Former Marine indicted for alleged threats against Obama

A federal grand jury indicted a former Camp Lejeune Marine on Wednesday on charges that he threatened the life of Barack Obama, the U.S. Attorney's Office confirmed today.

Kody Brittingham, 20, formerly a lance corporal with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, was accused of making threats against Obama while he was president-elect, said Robin Zier, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office for the eastern district of North Carolina.

Brittingham was arrested by the Jacksonville Police Department on breaking and entering charges in mid-December 2008.

Naval investigators discovered a journal allegedly written by Brittingham in his barracks after his arrest by civilian authorities in December. The journal contained plans on how to kill the president, as well as 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 being held in the Onslow County Jail under a $40,500 bond for the attempted armed robbery and breaking and entering charges.

Brittingham was arrested in December along with three other Marines and a civilian 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 alleged robberies.

While 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 supposed 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 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.

Contact crime reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8456. Read Lindell's blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.