Pilfered NVGs net Iraq Vet a Conviction

[unhappycamper]

Pilfered NVGs net Iraq Vet a Conviction
December 11, 2009
Knight Ridder/Tribune

WILLMAR, Minn. -- A Former Marine who took home from Iraq a pair of night vision goggles later used by his father in a homecoming incident that included spraying teens with a squirt gun filled with water and fox urine has been convicted of receiving stolen property for possessing the military equipment.

A Kandiyohi County jury on Thursday convicted Thomas Albert Wagar, 25, of Minneapolis, of the misdemeanor charge. Wagar was originally charged with a felony. However, the jury placed a value of less than $500 on the goggles, in effect reducing the verdict to a misdemeanor.

Brad Kluver, Wagar's attorney, said after the verdict that he, of course, was hoping for a not guilty verdict. He noted a misdemeanor was better than a felony conviction because "a felony can be devastating to participating in life."

He had told the jury earlier in the day that his client was attending community college and hoping to attend the University of Minnesota to study engineering.

The jury, eight men and four women, returned the verdict around 5:30 p.m. in Kandiyohi County District Court after a one-day trial before Judge David L. Mennis. The jury began deliberating around 4:15 p.m.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/pilfered-nvgs-net-iraq-vet-a-conviction.html?col=1186032310810