At Hearing in Iraq, U.S. Colonel Is Cast As Flouter of Rules

Jamil, who was born in Lebanon and has lived in the United States for 53 years, said in an interview that Steele bragged about being a "big guy in the Army."

Steele was convicted, in District Court, on one count of threatening bodily harm. He appealed to Circuit Court, where a judge found evidence sufficient to support the conviction but agreed to dismiss the charge, and later did so, after Steele completed anger management therapy, court records show.

Steele's attorney in the case, Peter Eliades, said Steele, then a major, was deeply concerned that a misdemeanor conviction might affect his security clearance. Eliades said Steele's rigidity might have harmed his cause when he represented himself in District Court. "He just struck me as a fellow who wanted it just so, and he wasn't willing to back down," Eliades said.

All Army officers, whether from the regular Army or the Reserve, undergo a background check, said Lt. Col. William Nutter, a spokesman for the Army Reserve.

While none of the current charges appears to be related to violent acts, Brig. Gen. Kevin McBride, who oversaw detainee facilities in Iraq during Steele's tenure at Camp Cropper, testified that Steele once was reprimanded for "intimidating tower guards with a service pistol."

Steele's unit ended its mission at Camp Cropper in October. He asked to stay in Iraq and was transferred to a Military Police unit at another Baghdad base.

Nocella said he and another investigator questioned Steele about the charges Feb. 22. During the interrogation, Nocella testified, Steele said he had allowed three juvenile detainees to use his cellphone to call their parents in violation of the prison's approved system of strictly monitored phone calls. Nocella said he did not know if Steele allowed other detainees to use his cellphone.

Nocella said Steele also said that he gave his number to family members of detainees and that only one -- the daughter of a prisoner -- ever called. Steele said he then began e-mailing regularly with the daughter and later gave her an "expensive" gift that included architecture software, Nocella said. Nocella said that he also questioned the daughter and that she said her relationship with Steele was not personal.

The next morning, Nocella said, Steele said he wanted a lawyer. He came back that afternoon and said he was guilty of the accusations against him and knew he would lose his commission.

Among the most discussed and disputed pieces of evidence Tuesday were the Cuban cigars. McBride said they were being purchased for Hussein before Steele's tenure at Camp Cropper.

Maj. Gen. John D. Gardner, deputy commander of detainee operations in Iraq, testified that he had given Steele glowing reviews. But while "high-value" detainees might get some special privileges, he said, cigars were unlikely to be among them.

Rich reported from Largo, Md. Staff writer Thomas E. Ricks and staff researcher Meg Smith in Washington contributed to this report.