US soldier sentenced to nearly four years in Russia's penal colony

The defence lawyer of the US soldier who has been detained in the Russian city of Vladivostok on suspicion of theft and threats to kill his girlfriend, said that they will appeal the sentencing.

Gordon Black, a US Army staff sergeant, who was detained in Russia on May 2 on suspicion of stealing from a woman he was in a relationship with, appears in a court in Vladivostok, Russia.

Credit: Reuters Photo

A US soldier who has been detained in the Russian city of Vladivostok on suspicion of theft and threats to kill his girlfriend was sentenced to three years and nine months in a Russian penal colony, Russian agencies reported on Wednesday.

Russia's RIA state news agency reported that his defence lawyer said they will appeal the sentencing.