Marine Lance Hering, who staged an expensive disappearing act in the foothills two years ago, not only faces jail time in Boulder County but also a $33,057 bill that has barely been touched.
Hering was booked in Boulder County Jail today on $5,000 bond. He posted bond and was released around 2 p.m.,according to 9News.
On Friday, Hering was sentenced by a military judge at Camp Pendleton, Calif., to forfeit $1,160 in back pay after he pleaded guilty to unauthorized absence for more than 30 days, terminated by apprehension.
The judge gave Hering, 23, credit for time served in the brig, and his case was referred to a board to determine his discharge status.
In Boulder, Hering faces a probation violation that comes from a 2004 conviction of attempted burglary as well as a false-reporting charge in connection with his 2006 disappearance. Both could possibly bring jail time.
The Marine is due back in court on Jan. 7 for his parole violation. He’s scheduled to face the false reporting charge on Jan. 28.
There is also the matter of the $33,057 racked up by Boulder County in hard costs in the 2006 search for the missing Marine, said sheriff’s Lt. Phil West.
Hering’s friend Steve Powers — who initially reported Hering missing on Aug. 30, 2006 — was sentenced in 2007 and was given until January 2009 to pay the entire $33,057, West said. So far, only about $1,752 has been paid.
The Sheriff’s Office hopes that if Hering is found guilty of the false-reporting charge, he will also be ordered to help pay the remaining $31,305, West said.
“Our goal is that we be paid upfront so that Mr. Powers and Mr. Hering won’t string this out for years,” West said.
Powers’ call to report that Hering had fallen while rock climbing in Eldorado Canyon started a massive search. “Literally hundreds of searchers” spent eight days and an estimated 10,000 man-hours covering 400 acres looking for Hering, West said.
Powers helped look for the Marine before finally admitting his call was a ruse. The morning the search began, Hering got on a bus and fled.
Hering was arrested in Port Angeles, Wash., on Nov. 16.
His attorney, James Culp, predicts the civilian court in Boulder will take the same lenient approach the Marines did on Friday,according to 9News.
“We have every anticipation that Lance will be home with his brother, at home for Christmas,” said Culp.
9News contributed to this report.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907
