Airman's court martial begins Tuesday

RAPID CITY -- Senior Airman Vinicus "Vinnie" Santana's court martial begins today at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Rapid City police arrested the 21-year-old Santana, last September after a shooting at his Minnesota Street apartment.

The Pennington County State's Attorney's office initially charged Santana with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault for the shooting of another airman - David Piland, 21. Those charges were dropped and Santana was turned over to military authorities for prosecution in October.

Since then, Santana has appeared at two Article 32 hearings to hear the accusations against him. He is represented by both a civilian and military attorney.

At the first hearing, witnesses testified that Santana and Piland, who had both been drinking, got into an argument that turned physical. At one point, Piland admitted having Santana in a "choke hold."

Santana's civilian attorney Greg Sperlich has maintained from the beginning that Santana was defending himself from Piland when he shot him.

Santana was arraigned in military court in April. He is accused of attempted murder for Piland's shooting, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and reckless endangerment.

The drug and the reckless endangerment charges were added later. The hearing officer who presided over Santana's first Article 32 hearing in January added the reckless endangerment charge after listening to testimony. Police investigators discovered steroids in Santana's apartment after the shooting.

Santana worked at the Air Force's Financial Services Center prior to his arrest. He has been held in confinement since his release from the Pennington County Jail last October.

His court martial is expected to last three days.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com.