Henley calls Montaperto 'a mentor and role model'

DNI John Negroponte's deputy national intelligence officer for East Asia calls convicted Chinese spy Ronald Montaperto "a mentor and role model."

The officer, Lonnie Henley, appealed to a federal judge to go easy on Montaperto, whom Henley characterized in a sentencing memorandum as "conscientious, concerned and above all dedicated to the best interests of the United States."

"I learned from him the importance of careful objective intelligence analysis, grounded in solid evidence and carefully free of personal opinion," said Henley, in comments reported by the Washington Times' Bill Gertz.

Henley added that Montaperto "was a mentor and role model, admired by all who worked with him as a professional intelligence analyst."