Topeka ? A Kansas National Guard member who admitted helping an AWOL Liberian soldier lie to obtain a U.S. entry visa has been sentenced to six months probation.

Spc. William Reed Halvorsen, of Elmdale was sentenced Tuesday. He pleaded guilty in August to a felony charge of aiding and abetting fraudulent statements.

Prosecutors say Halvorsen became friends with Liberian Devine Pearson in 2010 while serving on a military mission in the west African country.

He admitted knowing Pearson was an active member of the Liberian Armed Forces and lying about it to a consular officer at the U.S. embassy so Pearson could come to the United States.