Before then, Smiley had served as a drill instructor for three training cycles, according to the command investigation, which was completed September 2021.

During closing arguments, Colby Vokey, one of Smiley’s attorneys, asked the jurors to imagine what it felt like for Smiley, a drill instructor, to be charged with a crime.

Smiley was Beals’ senior drill instructor when the 19-year-old Marine from Pennsville, New Jersey, died of overheating during the Crucible event of recruit training.

The drill instructor, Staff Sgt. Steven Smiley, was referred last year to a general court-martial after the death of the recruit, Pfc. Dalton Beals of Pennsville, N.J., on June 4, ...

Marine drill instructor Steven Smiley sobs and says sorry as he's cleared of killing recruit Dalton Beals during boot camp. Staff Sergeant Steven Smiley has been cleared of negligent homicide ...

Smiley became a staff sergeant in November 2017, Kulczewski said. Before becoming a drill instructor, Smiley served as a Marine Corps aircraft rescue and firefighting specialist.

During closing arguments, Colby Vokey, one of Smiley’s attorneys, asked the jurors to imagine what it felt like for Smiley, a drill instructor, to be charged with a crime.

During closing arguments, Colby Vokey, one of Smiley’s attorneys, asked the jurors to imagine what it felt like for Smiley, a drill instructor, to be charged with a crime.

The drill instructor, Staff Sgt. Steven Smiley, was referred to a general court-martial on charges of negligent homicide; cruelty, oppression or maltreatment of subordinates; and obstruction of ...

During closing arguments, Colby Vokey, one of Smiley’s attorneys, asked the jurors to imagine what it felt like for Smiley, a drill instructor, to be charged with a crime.

The jury deliberated the case of Staff Sgt. Steven Smiley for about two hours. He was charged in the June 2021 death of Dalton Beals Breaking: Marine drill instructor not guilty.

An eight-person military jury took two hours Friday to find Staff Sgt. Steven Smiley not guilty of negligent homicide and four other counts in the death of Marine recruit Dalton Beals in 2021. The ...