March 28, 2024

CNN.com – Camp Lejeune Marine pleads guilty in parachute-tampering case – Aug. 6, 2003

Three Marines were injured September 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.

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,…, told Boykins he could face 31 years in prison, forfeiture of pay, reduction of rank and dishonorable discharge.

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.

Now, seems to me that committing sabotage of parachutes during wartime, even if not in a combat theater, should get you the firing squad.

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