Marine in Iraq case jailed for refusing to testify
RIVERSIDE, Calif.—A Marine charged with murder in the 2004 death of an Iraqi detainee during combat operations in Fallujah was jailed Thursday for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury.
Sgt. Ryan G. Weemer's attorney told the judge that his client opted not to testify for fear of self-incrimination. The sergeant did not speak before U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Larson found him in contempt of court.
Weemer, of Hindsboro, Ill., can be held for up to 18 months unless he decides to testify. He was to be held at either a federal detention center in downtown Los Angeles or a San Bernardino County jail.
Grand jury proceedings are secret and there was no mention in court of what it is investigating. It is known through military justice proceedings, however, that a grand jury is investigating Weemer's former squad member Jose Nazario.
Federal prosecutors in Riverside have charged Nazario with voluntary manslaughter in the killing of two Iraqi captives in Fallujah. Nazario, 27, of Riverside, has pleaded not guilty. He is no longer in the Marine Corps.
Weemer is accused of shooting an unarmed captive in November 2004 during some of the heaviest fighting of the war. His case is still pending at Camp Pendleton. One of his attorneys has said Weemer did nothing wrong.
