Missing Marine Found 2 Years After Disappearance

Missing Marine Found 2 Years After Disappearance

Lance Hering Accused Of Desertion

BOULDER, Colo. — A Marine accused of faking his own disappearance to avoid returning to his unit has been arrested in the state of Washington, along with his father, who has been arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting.

Boulder County sheriff’s officials say 23-year-old Lance Hering was arrested Sunday afternoon at the Port Angeles Airport. He was in a rented airplane with his father when he was arrested moments before taking off, Port Angeles police said.

The Peninsula Daily News reported Monday that Hering’s father, Lloyd Hering, had flown there in a rented Cessna. Port Angeles police Detective Jesse Winfield said the father had just fueled up and the two were preparing to depart but wouldn’t say where they were headed, citing an investigation.

Lance Hering is being held on a warrant for contempt of court on a burglary charge from 2004, and a U.S. Marine Corps warrant for desertion. He will face a military court and could face more serious penalties for deserting during wartime.

According to the Military Code of Justice, "any person found guilty of desertion or attempt to desert shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct."

He faces a range of penalties from prison time to dishonorable discharge, military officials had said earlier.

Boulder County also has a warrant for a false reporting charge.

"We knew that he would turn up eventually," Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle told Daily Camera. "The case against him is basically made."

His father, 60-year-old Lloyd Hering, faces a misdemeanor charge of aiding and abetting.

Port Angeles is near the Canadian border and about 80 miles from Seattle.

Boulder County officials received an anonymous tip over the summer that Hering was seen camping outside Olympic National Park in Washington state, near the airport where he was arrested.

Hering Afraid For His Life?

Hering, a lance corporal and Iraq war veteran, was home on leave from Camp Pendleton, Calif., when he disappeared in 2006.

At the time, Hering’s friend, Steve Powers, reported that Hering had fallen during a rock-climbing accident in Eldorado Canyon State Park and hit his head. Powers said he went to go get help, but when he returned, Hering had wandered away. The report prompted a five-day search that involved hundreds of volunteers from 40 different agencies. It was the largest search in the history of the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.

Five days later, after police questioned him about his changing story, Powers admitted to lying. He pleaded guilty to false reporting last year. He was ordered to pay restitution and perform 200 hours of community service. He said he was just helping a friend because he didn’t want Hering to get killed.

Hering had served a seven-month tour of duty in Iraq. According to the Daily Camera and the Denver Post Hering had told Powers that his unit, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, had been involved in the shooting death of a female Iraqi civilian. Hering said he witnessed it and was afraid of the fellow soldiers accused in the shooting. Authorities at Camp Pendleton, Calif., said said the tale was not credible.

In September 2006, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office found a videotape showing Hering buying a bus ticket on the same day of his disappearance, Aug. 30.

The Boulder Sheriff’s Office said it cost $33,000 in manpower and fuel to search for Hering. Back in 2006, the District Attorney’s Office stated once Hering was found, the office would go after him for the charges.

Court documents revealed a conversation with Hering’s girlfriend claimed he planned to fake his death to collect insurance money.

His family set up a Web site to deliver a message to their son that they loved and supported him no matter what.

"Lance, all the help we can muster — and that is a lot — is available for you here or from us. You do not have to say where you are. Call us or e-mail us — your parents, your brother, or your friends. This includes financial, legal, transportation, homemade cookies, whatever!"

Veterans For Peace, a national group, also offered its support for Hering on a blog.

"This war is unprecedented in terms of the amount of stress that is being placed on the young men in the service. They are being sent back for tour after tour after tour," said George Newell, a former captain with the Marine Corps.

Since Hering’s disappearance, his unit has been deployed to and returned from Iraq at least twice.