Dishonorable Marine pleads guilty

Marine pleads guilty in hero hoax, to be sentenced
By DAVID DISHNEAU (AP) – 1 hour ago

QUANTICO, Va. — A Marine Corps sergeant pleaded guilty Wednesday to faking post-traumatic stress disorder and pretending to be an injured hero to get in free to rock concerts and professional sporting events.

Sgt. David Budwah pleaded guilty to nine charges, including making false statements, malingering and misconduct at a court-martial hearing on the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Va.

Some of the charges may be condensed at his sentencing hearing Wednesday afternoon. Budwah faces up to 8 1/2 years in prison, a reduction in rank and a dishonorable discharge.

Budwah acknowledged he was never deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, as he claimed. He said he lied about having helped with the 2004 tsunami relief effort and didn't earn eight medals and ribbons he wore on his uniform.

"The truth of it is, I was never deployed and I was never injured," Budwah told Navy Capt. Bruce W. MacKenzie, chief judge of the Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary. "Everything that I said was false."
read more here
Marine pleads guilty in hero hoax, to be sentenced

updateMarine sentenced to 18 months in hero hoax case
The Associated PressHe must also forfeit all pay and benefits during his confinement. Budwah acknowledged he was never deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan