Third serviceman pleads guilty in Iraqi’s slaying
Published 9:00 pm Monday, November 6, 2006
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – A Marine pleaded guilty Monday to aggravated assault and conspiracy to obstruct justice in the case of an Iraqi civilian who other servicemen said was kidnapped and killed by members of the squad.
Lance Cpl. Tyler A. Jackson, 23, entered those pleas and others through attorney Thomas Watt at a military court hearing. Jackson pleaded not guilty to murder, kidnapping, larceny, housebreaking and another charge of conspiracy.
Jackson was the third serviceman to plead guilty to reduced charges in return for his testimony in the case, in which seven Camp Pendleton-based Marines and a Navy corpsman were charged with murdering 52-year-old Hashim Ibrahim Awad. One of the Marines charged is Lance Cpl. Robert Pennington, 21, of Mukilteo.
Marine Pfc. John Jodka III earlier pleaded guilty to assault and conspiracy to obstruct justice, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Melson J. Bacos, the Navy corpsman on patrol with the Marines, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and conspiracy.
Members of the squad abducted Awad after their plot to kidnap and kill a known insurgent failed, according to testimony from Bacos and Jodka. The victim was a former policeman and father of 11.
California: Wind fans wildfire
A wind-driven wildfire scorched more than 600 acres of brush Monday, torched an industrial yard and forced the evacuation of two schools, officials said. The blaze 60 miles east of Los Angeles had threatened 100 homes earlier in the day, but firefighters corralled the fire enough to call off firefighting aircraft within several hours, fire officials said. The fire was 30 percent contained by nightfall, but firefighters remained on edge because the erratic wind, which was gusting to 40 mph, could bring the blaze back to life.
Utah: Jail for putting puppy in oven
A man who pleaded guilty to putting his wife’s puppy in a 200-degree oven, crippling it, was sentenced Monday to six months in jail. Third District Judge William Barrett in Salt Lake City ordered Marc Christopher Vincent, 36, to serve the sentence with no time off. Vincent pleaded guilty Sept. 18 to one count of misdemeanor aggravated animal cruelty. The black Chihuahua mix named Henry suffered permanent damage to its front paws and now limps.
D.C.: Astronomers aim at Mercury
An infrequent astronomical sight – tiny Mercury inching across the surface of the sun – takes place Wednesday afternoon in North America. But you’ll need the right kind of telescope to see it. Mercury is so tiny – 1/194th the size of the sun – and looking at the sun is so dangerous to the eyes that viewing must be done with a properly outfitted telescope or online telescope cameras, experts say.
Fire foam may be used to kill birds
The government has approved the use of firefighting foam to kill chickens quickly if there is an outbreak of deadly bird flu in commercial poultry. The Agriculture Department says water-based foam can be an alternative to carbon dioxide, which has traditionally been used to quickly kill large quantities of birds.
