Steve Burton, Palm Springs (U.S. Attorney's Office) |
RIVERSIDE -- A Palm Springs man was sentenced to a year of probation Monday and ordered to undergo mental health counseling for impersonating a U.S. Marine and wearing combat medals he never earned.
Steven Burton, 39, violated a federal law that prohibits the unauthorized display of military medals. He plead guilty to the federal misdemeanor charge on December 14, 2009 as part of a plea deal.
"I am deeply sorry for these events," Steven Douglas Burton told U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips. "I wish I would have used better judgment."
Burton was ordered to pay a $250 fine and was barred from owning any military uniforms, insignia or award.
Burton said he was seeing a doctor, receiving treatment and taking anti-depressants.
FBI agents began investigating Burton after a Navy commander spotted him wearing several medals, including the Navy Cross, Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, during his high school reunion in Martinez, California in October 2008, according to U.S. Attorney's spokesman Thom Mrozek.
Mrozek said Burton had never served in any branch of the military, but was wearing a Marine Corps Uniform at the reunion.
The Navy Cross is the highest honor bestowed by the Navy for "extreme gallantry and risk of life, beyond the call of duty, performed in combat with an enemy force."
The Purple heart is awarded to veterans wounded in combat and the Bronze Star is awarded for heroic behavior in duty.
A Navy commander suspicious of Burton at the reunion took a photo of him and turned it over to the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Investigators found multiple postings on the internet in which Burton bragged about his duty with the Marine Corps.
He said he had served in Afghanistan and Iraq, authorities said.
An investigation showed that Burton purchased most of his decorations on eBay and at military surplus stores, including one outside the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms.
Burton was employed as an information technology specialist at a Palm Springs bank but was fired in January, according to his attorney, Michael DeFrank.
Steven Burton, 39, violated a federal law that prohibits the unauthorized display of military medals. He plead guilty to the federal misdemeanor charge on December 14, 2009 as part of a plea deal.
"I am deeply sorry for these events," Steven Douglas Burton told U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips. "I wish I would have used better judgment."
Burton was ordered to pay a $250 fine and was barred from owning any military uniforms, insignia or award.
Burton said he was seeing a doctor, receiving treatment and taking anti-depressants.
FBI agents began investigating Burton after a Navy commander spotted him wearing several medals, including the Navy Cross, Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, during his high school reunion in Martinez, California in October 2008, according to U.S. Attorney's spokesman Thom Mrozek.
Mrozek said Burton had never served in any branch of the military, but was wearing a Marine Corps Uniform at the reunion.
The Navy Cross is the highest honor bestowed by the Navy for "extreme gallantry and risk of life, beyond the call of duty, performed in combat with an enemy force."
The Purple heart is awarded to veterans wounded in combat and the Bronze Star is awarded for heroic behavior in duty.
A Navy commander suspicious of Burton at the reunion took a photo of him and turned it over to the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Investigators found multiple postings on the internet in which Burton bragged about his duty with the Marine Corps.
He said he had served in Afghanistan and Iraq, authorities said.
An investigation showed that Burton purchased most of his decorations on eBay and at military surplus stores, including one outside the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms.
Burton was employed as an information technology specialist at a Palm Springs bank but was fired in January, according to his attorney, Michael DeFrank.
