Black met Alexandra Vashchuk in South Korea, where he was stationed until April, and began a romantic relationship with her. After she returned to Russia without him, he followed her there without notifying his commanders or getting permission.
He was arrested and detained in the country in May on criminal misconduct charges.
Judge Yelena Stepankova said in court that he was arrested after a “quarrel that arose on the basis of personal hostility” in an apartment in Vladivostok, where Black “threatened to kill the victim,” Reuters reported. Black “also committed theft,” the judge added, ordering him to pay back the amount.
The State Department warns Americans against traveling to Russia, and the Pentagon has barred military personnel from traveling to the country without permission. Neither the Department of Defense nor the State Department immediately responded to an early Wednesday request for comment from The Washington Post.
Black is married in the United States but is going through a divorce, family members told The Post in May. They said he was supposed to be on leave, returning to Fort Cavazos in Texas, but traveled to Vladivostok to see Vashchuk instead.
Black pleaded not guilty to the death threat but said he was partially guilty of stealing the money, saying it was not premeditated and was out of necessity to pay for a hotel, Interfax reported. He plans to appeal, his lawyer said.
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Vashchuk did not appear in court on Wednesday, saying it was hard to look at Black and remember the events that took place, Interfax reported.
A number of Americans are being held in Russian jails, among them former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The U.S. government says both men are wrongfully detained and is negotiating with Moscow for their release.
Robyn Dixon contributed to this report.
