law, the lesser count of murder carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The charges were eventually dropped, and he pleaded to a lesser count of obstruction of justice.

The lesser counts related to specific acts, while the bribery charge encompassed a pattern of behavior.

Scheindlin dismissed two lesser counts, letting stand seven league claims.

He pleaded no contest to two lesser counts in January 1953.

But the trial jury, which deliberated for one day, settled on the lesser count of attempted assault.

Prosecutors took his depression and drug use into account when permitting him to plead to the lesser count.

Pinkerton plead guilty to five lesser counts of first degree murder on October 29, 2007.

Dismissal of the conspiracy and theft charges leaves for trial a dozen lesser counts in the indictment.