Pendleton Marine cleared of disobeying orders

Pendleton Marine cleared of disobeying orders
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jul 1, 2009 19:20:08 EDT

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — A court-martialed Marine who gave a newspaper interview about his role in the theft of government files has been acquitted of disobeying orders.

Pvt. Gary Maziarz and several other Marines were accused of passing classified intelligence to members of a civilian anti-terrorism group. He pleaded guilty in 2007, spent time in the brig, and after his release gave an interview to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Maziarz was then charged with willfully disobeying an order against publicly discussing the security breach, but he was acquitted late Tuesday afternoon by a Camp Pendleton jury.

Maziarz denied he was specifically ordered to stay away from the media and said his former lawyer approved the interview.

Ellie