CAMP PENDLETON -- Marine Corps officials announced this afternoon that seven Marines and a Navy Corpsman will face charges on everything from murder and kidnapping to assault and obstruction of justice in connection with the alleged April 26 kidnapping and killing of an Iraqi civilian in the town of Hamdania.

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The Marines now face further pre-trial investigation and a possible court martial on the charges. If convicted, some face the death penalty.

In a 1 p.m. news conference at Camp Pendleton, Marine officials announced the names of the accused and the following charges:

Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins III is charged with one count each of conspiracy, kidnapping, murder, larceny, assault, house breaking, obstruction of justice, and three counts of making false official statements.

Cpl. Trent D. Thomas is charged with one count each of conspiracy, murder, kidnapping, false official statements, larceny, assault, house breaking and obstruction of justice.

Hospitalman 3rd Class Melson J. Bacos is charged with one count each of conspiracy, murder, kidnapping, false official statements, larceny, assault, house breaking, obstruction of justice.

Lance Cpl. Tyler A. Jackson is charged with one count each of conspiracy, murder, larceny, assault, house breaking kidnapping and obstruction of justice.

Pfc. John Jodka is charged with one count each of conspiracy, murder, kidnapping, false official statements, larceny, assault, house breaking and obstruction of justice.

Lance Cpl. Jerry E. Shumate Jr. is charged with one count each of conspiracy, murder, kidnapping, larceny, assault, house breaking and obstruction of justice

Lance Cpl. Robert B. Pennington is charged with one count each of conspiracy, murder, kidnapping, larceny, assault, house breaking and obstruction of justice.

Cpl. Marshall L. Maginacalda is charged with one count each of conspiracy, murder, kidnapping, false statements, larceny, assault, house breaking and obstruction of justice.

The charges are all related to the death of 52-year-old Iraqi man Hashim Ibrahim Awad al-Zobaie.

Witnesses in Iraq have claimed he was taken from his home and executed and that the killing scene was then staged with a shovel and an AK-47 assault rifle to make it appear he was planting a roadside bomb when shot.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service has headed up the probe of the eight members from Kilo Company of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.

Family members and lawyers for the men proclaimed the troops' innocence after the charges were announced.

"They were out there just doing their job," said Maj. Haytham Faraj, a military lawyer for Thomas, a corporal who was on his third tour to Iraq when the incident took place. "They were on a mission and following orders and procedures."

Terri Jackson, mother of Lance Cpl. Tyler Jackson, called the charges "ridiculous."

"I'm trying to hang in there," she said in a phone interview. "I'm pretty appalled. It shouldn't have gone this far."

Jackson, who said she'd hoped the Marines and corpsman would be released today instead of charged, said she visited her son in the brig over the weekend.

"He's doing OK," she said. "He knows he's innocent. It's tough to be locked up when you know you are innocent."

In a mid-day interview from Washington, U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon stressed, that filing charges in no way implies that the men are guilty.

"While this is an important development … the Marines cautioned that this is the start of a process, not the end of one, and it does not carry with it any presumption of guilt."said Hunter, who serves as chairman for the House Armed Services Committee. "

By 10:30 Wednesday morning dozens of reporters and television crews were cued up at the main gate to Camp Pendleton, in Oceanside, as they waited for the start up of an afternoon news conference where the news of charges were expected. Pendleton officials said they were expecting as many as 150 reporters to attend the news conference.

At noon, Marine officials provided reporters with an outdoor briefing on military justice in front of the headquarters for I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton.

Jane Siegel, one of two private attorneys hired by the family of Pfc. John Jodka III of Encinitas, said before the charges were announced, she she understood some or all of the men would face homicide charges.

"I was relatively sure that when charges came out that this is what they would be," Siegel told the North County Times. "I am really disappointed because I just don't think they have had the kind of investigation that justifies these kinds of charges."

Siegel, a retired Marine colonel who spent 23 years as an attorney in the Judge Advocate General corps, said that a charging decision gives her and her 20-year-old client "something we can now work with."

