THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 14, 1994 TAG: 9407140683
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KERRY DEROCHI, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Petty officer Mark T. Jones was confused and tired the night after investigators took him from the destroyer Comte de Grasse.
Interrogations had lasted for hours in a tiny room at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. It was clear the agents didn't believe him.
So, he explained Wednesday during his court martial at Norfolk Naval Base, he confessed to a crime he didn't commit.
``I felt boxed in,'' Jones testified. ``These guys had been around me all day. I wanted them to get away from me. I just wanted to get out of the Navy. I wanted it all to end.''
With those words, Jones hoped to convince a court martial panel that he didn't jam plywood, bolts and chains into the reduction gear of the Comte de Grasse, delaying it from deploying on a six-month tour.
A 23-year-old from Detroit, Jones faces up to 12 years in prison if he is convicted of willfully destroying government property in a tampering scheme that could wind up costing the Navy some $2.5 million.
Prosecutors have alleged that Jones, a gas turbine mechanical specialist third class with a poor Navy record, jammed the debris into the gear to take revenge on his commanders.
But Jones, the first witness called on his behalf, claimed the Navy had the wrong man. He said he was manipulated and browbeaten by agents who would not leave him alone.
In an emotional plea, he tried to recant the 9-page sworn statement he'd given to the Navy agents one week after the tampering was discovered.
In that statement, Jones told the agents of the problems he'd been having in his marriage and career. He spoke of the debts he faced.
He described how he was standing near the reduction gear when he saw a vision of the ship's chief engineer, standing two feet from his face swearing at him and telling him what a ``screw-up'' he was.
``Do you have that vision often?'' asked prosecutor Damian Hansen.
``No,'' replied Jones.
``Clearly, you're angry with the Navy,'' Hansen said.
``I'm not angry with the Navy,'' Jones replied. ``I just didn't agree with some of the practices.''
Jones, who wept while he testified, said he realized the trouble he was in about a week after sitting in the brig at the naval base.
``Since I've been locked up I've had time to think about my life and get a focus,'' Jones said. ``I realize I made a mistake. Now I'm doing my best to correct it.''
The court martial is expected to continue today.
KEYWORDS: VANDALISM SABATOGE U.S. NAVY
by CNB