Prosecutor Says Lonetree Spied for Love, Revenge

Marine Sgt. Clayton J. Lonetree betrayed his country because he loved a Soviet woman and wanted revenge for the U.S. government’s treatment of American Indians, a military prosecutor said Tuesday.

“In his statements, he admits what is obvious--that he was helping the Soviet Union,” Marine Maj. David L. Beck said in opening statements at Lonetree’s court-martial for espionage.

“The accused gave away documents and vital information important to our intelligence and our national defense interests,” Beck said after beginning the government’s case by reciting Lonetree’s oath to defend the United States.

Lonetree, the first Marine to be tried for espionage, is accused of disclosing the identities of CIA agents and embassy floor plans to the KGB secret police during his stint as a U.S. Embassy guard in Moscow.

He faces 13 counts and, if convicted, could spend life in prison.

Defense attorney Michael Stuhff described Lonetree, 25, of St. Paul, Minn., as a patriot who gave nothing of value to the Soviets. He said Lonetree wanted to become a double agent.

Lonetree’s mistake, Stuhff said, was that he tried to take on the KGB single-handedly, dealing with a man named Sasha, who prosecutors say is a KGB agent.

“Sgt. Lonetree did not compromise his oath,” Stuhff said in his opening statement. “He made a mistake. He tried to take on the KGB.”

Treatment of Indians

Beck said that Lonetree became involved with espionage after beginning a clandestine love affair with a woman named Violeta, who worked as an interpreter in the embassy.

He said also that Lonetree, an American Indian, may have been motivated to spy by a desire for revenge against the federal government because of its treatment of his people.

“He expressed resentment (of) our government for the treatment native Americans received,” Beck said.

The defense acknowledged the love affair but said spying was not involved.

“Celibacy is something I don’t think was reasonably expected by the Marine Corps,” Stuhff said.

The defense contended that Beck brought up dual motives of sex and revenge because there was no real motive in a case that it says is based largely on misguided official theories of “a nest of spies” among Marine guards at the embassy in Moscow.