Teen to join Marines, stay out of jail

[thedrifter]

Teen to join Marines, stay out of jail
By Adam Kovac Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Wednesday, December 01, 2004

Instead of going to prison for robbing a store clerk at knifepoint, a St. Charles teenager on Tuesday was allowed to enlist in the Marines in lieu of punishment for the crime.

Alex Chase, 18, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft, not the armed robbery charge he faced for the Sept. 4, 2003, holdup at Peterson's Hardware Store in Hampshire.

The recent Burlington Central High School graduate faced 6 to 30 years in prison for robbing the store of about $250, a crime that sparked a county-wide manhunt.

"I'm glad a kid can get a second chance," Chase said after his plea. "I'll never do anything like that again, that's for sure."

Chase said he will sign his enlistment papers as early as today and looks forward to serving a four-year stint as vehicle mechanic and driver.

Although Chase says he's wanted to become a Marine since childhood, his goal intensified after a 19-year-old cousin from Maryland died Feb. 13 in Iraq while serving as an Army paratrooper.

"I try not to think about it," Chase said. "He died doing the same thing I want to do."

Kane County prosecutors agreed to reduce the more serious offense based on Chase's successful completion of a court-supervised drug treatment program.

Assistant State's Attorney Bill Engerman said Hampshire police and Peterson's clerk and owner also agreed that Chase, who has no significant criminal record, might be better off going into the military instead of prison.

Defense attorney D.J. Tegeler said Chase has passed random drug tests while free on bail and improved his grades to make the honor role for the first time since the second grade.

"This is a kid who really has turned his life around," Tegeler said. "This is a kid who, I think, is going to make us all proud."

Under the terms of his plea, Chase will not serve probation but must pay about $385 in fines and court costs. Misdemeanor theft is punishable by up to one year in jail.

The outcome of Chase's case is uncommon in Kane County's courtrooms and different from the arrangement made by another teenager who participated in the Hampshire heist.

In October, Jared Blaha of Hampshire pleaded guilty to robbery in exchange for 2¨ years probation and community service. He also agreed to testify against Chase.

Blaha, who was 17 at the time, drove Chase to Peterson's and picked him up afterward.

On Tuesday, Judge Timothy Sheldon praised Chase for the changes he's made.

"You did a really good job, I'm sorry it had to end this way," Sheldon said. "Good luck, stay safe."

The Drifter's Wife

Ellie

[jinelson]

This was a common prctice of the courts and Corps of the 1960's but I thought that the Corps had raised its standards and this was no longer accepted. And drugs on top of that I wonder how this could possibly be in 2004.

[Namvet67]

I served with many in Vietnam (67-70) that were given the choice of prison or the Marines. They were pretty good Marines. Of couse back in that era, there was no doubt that if you went in the Marines you would be going to Nam. What would your choice have been...at times, prison looked like a better choice.

[hrscowboy]

as far as i am concerned the courts should do more of this, it would change these young men around in a heart beat..

[jinelson]

Very true I served with many a Marine who was given this choice in Vietnam and your right they were good Marines. I dont have a problem with it at all but do wonder if the Corps has lowered any other standards. Pfc Sean Seeley comes to mind, here you you have a good Marine that may get bounced on a medical that has already proven himself and wants to stay but the standard wont permit it.

[PooleeWebber]

I'm suprised he was allowed to enlist. I barely made it in because I had an OUIL on my record from when I was a senior in high school. In my opinion, anyone with a violent crime on their record should never be allowed in. We're America's elite fighting force....people like this should our table scraps that we throw to the deck for the Army to clean up.

[Namvet67]

PooleeWebber...that would be a mistake. Marines since the beginning have been rebels and an occasional run in with the law. I didn't do any jail time but I was headed down the wrong path when the Marines got ahold of me and changed my thinking. Just because a young man got on the wrong foot in life doesn't prevent him from becoming one of the few. Yes..the Marines are an elite fighting force but we all don't have holos. If we did we might want to choose say...another branch of service. I'm not knocking any branch of the service either. Marines are Marines and those that want to become one didn't have a former ambition of becoming a priest. Semper Fi

[GunnyL]

This is a very clear violation of the MPPM. It couldn't be true unless the Marine Corps changed the MPPM (Bible for Recruiters). I would like to research this one and find out if it's true. But offhand, I don't believe it.

