Oliver North shredding government documents related to these activities at William Casey's suggestion when the Iran-Contra scandal became public. He also testified that Robert McFarlane had asked him to alter official records to delete references to direct assistance to the Contras and that he had helped. North was tried in 1988. He was indicted on 16 felony counts, and on May 4, 1989, he was initially convicted of three: accepting an illegal gratuity, aiding and abetting in the obstruction of a congressional inquiry, and ordering the destruction of documents through his secretary, Fawn Hall. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gerhard
Oliver S. Picher Oliver S. Picher Oliver S. Picher (1905–1984) was a United States Air Force Lt. General. He served as Commander of the 307th Bombardment Group during World War II, Commander of the 315th Air Division in post war Japan and as the Director of the Joint Staff. Oliver Stanton Picher was born in Pasadena, CA, in 1905. He graduated from Harvard University cum laude in 1928. He enlisted as an aviation cadet, earned his wings and was commissioned successively in the Air Reserve and Regular Army. In May 1930 he went to Hawaii for two years with the 18th Pursuit Group