Marine found not guilty of violating order not to talk to the media

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that yesterday Marine Private Gary Mariarz was found not guilty of an orders violation for speaking to the media. David Brahms was his civilian defense counsel. The members trial was held at Camp Pendleton. Greg Moran, Marine who talked to media acquitted, San Diego Union-Tribune, July 1, 2009.

Pvt Mariarz, who had been convicted at a previous court-martial of mishandling classified information, was charged with disobeying an order by speaking to a journalist from the San Diego Union-Tribune after allegedly being ordered, according to the article, "not to discuss the investigation into the security breach or classified materials with the news media."

As we discussed here, the military judge had ruled that the Union-Tribune reporter to whom Pvt Mariarz spoke could be called as a defense witness. But the defense ultimately elected not to do so.

h/t NBM3