WT Forums

10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The U.S. justice system should not tolerate even minor assaults on military personnel. In the case of an Illinois Marine, we're glad to see the system work, even if it took an Internet-generated push. Thanks to a few Marines, both active-duty and retired, the story ends well.

On Dec. 1, Chicago lawyer Jay Grodner took offense at 'Semper Fi' Marine Corps license plates on a black BMW. So the anti-war activist keyed the car. The car's owner, Marine Sgt. Michael McNulty, saw him do it and had him arrested.

The police wanted to charge Grodner with a misdemeanor. McNulty held out for a felony charge, which the damage warranted. The prosecutor felt it was a minor case and urged the parties to make a deal, but neither was inclined to do so.

Complicating matters was the fact that McNulty was en route to Camp Pendleton for his second deployment to Iraq. He was slated to report Jan. 2. The case was set for Dec. 31.

At this point, a military-affairs blogger, BlackFive (www.blackfive.net <http://www.blackfive.net/> , http://www.blackfive.net/), posted the story. A BlackFive reader attended the Dec. 31 hearing and reported a crowd in the courtroom supporting McNulty, along with a new prosecutor -- Patrick Kelley, USMC 1969-72. Grodner also had the misfortune of having his case assigned to Judge William O'Malley, USMC 1961-64.

The case was resolved Monday when Grodner pleaded guilty. The judge couldn't resist a little lecture. From the transcript:

'You probably also wondered why there was a whole crowd of people here today, Mr. Grodner. ... That's because there is a little principle that the Marine Corps has and has had since 1775, when they had fought and lost their lives so that people like you could enjoy the freedom of this country; and that is a little proverb that we follow, that no Marine is left behind.

'So, Sgt. McNulty couldn't be here, but other Marines showed in his stead. Take him away.'

Grodner will do community service, spend a year on probation, pay restitution and then, if his promise to a newspaper columnist can be believed, move to France.

To the online Marine community, congratulations on a gratifying victory. And to Sgt. McNulty, come home safe.

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

Semper Fi Marines! I read this story when it first happened and was hoping for this kind of outcome. Thank God there are still some judges in this country that understand what our service men and women have to go through.

Truly one for the books. Great outcome. Hope the AH enjoys his life in France.

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Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option