Marine Sentenced to 20 Years for Tampering With Parachutes

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA9UOY93JD.html

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) - A Marine who admitted cutting parachute lines before a training jump was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison by a military judge who told him he can still become a productive citizen.

Lance Cpl. Antoine D. Boykins admitted cutting suspension lines on 13 of the 22 parachutes that were to be used in the exercise Sept. 21. He said he knew someone could be killed or injured because reserve chutes fail nearly half the time they're used.

Three Marines were injured in the jump's first wave, and the exercise was canceled.

The judge, Col. Alvin Keller, deliberated about five hours before sentencing Boykins. He also cut Boykins' rank to private and said he would be dishonorably discharged. The sentence must be formally approved by the commander of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.

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[PartyPooper]

1. Security?

I'm wondering why these parachutes aren't kept under lock and key? And, I always understood that he who jumps...packs his own 'chute (and, presumably keeps it under his watchful eye.)

This guy did an awful thing...and, he should be punished. I'm glad no one was killed...but, someone could have been seriously injured or killed as a result of his stupid actions.

[jiacinto]

5. Do they keep them secure or locked?

That is an important issue.

[Superfly]

10. Answers

Parachutes are not kept under lock and key. The riggers who pack their chutes are required to jump one, randomly picked, every so often.

Brian
Airborne Artillery
1997-2002

[jbm]

2. twenty years ago...

I was stationed at Fort Bragg and one of the parachute packers cut the lines on the chutes he packed because he had been denied leave. They didn't catch it until the drop,and several jumpers died as a result. (In this instance,the packer had cut lines on both the main chutes,and several reserve chutes as well). I remember when that happened people that had been in the military far longer then I were talking about other instances of disgruntled packers cutting lines. I'm not familiar with the procedure that they use,but it seems like they could find a way to prevent this from happening.

[jiacinto]

4. That had to have been the worst thing to watch

Did they watch people fall to their deaths?

Oh God.

[PartyPooper]

6. So, maybe "20/20", "Dateline", or "60 Minutes"

could do a story on this. Obviously, something has to be done to stop this horrendous sabotage of parachutes...to save soldiers' lives!

The Pentagon must be aware of this, too...and, Rumsfeld is TOTALLY responsible! (I can't believe how long this has been going on. Thanks for your enlightening post!)

Okay, lurking reporters and producers, you've got your story!
Now run with it!

[WindRavenX]

3. Wow, he did it because he was pissed he got a pay cut

from the article: He said Boykins was angry because he had been punished and his pay was docked when he returned late from leave.


So he gets a pay cut and he decides to endanger people who had nothing to do with it? That makes a lot of sense...
Very sad.

[private_ryan]

7. if he had gotten life I wouldn't have complained.

imagine being the soldier being dropped from 10,000 feet and the parachute doesn't open because some jerk was upset?

[Trek234]

8. Well

at least he left the reserve ones alone.

What surprises me is the claim that they fail half the time by default! Something is wrong when the nation spending the most cash on defense of any other nation on the planet can't afford functioning reserves.

[Ernesto]

9. As a Vietnam Marine vet

I can honestly say that this kind of stuff just does not surprise me. Remember, these people are just kids that have extremely dangerous jobs. The stress levels are high and most joined to escape from less than acceptable civilian lives. For some, Judges gave them choice of jail or the military.
I remember the term "boy scouts with live ammo". Unfortunatly, not all Marines are the kind of people that you'd want to help your mother cross the street.