Marine indicted on Obama threat

A Camp Lejeune Marine planned to assassinate President Barack Obama in November, according to a federal indictment made public Thursday.

Kody Brittingham, 20, formerly a lance corporal with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on charges he made threats against Obama in November when Obama was president-elect.

"We take all threats against the president and other high officials of the United States very seriously," U.S. Attorney George B. Holding said. "The threat itself represents a disruption of the United States Government, even if no actual attempt is made to carry out the threat."

Federal prosecutors say Brittingham violated Title 18, United States Code, Section 871, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised parole and a fine of up to $250,000.

Jacksonville police arrested Brittingham in mid-December 2008 on charges he attempted to rob a local hotel.

Naval investigators discovered a journal allegedly written by Brittingham in his barracks after his arrest that contained plans on how to kill the president and white supremacist material, a federal law enforcement official said.

Brittingham was administratively separated from the Marine Corps on Jan. 3, pending legal action by civil authorities, said 2nd Marine Division spokesman 1st Lt. Philip Klay.

Brittingham is currently lodged in the Onslow County Jail under a $40,500 bond.

A Secret Service investigation was spurred by Brittingham's arrest in December. Along with three other Marines and a civilian, Brittingham was charged in connection to an armed robbery at Liberty Inn on Marine Boulevard and an attempted robbery at My Hotel on Commerce Drive. The five worked together as security at a local nightclub prior to the robberies they are charged with committing.

Although the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the five for possible federal weapons violations, there is no indication the other four knew about Brittingham's journal, a law enforcement source said. Brittingham is the only one of the five suspects who is white.

Of the other three Marines, two are still active duty and one has been administratively discharged.

Brittingham joined the Marine Corps on July 10, 2007. His military awards include the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He never deployed with the Marine Corps, Klay said.