An army staff sergeant was charged in connection with the deaths of two Hudson Valley soldiers in Iraq Thursday. The new developments in the case unfolded as First Lieutenant Lou Allen was laid to rest in Middletown.

The recent deaths of Captain Phillip Esposito and Allen have been the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation. Army officials first believed the two were killed in an indirect-fire attack in Tikrit. However, the federal government has now charged Staff Sergeant Alberto Martinez with premeditated murder. Martinez is being kept in military confinement in Kuwait pending pretrial proceedings.

Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners gathered to say goodbye to Allen. His funeral was conducted with full military honors at St. Joseph?s Church. The 34-year-old was married with four children. He was also a science teacher at George F. Baker High School in Tuxedo.

Esposito was laid to rest Wednesday in Nanuet.

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