Problem Headline–>”Former” Marine Sentenced For Killing Intruder
The AP headline read:
“Former Marine Sentenced For Killing Intruder”
The problem with that being there are no former Marines…once you are a Marine you are a Marine forever.
Well, there is ONE former Ex-Marine…Jack Murtha.
ALBUQUERQUE — A district judge has sentenced a former Marine to two years in prison for fatally shooting an intruder who broke into his home and then fled.
Elton John Richard, 30, was a decorated Marine who had fought in both Iraq wars and had been part of the 2003 rescue of Army Pvt. Jessica Lynch. He had pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter after being charged with second-degree murder.
State District Judge Pat Murdoch also ordered Richard to pay restitution of $500 a month for four years.
Daniel Romero, 34, broke in to Richard’s garage in December 2004.
Richard, a Department of Energy nuclear materials courier with top security clearance, found Romero in his garage and chased him a quarter mile from his property before shooting him as he tried to climb a fence.
During the chase, Richard yelled at Romero to get on the ground and for neighbors to call 911, court documents said.
Prosecutor Theresa Whatley said all Romero did was try to get away.
“He should have been arrested and should have not been killed,” she said.
Richard, speaking publicly about the ordeal for the first time, said that Romero grabbed his gun and kept telling Richard that his friends were coming.
“The safety and security of myself, my son and my wife was compromised,” Richard said. “I didn’t have time to armchair quarterback it.”
(AP)
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What a bunch of bull
February 24th, 2008 at 5:36 pmMore punishing of the victim, taking the side of the criminal by the judicial system. The bastard.
February 24th, 2008 at 5:43 pmredact this:
Elton John Richard, 30, was a decorated Marine
Elton John Richard, 30, IS a decorated Marine
February 24th, 2008 at 5:46 pmElton John richard needs to get a presidential pardon, then a presidential citation for valor.
New mexico is know for limpwristed “justice”.
we need an american flag icon for this guy.
February 24th, 2008 at 5:51 pmI swear the criminals have more rights than the innocent. The Marine did the world a favor.
February 24th, 2008 at 6:06 pmQuestion:
Was Daniel Romero an illegal alien?
Just asking …
February 24th, 2008 at 6:07 pmman, such horse shit!
The so called “gun” legislation goes right along with this kind of crap. take the guns away from the innocent who want to protect themselves and let the crack heads keep theirs. And always punishing the patriots for standing up to people like this. this guy helped rescue Jessica Lynch and was still treated like this, that judge should feel pretty damn sorry about his self
February 24th, 2008 at 6:32 pmSorry to see this Devil Dog take a plea, and I don’t see him being pardoned by Bush.
Just like the incident of the Border Patrol guys, Ramos & Campeon, with the drug runner sitting in prison right now.
Bush talks a big game about personal defense, but hey he’s got the Secret Service detail to protect him and his, we have to do things on our own and take our chances on whether we get an over zealous lefty prosecutor or not.
February 24th, 2008 at 6:42 pmHe should have gotten drunk and chased him with his car andkilled a whole family too, he would have only gotten a year or less for that.
February 24th, 2008 at 7:25 pmLegal tip for everyone who isn’t always aware of this: In most states, killing an intruder within your home is written off as self defense, but killing an invader once they have left the home is aggressively prosecuted. If you do shoot some shithead outside of your home, drag their body back inside.
February 24th, 2008 at 7:29 pmYeah, I thought that too when I read how he’d chased the guy down … Should have shot him on his own property.
February 24th, 2008 at 7:44 pmthey look to see where the shot entered the body, so be sure to wait until the inruder is charging you before you defend yourself and family
fucked up isn’t it?
February 24th, 2008 at 8:10 pmThe way it was taught to me is that “former” is acceptable for a Marine no longer active or reserve. “Ex” is reserved for those rare few that have “broken faith” with the Corp and their Brothers. Murtha and Oswald are the only two that I have found every Marine I’ve known to agree qualified as “ex-Marines”. I’ve known a few that apply it to any Marine that brings dishonor on the Corps and who am I to argue?
February 24th, 2008 at 8:19 pmAs for Elton, I’m sorry he was convinced to cop plea. I suppose it comes down to what the prosecution had planned and what the local laws say combined with family pressure as well that made the difference.
You know how to solve this problem? DONT BREAK INTO SOMEONES FUCKING GARAGE.
February 25th, 2008 at 7:10 amTBinSTL has it right. Former Marines are those honorably discharged from active and/or reserve duty. Ex-Marine covers those like Murtha, who should no longer have the honor to claim the title Marine. The phrase “once a Marine, always a Marine” should come into play when it is necessary for a jarhead to step up and do what is right when NOT in uniform, such as helping protect the innocent from being a crime victim,
helping little old ladies across the street, 
acting honorably in all things 
drinking any other non Marine puke under the table
Not taking money for performing the evening duties required when with the fairer sex
kicking the crap out of any liberal, socialist, commie, raghead, democrap, extremist, anti-American, piece of crud we run across!!
Semper Fi!
February 25th, 2008 at 8:51 amTravesty
these “legal” laws are going to haunt us one day…
February 25th, 2008 at 11:50 amI just left a phone message for his lawyer Billy Ray Blackburn here in Albuquerque. Not sure what I can do alone but this has my blood boiling. Last year, on a Friday morning 0430 I foiled a robbery across the street. As they fled I had them in my sights but didn’t squeeze, damn it!!!! (Probably a good thing since they were committing a crime) Funny thing, I was sorta waiting for a flash and a bang so I could unload my clip into them. If they had only fired at me first. So, where does it stop? I feel I failed by letting them get away and who knows what they have done to innocent civilians since. Richard did us all a favor on this one so can we gather some money and at least help him pay the bullshit 15k to the former robbers family? If I can’t take my donation to Richard and shake his hand, I’ll send it to him c/o Mr Blackburn’s office.
Semper Fi!
Former Marine
March 7th, 2008 at 5:16 pm