The soldier, identified by the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division as Sgt. Christopher M. Vassey, arrived at the border crossing that links the United States and Canada at Niagara Falls on Dec. 3.

The 82nd Airborne Division soldier who turned himself in at the U.S.-Canadian border last week after deserting 16 years prior pleaded guilty to the crime. According to court records shared by the ...