Investigators Have Leads In Missing Marine's Whereabouts
Lance Cpl. Didn't Show At Calif. Base Monday

POSTED: 4:14 am MDT September 12, 2006
BOULDER, Colo. -- A Marine suspected of staging his disappearance to avoid duty had not reported for duty as scheduled Monday, and investigators said they are pursuing several leads in their search.

Lance Cpl. Lance Hering, 21, was reported missing by a friend who said he was injured in a hiking accident Aug. 29, but sheriff's deputies said the friend, Steve Powers, changed his story to say the disappearance was faked.

Powers was arrested last week on a false reporting misdemeanor charge.

Hering was scheduled to report to Camp Pendleton, Calif., Monday after a leave. He had not showed up at the base, spokesman 1st Lt. Esteban Vickers said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

The spokesman said Hering could face charges of desertion, unauthorized absence and making a false statement if he does not report for duty. He did not know when charges could be filed.

His family has said Hering would not have faked such a disappearance. They said he may have suffered a head injury that left him disoriented.

Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said investigators were reviewing bank, credit, computer, mobile phone and other records to try and locate Hering.

"We have several leads we're following," he said.

Pelle said deputies were not sure whether Hering had left Colorado.

Hering faces a Boulder County arrest warrant that accuses him of violating the terms of a deferred sentence he received after pleading guilty to a burglary and obstructing a police officer in a 2004 break-in. Under terms of his sentence, he could avoid penalties if he stayed out of trouble for two years.

Hering is with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., that returned from Iraq early last month, military officials said. Hering was not expected to return to Iraq until at least 2008.

Powers originally told authorities Hering lost consciousness after falling while the two were hiking in the foothills northwest of Denver.

Powers said he went for help but couldn't find Hering when he returned. Sheriff's officials planned to seek restitution for the thousands of dollars spent on a five-day search for Hering.

Ellie