Marines Who Are Headed for Duty in the Middle East Get a Break From Court

Marines at Camp Pendleton who have been sent to the Middle East don’t have to worry about being on the lam if they face pending misdemeanor or infraction cases in North County Municipal Court in Vista.

Judges say they will defer the cases of Marines deployed to Saudi Arabia--as long as the Marine Corps confirms that the defendant truly is deployed.

“There are always efforts to make the life of a person going out to war as easy and uncomplicated as possible by relieving them from things like this,” said William Draper, presiding judge of the Vista municipal courts.

“Every court is mindful that there are other things going on in the world beyond our courtrooms.”

Officials say the deploying Marines--or their families, if the Marines already have gone--should contact the provost marshal’s office at Camp Pendleton in order to defer the case. Once military officials confirm the Marine’s deployment, the courts will be notified so an arrest warrant won’t be issued when the Marine fails to show up in court.

But, when the Marine returns home, he’ll still have to face the music, court officials say.

Marines facing felony charges in Vista Superior Court won’t have deployment to the Middle East as an excuse for failure to show, however. In fact, those Marines won’t be deployed because a pending felony charge keeps the Marine on base, officials say.

“We’re in a far different position, because we’re dealing with felonies,” said Kevin Midlam, supervising judge of the Vista Superior Court. “When someone is charged with a felony--such as rape, murder or assault--the command puts them on hold. Their orders are suspended, so they won’t be going to the Middle East unless there’s an out-and-out war.”