A US Army dog handler has been sentenced to 6 months in prison for abusing detainees at Baghdad's notorious Abu Ghraib jail.
Sgt Michael Smith (24) will also have his rank reduced to private and must pay a $2,250 fine for using his unmuzzled dog to harass and threaten inmates at Abu Ghraib in 2003 and 2004, Army spokeswoman Shaunteh Kelly said.
After he serves his 179-day sentence he will be released from the military with a bad conduct discharge.
Photos of inmates being intimidated by dogs and sexually humiliated were broadcast around the world after the abuses became public in 2004, undermining Washington's efforts to win support for its war in Iraq.
Several of these photos were introduced as evidence in Smith's trial.
Smith's lawyers maintained that he was unfairly associated with others on the night shift who physically abused detainees or allowed their dogs to bite them, and was acting at the request of interrogators and prison authorities.
Other soldiers who worked alongside Smith have been sentenced for up to 10 years for abusing inmates.
Smith faced up to 8-and-a-half years in prison after he was found guilty of maltreatment, conspiracy, dereliction of duty, assault and indecent acts.