Sivits took photographs at the Abu Ghraib prison which became notorious after being aired on 60 Minutes II.[2][3] His father, Daniel Sivits, a former serviceman, said that he was trained as a mechanic, not a prison guard,[4] and that he "was just doing what he was told to do."[5] Sivits was the first soldier convicted in connection with the Abu Ghraib incidents.[6]
Sivits pleaded guilty and testified against some of his fellow soldiers.[9] Sivits' testimony included reporting seeing Charles Graner punching a naked detainee "with a closed fist so hard in the temple that it knocked the detainee unconscious."[10] Sivits also testified seeing Lynndie England stomping on the feet and hands of detainees with her boots.[9]Human Rights Watch and other human rights groups were not permitted to attend the trial.[11]
The court martial sentenced Sivits to the maximum sentence, one year of confinement, in addition to being discharged for bad conduct and demoted from specialist to private.[8]
After the Army, although a mechanic by trade, Sivits worked as substance abuse counselor. In a 2018 interview, Sivits showed remorse for his actions, claiming "to hate himself".[12]