GunnyL

[Namvet67]

PooleeWebber...I think the Navy has regs like that. The Marines may have changed their policy but in time of war, when they need bodies..they tend to look the other way.

[Toby M]

gbudd, it looks like we had similar backgrounds when we were younger and agree with you about the Corps allowing people in that were teetering on the border between good/bad but I also agree with Webber in that anyone with a violent crime should not be allowed into the military. As a retired law enforcement officer with 25 plus years under my belt, I have learned that the majority of felons rarely change. Meaning they will re-offend. Granted, a great many former Marines came into contact with the law AFTER they got out but that's a whole 'nuther issue...

[Namvet67]

I agree with you about the violent crimes..however I did serve with several that did commit the violent crimes. They would have never made it stateside but I don't I could have either. I have the highest respect for anyone who has spent their time in law enforcement. I interviewed with the LAPD (required interview back in those days). I also interview with Dallas but was rejected because I smoked a joint in Vietnam. They later relaxed that guideline but by that time I was already into another line of work. Good post Toby....Semper Fi

[GunnyL]

The Marine Corps has people who've gotten waivers for Violent Crimes, they look at the whole person concept and see what they've done since they commited the crime and if they would be an asset rather than a liability to the Marine Corps.
The problem with this case is that you are talking about Marine Corps in leu of conviction. Per the MPPM, that is automatic disqualification from service. If he had been convicted, did the time and improved his life since the initial crime then the Marine Corps would look at it for waiver but Service in leu of Jail is a direct violation of the MPPM and not waiverable. (unless it's changed in the last three years.

GunnyL

[yellowwing]

Sheet ~ If we had been caught on some of the stuff we did in high school!

One time our group snuck into the high school and took our Geometry teacher's unique chair and put it on top of the press box on the football field.

That amounted to Break and Enter, Burglary, Theft, Conspiracy...and probably a few more offenses.

Of the six or so in our merry band, I joined the Corps, one guy is now a Tennessee State Trooper, one is an Optomitrist, one is a Genuine Rocket Scientist at the Tullahoma aerospace development center, and one is a LtCol in the Airforce.

[enviro]

GunnyL

You're right, however, this is more of an understanding that he will join the Marines. There could never be anything in writing that states this is what he'll do or go to jail. He wouldn't be allowed to enlist if their were.

His court papers have to say some to the effect of "for the good of justice" or something - or since the charge was reduced, then it doesn't say anything except crime/punishment.

I think the kid actually had to prove he would and could join the Marines before the judge would let him off so easily.

If you work with a DA or judge that is a former Marine - you'll get the kid off.

[Namvet67]

GunnyL....I think you are right. The Marines I served with were convicted and did some time but in lieu of serving the entire sentence they were given the option of interviewing with the Marine Corps and if accepted and served honorably...they considered that as time served. I think it was a great program.

[snipowsky]

I can see how this might be good to help this misguided child be of benefit to our society, but on the other hand we don't need misguided people like this in our Corps. I served with a few Marines who were given the same opportunity for various crimes and they served honorably, but not all did. If he is a sucess story I'm all for it, but I seriously doubt even the Marines could change his criminal behavior.

You can't force a person to change his or her ways. Only that person can chose to change their wicked behavior.

[grayshade]

Personally, I'd like ta see what this Chase kid is made of. Let's see what kind of man he is when he leaves the Island.

[Cole11]

this is how i see it, no matter what kinda attitude you got, no matter how big of a chip on your shoulder, a good ole Marine Corps Drill Instructor will set you right, lol, Semper Fi

[Gunny80817]

Originally posted by hrscowboy
as far as i am concerned the courts should do more of this, it would change these young men around in a heart beat..

