Ex-Marine offered deal in staged disappearance - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Ex-Marine offered deal in staged disappearance

BOULDER, Colo. — A former Marine who faces charges that he staged his disappearance during a hike in Boulder has been offered a plea deal.

Lance Hering, 23, would not get jail time in return for an admission of guilt, restitution, a letter of apology to the community, 200 hours community service and two years probation.

Boulder Country District Attorney Stan Garnett on Friday said the offer is fair. Defense attorney Alex Garlin said it’s not likely Hering would accept the deal.

The deal is identical to one given to Steve Powers, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor false reporting in January 2007 for helping Hering. Powers admitted that Hering’s disappearance in Eldorado Canyon State Park, which launched the most expensive search in Boulder County history, was a hoax.

Power told authorities that Hering wandered off after suffering an injury in a fall.

“From the defense perspective, the circumstances of Mr. Powers and Mr. Hering at the time of the disappearance are very different,” Garlin said. “And while it may be perfectly understandable why Steve Powers pled guilty, it does not follow that Lance would necessarily do the same.”

Both sides are scheduled to meet again May 29.

Powers was ordered to pay $33,057 for the massive search. Conviction on the misdemeanor also meant Powers will have a felony record because of a deferred attempted burglary sentence from 2004.

Hering could wind up with a felony record if he accepts the plea and if he is asked to split the cost for the search.

“We’ve looked at this case very closely and have made the same plea disposition offer to Mr. Hering as was made to Mr. Powers, which we believe is appropriate,” Garnett said.

Hering was found in Washington state in November. He was discharged from the Marines after a hearing at Camp Pendleton, Calif., in December.

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Information from: Daily Camera.