Marine Charged in Parachute Sabotage

[thedrifter]

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - A 21-year-old Marine has been charged with 13 counts of attempted murder for allegedly sabotaging parachutes before a jump last fall that left three fellow Marines wounded, the military said Wednesday.



The Marines Corps formally referred Lance Cp. Antoine Boykins to a general court-martial on charges that also include 13 counts of reckless endangerment and one conspiracy to commit premeditated murder.


Boykins will remain in confinement at the base, said Sgt. J.J. Connolly Jr., a spokesman for Camp Lejeune.


Three Marines were injured last September when their parachutes failed to open when they jumped from about 1,250 feet; their reserve chutes deployed safely. Other jumps were canceled and investigators later found that 13 of the 22 parachutes had been tampered with.


Last month, a military prosecutor said Boykins and another Marine had cut parachute suspension lines because they had been disciplined and were angry with their platoon commander.


Charges against the second Marine, Lance Cpl. Julian C. Ramirez, 25, of Los Angeles were later dismissed.


During the hearing, investigator Robert Lesane of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service testified that a fingerprint on a note and DNA from a damaged deployment bag matched that of Boykins. He also said DNA from a skin cell found on a deployment bag containing a severed chute matched Boykins.


Boykins told investigators that he went to the parachute storage area Sept. 17 and found Ramirez cutting suspension lines.


Boykins claimed Ramirez said, "They've been screwing with me, and they've been screwing with you," Lesane testified. Boykins said he then began tying the parachutes in a way to hide the sabotage, according to Lesane.


In late January, investigators put both men in the same room at Lesane's office. Lesane testified that Boykins said to Ramirez, "You know you cut those parachutes. Why are you lying?"


Ramirez didn't answer, but just shook his head, Lesane said.



Sempers,

Roger