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Woman Alleges Camp Lejeune Marines Accused In Bomb Plot Were Joking

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TUNKHANNOCK, PA. — Two U.S. Marines arrested after theywere overheard talking about planting a bomb at a military basewere only joking around, according to a third person charged in thealleged plot.

Police said Janna Rebecca Lynn Smith, 27, of Richlands, N.C,told investigators that she and the soldiers had made comments inprivate about wanting to blow up the Camp Lejeune base in NorthCarolina, and had even downloaded bomb-making instructions from theInternet.

But Smith said the trio didn't actually want to plant a bomb,and had simply made the cracks out of frustration with themilitary, according to a summary of her remarks printed in policereports.

"She related that they talked a lot ... about it, but they didnot have any plans to actually do it," state police Trooper RobertA. Kennedy said in his report.

Smith and the two soldiers -- Lance Cpl. Richard D. Morrison Jr. of Tunkhannock, Pa., and Lance Cpl. Richard Thomas Medders, 22, of Trussville, Ala. -- were arrested Friday on charges including conspiracy to cause a risk of catastrophe and making bomb threats.

The investigation began after Morrison's sister went to policeand complained that the group had been talking for several daysabout planting a bomb at Camp Lejeune to kill a supervisor they didnot like, prosecutors said.

The woman provided state police with a computer disk and aprintout containing files she said the men had downloaded from theInternet, including sections of "The Anarchist's Cookbook," amanual on how to make weapons with common household products.

Wyoming County District Attorney George Skumanick said noweapons or bombs were found during a search of the Tunkhannock homewhere the three were staying.

Each was being held Monday on $100,000 bail at a county jail. Apreliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 18.

Morrison and Medders are stationed at Camp Lejeune, but were onan unexcused leave from the base, Skumanick said.

Staff Sgt. Jay Connolly, a spokesman for the base, said the menhad been absent since Jan. 24. He declined to comment on the case,other than to say that "the behavior that is alleged is certainlynot in keeping with the values of the Marine Corps."

Tunkhannock is about 135 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

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