Monday, July 20, 2009

Joshua Fry Pleads Guilty and is Discharged from the Marine Corps

"Reporting from Camp Pendleton -- A 21-year-old Marine diagnosed with autism and bipolar disorder pleaded guilty Monday to desertion, possession of child pornography and fraudulent enlistment and received a three-year suspended sentence and a bad-conduct discharge.

A plea bargain approved by Maj. Gen. Michael Lehnert calls for Pvt. Joshua Fry to serve one year in the brig with credit for the 359 days already served while he was awaiting court-martial. As a result, Fry is set to leave the brig at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base by the end of the week, officials said."

I am glad Joshua Fry's enlistment is over and that he will be getting treatment for the pornography thing. I think justice will be fully served when the recruiter Matthew Teson sees a similar punishment for his crimes:

'According to a pre-trial motion filed by Fry's attorney, Marine recruiter Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Teson drove to a group home for the mentally disabled to pick up Fry and sign him up. The enlistment occurred despite a warning from Fry's legal guardian and grandmother that he was autistic, that he was not Marine material, and he could not sign a contract without her permission.

The lawyer's motion claims that Teson urged Fry to not mention that fact on his application."

Teson is even more guilty of the fraud charge because Fry's capacity for sound judgement is greatly diminished by his disability. Gunnery Sgt. Teson has no excuse. The military, especially its leadership, needs to remember that respect is earned, not bestowed. Sadly, actions like that of Teson are a black mark to all members of the military. He needs to be dealt with... severely.

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