Marines charged in killings of Iraqis in Haditha, Hamdania, Fallujah

Marines charged in killings of Iraqis

A look at Marines who were charged in three high-profile cases involving killings of Iraqis:

Eight members of the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, were accused murder or failing to investigate crimes stemming from the killing of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq, in November 2005.

—Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, of Meriden, Conn. Squad leader, charged with unpremediated murder, later reduced to voluntary manslaughter. Also charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, dereliction of duty and obstruction of justice. Trial scheduled Sept. 13.

—Sgt. Sanick P. Dela Cruz, of Chicago; rifleman. Charge of unpremeditated murder was dismissed after he was given immunity to testify.

—Lance Cpl. Justin L. Sharratt, of Canonsburg, Pa.; rifleman. Charge of unpremeditated murder was dismissed.

—Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum, of Edmond, Okla.; rifleman. Charges including unpremeditated murder was dropped.

—Lt. Col. Jeffrey R. Chessani, of Rangely, Colo.; battalion commander. Charges of failing to obey regulations, encompassing counts of failing to report and investigate alleged war crimes were dismissed after a judge found unlawful command influence occurred while a general was considering a court-martial.

—1st Lt. Andrew A. Grayson, of Springboro, Ohio; intelligence officer. Acquitted of making false official statements, trying to fraudulently separate from service and attempt to deceive by making false statements.

—Capt. Randy W. Stone, of Dunkirk, Md.; military attorney. Charges of failure to obey orders or regulations, encompassing counts of failing to ensure that a thorough investigation was conducted and reported to headquarters were dismissed.

—Capt. Lucas M. McConnell, of Napa, Calif.; company commander. Charged were dropped of failure to obey orders, encompassing two counts of failing to ensure that alleged violations of laws of war were investigated.

Seven Marines and a Navy corpsman from the Camp Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment were accused of kidnapping and murdering a man in Hamdania, Iraq, in April 2006.

—Sgt. Lawrence G Hutchins III, of Plymouth, Mass., convicted of murder and other offenses, sentenced to 11 years in prison.

—Navy corpsman Petty Officer 3rd Class Melson J. Bacos of Franklin, Wis., pleaded guilty to kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap and making false official statements.

—Marine Lance Cpl. John J. Jodka III, of Encinitas, Calif., pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

—Marine Lance Cpl. Tyler A. Jackson, of Tracy, Calif., pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

—Marine Lance Cpl. Jerry E. Shumate Jr., of Matlock, Wash., pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

—Lance Cpl. Robert B. Pennington, of Mukilteo, Wash., pleaded guilty to kidnapping and conspiracy.

—Cpl. Marshall L. Magincalda, of Manteca, Calif., convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, larceny and housebreaking.

—Cpl. Trent D. Thomas, of Madison, Ill., convicted of kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder.

Three Marines from the Camp Pendleton-based Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division were charged in connection with killing an unarmed Iraqi detainee in November 2004.

—Sgt. Ryan Weemer, of Hindsboro, Ill., was acquitted of murder and dereliction of duty.

—Sgt. Jermaine Nelson, of New York, pleaded guilty to dereliction of duty after the government dropped a murder charge.

—Sgt. Jose Luis Nazario was acquitted in federal court in Riverside, Calif., on counts that included voluntary manslaughter. The squad leader was beyond the reach of a court-martial because he had completed his military obligations.