Camp Lejeune Marine pleads guilty in parachute-tampering case

[thedrifter]

Camp Lejeune Marine pleads guilty in parachute-tampering case

ESTES THOMPSON, Associated Press Writer

08-06) 09:33 PDT CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) --

A Marine charged with cutting the lines of parachutes that were to be used in a training jump pleaded guilty Wednesday to assault and endangerment charges.

Lance Cpl. Antoine D. Boykins, 21, pleaded guilty to nine counts of reckless endangerment, four counts of aggravated assault and one count of destruction of government property.

The judge, Col. Alvin Keller, told Boykins he could face 31 years in prison, forfeiture of pay, reduction of rank and dishonorable discharge. The hearing continued Wednesday morning.

The plea was part of an agreement approved last month by the commanding general of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, but kept confidential until the hearing. A court-martial scheduled last month was canceled.

During the hearing, Boykins told Keller he cut the suspension lines of 13 parachutes two days before they were to be used. Boykins, of Baltimore, said he was alone in the room and that it took him up to 10 minutes to open each parachute, cut the cords and reclose the parachute bag.

Three Marines were injured Sept. 21, 2002, when their parachutes failed to open after they jumped at about 1,250 feet. Their reserve chutes deployed safely.

Other jumps for that day's exercise were canceled, and investigators later found that the injured Marines' chutes and 10 unused ones had been sabotaged.

Boykins said he understood at the time that his actions could kill or seriously injure a jumper because reserve chutes fail in nearly half the cases they're used.

Keller asked Boykins why he cut the cords.

"I was aggravated by actions and treatment of people in my unit. I made a terrible decision, and I regret it, sir," Boykins said. He did not say who or what angered him.

Boykins originally was charged with 13 counts of attempted premeditated murder, 13 counts of reckless endangerment, 13 counts of aggravated assault and other crimes.

Charges against another Marine, Lance Cpl. Julian C. Ramirez, 25, of Los Angeles, were dismissed in April.

A third Marine, Cpl. Clayton A. Chaffin, 28, an air delivery specialist from Franklin, Ohio, is charged with 31 counts, including reckless endangerment, aggravated assault, conspiracy and drug charges, the base announced Wednesday. He was in custody at the base. Air delivery specialists jump from aircraft with cargo.

At a hearing in March, a military prosecutor said Boykins and Ramirez cut the parachute lines because they had been disciplined and were angry at their platoon commander.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...233EDT0551.DTL


Sempers,

Roger