Marine accused in disappearance hoax arrested

[David]

The Seattle Times


BOULDER, Colo. —
A Marine accused of faking his own disappearance to avoid returning to his unit was arrested Sunday in Port Angeles, Wash., and his father was arrested for investigation of aiding and abetting.

Acting on a tip from the Boulder County Sheriff's Office in Colorado, Port Angeles police arrested 23-year-old Lance Hering at the Port Angeles airport.

His father, Lloyd Hering, also was arrested.

Lance Hering, a lance corporal and Iraq war veteran, was on leave from Camp Pendleton, Calif., when he disappeared in 2006. At the time, Hering's friend Steve Powers told authorities Hering was hurt in a rock-climbing accident near Boulder and wandered away while Powers went looking for help.

That prompted a five-day search that cost $33,000 and also involved hundreds of volunteers in Eldorado Canyon State Park.

Powers later admitted the report was a hoax, and investigators found surveillance tape showing Hering getting on a bus in Denver.

Powers pleaded guilty to false reporting.