N.C. Marine charged with faking robbery story

[unhappycamper]

N.C. Marine charged with faking robbery story
Staff report
Posted : Tuesday Feb 3, 2009 18:28:59 EST

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — A North Carolina-based Marine who told authorities he was shot during a robbery last month has been arrested after recanting his story and admitting he accidentally shot himself in the leg, according to the Onslow County Sheriff’s Department.

Rick Jason Mitchell Jr., 23, called 911 on Jan. 23 and reported he’d been robbed and shot at an ATM off Piney Green Road, according to a news release. During an interview with an investigator, however, Mitchell changed his story, saying he shot himself “while trying to clear a weapon malfunction,” the release states.

Mitchell, whose rank and unit information was not immediately available, surrendered to authorities Monday. He was charged with resisting, obstructing and delaying a public officer, and released on a $1,000 unsecured bond.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Mitchell’s command have opened their own investigations into the incident, according to the release.


Article at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/02/marine_selfinflicted_020309w/%2e