The Army won its fifth conviction Wednesday in its Afghanistan war crimes investigation at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, but defense attorneys launched an aggressive offensive against key prosecution witnesses that likely will be repeated as the case unfolds.

Spc. Corey Moore, 22, of Redondo Beach, Calif., pleaded guilty to stabbing an Afghan’s corpse during a November 2009 patrol and to participating in a group assault on the whistle-blower who raised complaints about drug use in their platoon.

Moore also was found guilty of smoking hashish during his deployment with the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.

Army Judge Lt. Col. Kwasi Hawks found Moore not guilty of two other charges: trying to obstruct an Army investigation and conspiring to harm whistle-blower Pfc. Justin Stoner, who was promoted to specialist after coming home.

Hawks sentenced Moore to 60 days of hard labor and a bad-conduct discharge. That punishment is consistent with sentences the judge handed to two of Moore’s platoon mates recently convicted of similar crimes.

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