THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 12, 1994 TAG: 9407120311
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By KERRY DEROCHI, Staff writer
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
A sailor accused of tampering with the destroyer Comte de Grasse went on trial Monday for allegedly jamming steel nuts, bolts and plywood into the ship's propulsion system.
Mark Thomas Jones, 23, a petty officer third class from Detroit, is charged with willful destruction of government property and wrongful use of marijuana.
If he is convicted by a panel of eight officers and enlisted men, he could be sentenced to 12 years in prison.
In opening arguments Monday, Navy prosecutor Damian Hansen portrayed Jones, a gas-turbine mechanical specialist, as a troubled and vindictive man who blamed all his problems on the Navy.
``He was angry with his ship, he was angry with his captain,'' Hansen said. ``The Navy had ruined his marriage. The Navy had put him in financial ruin.
``He was tired of it.''
But defense attorney Greg McCormack insisted that the Navy had the wrong man, despite a nine-page confession given to agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. McCormack said his client was emotionally immature and wanted to get out of the Navy so badly he confessed to something he didn't do.
Testimony Monday afternoon centered on the damage to the Comte de Grasse, which was discovered minutes before the destroyer was to deploy to the Mediterranean as part of a 14-ship task force led by the carrier Saratoga.
Bolts, shackles and chains were found in the main reduction gear, preventing it from transferring power from the engines to the propeller shafts.
Damage has been estimated at $650,000, which covers the cost of repairs that were made to get the ship running. That figure is expected to rise to $2.5 million if the ship's reduction gear must be replaced.
Five other crew members on the Norfolk-based destroyer have been disciplined in connection with the case, though their names and ranks have not been released.
Each was given a nonpunitive letter of caution.
KEYWORDS: SABOTAGE VANDALISM TRIAL by CNB