Marine is charged with involuntary manslaughter
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A member of an elite group of US Marines has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter and related charges for his role in the hazing death of a US Green Beret while the men served in Africa, the US Navy said in a news release Friday.
But Gunnery Sgt. Mario Madera-Rodriguez was found not guilty of felony murder. He still faces a maximum possible sentence of 27.5 years in prison as well as a reduction in rank and a dishonorable discharge.
A jury of US Navy sailors and Marines returned its verdict late Thursday at a Navy base in Norfolk, Virginia, following a weeks-long trial that pulled back the curtain on alleged misconduct in America’s special operations community.
Madera-Rodriguez belongs to a special operations group in the Marines known as the Raiders. Prosecutor’s said he, another Raider and two Navy SEALs conspired to humiliate Army Green Beret Logan Melgar in 2017.
The men were angry over perceived slights during their time together in the country of Mali, prosecutors said. In particular, some were upset that they missed a party at the French embassy in the capital city of Bamako because Melgar and the others got separated in traffic.
Their plan was to break into Melgar’s room, tie him up and choke him into unconsciousness while filming their prank on a phone, prosecutors said. Melgar died from strangulation.
A defense attorney for Madera-Rodriguez had argued that he played a minor role in the hazing and should not be found guilty of murder and other crimes.
The attorney said Madera-Rodriguez never touched Melgar until he tried to help revive him. He said the Marine’s role was only to break down Melgar’s door with a sledge hammer, play some music and bring in Malian guards who were part of the joke.