While I agree with this to a point, I can't agree 100%.

The Corps is full of pride and traditions. There is a history to uphold and while some may make the transition from PUNK to Marine, my experience with thse types is that the oly thing they bring are BAD THINGS to the name of the Marine Corps.

This is where the MORON comes off telling the SNCO to "get pumped" rather than sweeping or swabbing the decks. This is the same person who CRIES because you secured their liberty. IMHO, it would be better to just put hte clowns in jail OR send THEM into the ARMY...But not the US Army....maybe over in Iraq or somewhere where their belief system falls more in line with the community.

[vfm]

Served with some during the 'Nam era and they turned out to be good MARINES . Given the choice of sending an 18 yr old to prison where he gets cable tv and a criminal type education from some hard timers; I rather see the young man be fashioned by some hard a@# D.I.'s. and become a MARINE.
SEMPER FI!!!
vfm

[GunnyL]

I did some checking with friends in the Marine Corps Recruiting Command and this story is bogus! Just thought I'd pass it on.

Semper Fi,

GunnyL

[GunnyL]

MCO P1100.72C MPPM Page 3-100
Paragraph 3282 Sub Paragraph 14.

14. Enlistment as an Alternative to Prosecution. Applicants may not enlist as an alternative to criminal prosecution, indictment, incarceration, parole, probation, or other punitive sentence. They are ineligible for enlistment until the original assigned sentence would have been completed.

This is straight from the MPPM, this kid won't be eligible for enlistment until the original sentence that would have been issued for the Felony is completed and then he would require a waiver.

GunnyL

[Namvet67]

Bogus story....may be but it brought back some old memories for me. I'm still sticking with my orginal thought...jail time or Marine time...if that was the standard, maybe a few wannabe criminals would change their ways. A lot of good posts...I know you can't change the stripes on a tiger UNLESS you are a Marine Drill Instructor.

[GunnyL]

GBudd,

I can appreciate your experiences in the 60's, but you need to understand the differences between today's Corps and the 60's.
In the 60's, you had a Draft in effect (The only time in Marine Corps history where we participated in the Draft) and I'm more than sure that a number of kids whom were offered the choice of Jail or the Corps and chose the Corps were able to affect some positive changes in their lives.
Today's Marine Corps is an all volunteer force. In a large majority of the Nation, the only thing people know about the Marine Corps is what they see on T.V. or read in the Newspaper. Recruiters are putting in a lot of hours and busting their humps to find QUALITY young Men and Women to join our ranks. They are selling these young people and their families on the positive benefits of joining our elite group. It's extremely difficult to sell someone on the positive aspects of the Corps when they pick up the paper and see where some kid was offered the choice of Jail or the Corps. I know a lot of Mother's out there who would cringe at the thought of their kid joining the Corps after reading this article. This type of Press, especially untrue press only makes those Devil Dog's jobs that much harder.
67% or better of the young Men and Women coming into today's Corps must score at least a 50 or above on the ASVAB Category I-III (Alpha). 33% or less can score between a 31 and 49 Category III (Bravo). Less than 5% of the people coming in today can have a GED. That means that 95% or better are High School Graduates and we don't take Non-Grads without a GED.
We're not in the business of providing Criminal Rehabilitation for today's misguided youth. We're Making Marines and Winning Battles. We don't need to lower our standards and bring in society's problems, it may benefit the individual on a small percentage basis I'm sure but it doesn't benefit the Corps and it definitely hurts Recruiting.
We need Quality enlistments, send the Criminal's to the French Foriegn Legion if you want to straighten them out.

Semper Fi!

GunnyL

[greensideout]

I'm not to sure about what I'm reading here---lol---most of it sounds like a bunch of pious a-holes who have no room for the less attractive in our society. I'm not talk'in real bad guys here! No judge would offer a choice to join the Marines if there was not hope for some dumb kid to turn his life around by the way of the boot up the butt by a Marine Corps Drill Instructor.

