'Iraq war drove me to theft'
2006-06-04 09:23
California - A marine who followed orders to photograph corpses after an alleged massacre by US forces in the Iraqi town of Haditha claims post-traumatic stress from the war drove him to commit felonies while on leave, his mother said.
Lance Cpl Roel Ryan Briones, 21, is accused of stealing a truck and crashing it into a house while he was on leave in April.
He was charged on Friday with felony auto theft, hit-and-run and drunken driving, according to Kings County District Attorney Ronald Calhoun.
His mother, Susie Briones, told The Fresno Bee newspaper this week that he hit his breaking point during that April incident.
His best friend also was killed the day of the Haditha attack, and he was still grieving when he was sent in to clean up the bodies of 23 Iraqi civilians last November, she said.
US authorities have launched two investigations - one into the deadly encounter itself and another into whether it was the subject of a cover-up.
Ryan Briones, who goes by his middle name, is seeing a psychologist in San Diego to help deal with the stress, and military officials are aware of his deteriorating mental health, she said.
Calhoun said he was aware of Briones' situation, adding that he's agreed to be evaluated by a psychiatrist to determine whether he has post-traumatic stress and whether it played a role in the alleged crime.
Briones, who has returned to Camp Pendleton, is scheduled to appear in court June 19. He couldn't be reached for comment Friday.
Craig Dalle, owner of the smashed home, said Briones' claim of post-traumatic stress disorder doesn't let him off the hook.
"He's a Marine and he's served his country in combat. I don't want to take away from his contributions, but he needs to stand up and take responsibility for what he did," Dalle said.
- AP