Steele was only the second officer to be charged with aiding the enemy during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the other being Captain James Yee.
[3] (Steele had been previously reprimanded by Brigadier General Kevin McBride, commander of the 43rd MP Brigade, for "intimidating tower guards with a service pistol."
[citation needed]) On June 10, 2007, the military dropped charges of fraternization with the daughter of a prisoner, and failure to oversee expenditure of government funds—allegedly used to purchase of hair dye and Cuban cigars for Saddam Hussein when he was held at Camp Cropper.
[7] At a pre-trial hearing held at Camp Liberty, Iraq, on October 7, Steele pleaded guilty to two charges relating to improper storage of classified materials and to one of possession of pornographic videos.
[8][9][10][11] Steele's trial before a military judge on charges of "aiding the enemy, possessing classified information, disobeying orders and conduct unbecoming an officer" began in Baghdad on October 15.
(Acquitted of charge on October 19, 2007) Specification: In that Lieutenant Colonel William H. Steele, did, between on or about October 31, 2006 and February 22, 2007, having unauthorized possession of classified information, violate Title 18, United States Code, Section 793(e), by knowingly and willfully retaining the same and failing to deliver it to the officer or employee of the United States entitled to receive it.
(Convicted of charge on October 19, 2007) Specification 1: In that Lieutenant Colonel William H. Steele, did, between on or about February 18, 2007 and February 21, 2007, violate a lawful general regulation, to wit: paragraph 7–4, Army Regulation 380–5, dated September 29, 2000, by wrongfully and knowingly storing classified information in his living space.
Specification 3: In that Lieutenant Colonel William H. Steele, having knowledge of a lawful order issued by the 89th Military Police Brigade Deputy Commander, did, at or near Camp Victory, Iraq, on or about February 22, 2007, failure to obey the same.
(Convicted of charge on October 19, 2007) Specification 4: In that Lieutenant Colonel William H. Steele, did, between on or about February 18, 2007 and February 21, 2007, violate a lawful general order, to wit: paragraph 2e, Multi-National Corps-Iraq General Order Number 1, dated December 16, 2006, by wrongfully and knowingly possessing pornographic video files.