2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano has been officially cleared.
All murder charges have been dropped against 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano, the New York stock trader-turned-Marine who faced the death penalty for firing as many as 60 rounds into two suspected insurgents in Iraq last April.
Maj. Gen. Richard Huck, commanding general of 2nd Marine Division, dismissed the charges May 26 without following all of his investigating officer’s recommendation to punish Pantano administratively.
Huck, who is in Iraq, followed most of the recommendations of Lt. Col. Mark Winn, the investigating officer in the case, who concluded the shooting was justified and in keeping with the rules of engagement at the time. Winn presided over the Article 32 hearing at Camp Lejeune, N.C., that began April 26.
But Winn also recommended Pantano receive nonjudicial punishment for firing an excessive number of rounds during the incident, which occurred near Mahmudiyah, Iraq, on April 15, 2004.
Huck apparently disagreed with the NJP recommendation, dropping all charges and effectively ending Pantano’s legal troubles.
“While the Article 32 investigation has been lengthy, the best interests of 2nd Lt. Pantano and the government have been served by this process,†read a statement issued by Camp Lejeune officials May 26.
This doesn’t mean the ordeal is over for the former stock trader turned Marine. In fact, it may never truly be over.
The incident created an international furor and Pantano’s life was allegedly put in jeopardy by pro-Islamic groups who threatened revenge for what they said was the wrongful death of the two men.
Pantano, who was reassigned to a training position within the division, installed blast-proof glass in his Jacksonville, N.C.,-area home and took other measures to protect him and his family.
So what next for the Marine?
It’s not clear what the future holds for Pantano, but 2nd Lt. Barry Edwards, a spokesman at Camp Lejeune, said that at least for now Pantano will continue to work as the assistant training officer for an infantry unit.
“Second Lieutenant Pantano will continue his career as a Marine Corps officer,†Edwards said.
[Pantano’s civilian attorney Charles W.] Gittins said Pantano, who also dabbled in a film career before he rejoined the Corps, will weigh his options in the coming days. Gittins said he “wouldn’t rule out†Pantano getting out of the Corps, though he still loves it. But Gittins said he knows one thing: even if Pantano stays in, he won’t be a lifer.
“Is he going to stay around to try to be the commandant? I doubt it.â€
Blackfive, who has been all over the Pantano story, provides his take on today’s news. The post also contains links to his previous efforts on the matter.