There was no draft when I was in and we had some "choice" kids in at that time. After bootcamp you could not find them. The reason was, they became Marines like everyone else that made it through. The Corps turned them from a dumb-a** kid into a man and a Marine.

Cut some slack! Your butts arn't made of gold!

[ivalis]

I might of dreamt this, but I could swear i read somewhere (i know, typical sombody said BS. LOL) that they are lowering the standards (IQ tests) for recruitment.

Sounds like a repeat of McNamara's 100,000.

[yellowwing]

A Googel news search on Alex Chase (http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&lr=&tab=wn&ie=UTF-8&ncl=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/120204_ns_joins-marines.html), the youngster reported to be the criminal poolee, show only 3 news stories. 2 of the exact stories from the Chicago Daily Herald and an ABC News online reprinting the Chicago Daily Herald peice in an abbreviated form.

Nothing else from the larger news sources. A story like this, if it has merit would have wider coverage.

I'm believing Gunny L's Recruiting Command source on this one. It's a bogus story.

[GunnyL]

Here's the deal, there are plenty of kids in the Marine Corps who have a less than bright past. As long as they meet all the other requirements, we run waivers for Drug use and Moral Convictions , the seriousness of the crime dictates the level of the waiver, i.e. Recruiting Station CO, District CO, MCRD CG, MCRC CG. The Chain of Command looks at the overall picture of the kid, i.e. one time offense, multiple offenses and determine if he/she will be of value to the Corps. It's what they've done since the offense and the fact that they've completed the entire sentence for the conviction. You can't enlist in the Corps if you have an open traffic ticket, go pay the ticket and you can enlist. The Marine Corps doesn't take anybody with an open case in lieu of conviction.
It's not that some of us think we're better than anybody else, it's that we've had incidents where gang bangers have shot their XO's and CO's at Camp Pendleton. Marines have Raped 12 year old girls on Okinawa and I could go on. The incidents, especially overseas make the Marine Corps and the United States look very bad. You can have a past and still get in the Corps but we need to ensure that the Hard Corps Criminal's stay out.
As for the standards, they have gotten harder, not weaker {ivalis}. The tests are evolving but they are not weaker they are more stringent. The AFQT score requirement I listed above are a combination of the Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Math Knowledge and Artithmatic portions of the test. The highest score achievable is a 99.
Yellowwing, the Marine Corps uses a new Computer tracking system called MCRISS (Marine Corps Recruiting Information Support System) which tracks kids from the time they tell their Recruiter that they want to be a Marine. All of the screening for Moral, Drugs and Medical is recorded permanently in the system. This prevents a kid from being disqualified at one office and then going a state over and not telling them what they told the first recruiter and becoming a fraudulent enlistment. Alex Chase is not in that system.
Guys/Gals, I was on Recruiting Duty for 7 Years, I was a Recruiter in Chicago, an RSS NCOIC in Minneapolis, MEPS Liaison in Minneapolis and the Quality Assurance Chief/Reserve Procurement Chief/Assistant Operations Chief at the District Level.
Needless to say I have a sound understanding of why the Marine Corps does what they do in regards to Recruiting and especially about Quality Standards. I've been retired for 3 years but I still have a current copy of the MPPM (Military Personnel Procurement Manual) on my PC.
The needs of the Marine Corps come before the needs of the kid, there is a waiver process in place if the kid is truely worthy of consideration and he/she has the potential to be an asset to the Corps vs a liability. The Marine Corps is not the French Foreign Legion, we're not looking for Criminal's to fill our ranks. But if you have a past and have made positive accomplishments and have stayed out of trouble since completing the punishment for that offense, then you may be able to get a waiver and enlist.

GunnyL

[hrscowboy]

excuse me greensideout but my butt is made of gold....

[yellowwing]

excuse me greensideout but my butt is made of gold....
I think that may be bits of shrapnel and lead, hrscowboy! :)

[grayshade]

Yeah, you get enough of that $#@* in there and it can really make ya ass-heavy. But on the bright side, you catch great radio and t.v. signals.