Another mother who asked not to be identified said the investigators have believed the family of the slain man and not the troops.

"This is so much bigger than the guys sitting in the brig," she said. "This shows that al-Qaeda and the Taliban can use the media and our emotions against us. They are turning American against Americans."

In a telephone interview from her home in Washington state, Deanna Pennington, mother of Lance Cpl. Rob Pennington, said Wednesday that her family had been expecting the Marine Corps to announce charges. Her son remains undaunted by the latest development, Pennington said.

"I spoke with Rob today and he's doing well -- he understands that this was something the military needed to do," Pennington said. "He said, ' Mom, everything is going to be fine.' We are very hopeful and are trying to remain strong."

The eight have been in the Pendleton brig since being returned from Iraq on May 24. Prior to that, the group was detained at Camp Fallujah.

The body of al-Zobaie was taken to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware two weeks ago for an autopsy and forensic examination, the results of which have not been disclosed.

The men in the brig were held as maximum security detainees until Thursday, when the Marine Corps changed their status to medium custody and authorized the removal of shackles they had been forced to wear when in the brig exercise yard and meeting with family members and attorneys.

The Associated Press contributed material used in this report.

Recent Reports

• Support pouring in for jailed troops

• Marine in Hamdania case requests speedy trial

• Marine Corps unshackles troops under investigation

• Attorney: Suspects threatened with death penalty

Charges Filed

Sergeant Lawrence G. Hutchins III

Charge I: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 81 (Conspiracy) Specification: Conspired to commit Larceny, Housebreaking, False Official Statements, Kidnapping, Murder, Obstruction of Justice

Charge II: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 107 (False Official Statement x 3) Specification 1: False Official Statement Specification 2: False Official Statement Specification 3: False Official Statement

Charge III: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 118 (Murder) Specification: Did with premeditation, murder Hashim Ibrahim Awad

Charge IV: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 121 (Larceny) Specification: Stole a shovel and an AK-47 assault rifle

Charge V: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 128 (Assault) Specification: Unlawfully force Hashim Ibrahim Awad to the ground and bind his hands and feet Charge VI: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 130 (Housebreaking) Specification: Unlawfully enter a dwelling, the property of Hashim Ibrahim Awad, with the intent to commit a criminal offense, to wit: kidnapping, therein

Charge VII: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 134 (General Article) Specification 1: Did willfully and wrongfully seize and hold Hashim Ibrahim Awad against his will (Kidnapping) Specification 2: Did wrongfully endeavor to impede an investigation (Obstruction of Justice) Specification 3: Did wrongfully endeavor to impede an investigation (Obstruction of Justice)

Corporal Trent D. Thomas, U.S. Marine Corps

Charge I: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 81 (Conspiracy) Specification: Conspired to commit Larceny, Housebreaking, False Official Statements, Kidnapping, Murder, Obstruction of Justice

Charge II: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 107 (False Official Statement) Specification: False Official Statement

Charge III: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 118 (Murder) Specification: Did with premeditation, murder Hashim Ibrahim Awad

Charge IV: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 121 (Larceny) Specification: Stole a shovel and an AK-47 assault rifle

Charge V: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 128 (Assault) Specification: Unlawfully force Hashim Ibrahim Awad to the ground and bind his hands and feet

Charge VI: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 130 (Housebreaking) Specification: Unlawfully enter a dwelling, the property of Hashim Ibrahim Awad, with the intent to commit a criminal offense, to wit: kidnapping, therein

Charge VII: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 134 (General Article) Specification 1: Did willfully and wrongfully seize and hold Hashim Ibrahim Awad against his will (Kidnapping) Specification 2: Did wrongfully endeavor to impede an investigation (Obstruction of Justice)

Hospitalman Third Class Melson J. Bacos

Charge I: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 81 (Conspiracy) Specification: Conspired to commit Larceny, Housebreaking, False Official Statements, Kidnapping, Murder, Obstruction of Justice

Charge II: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 107 (False Official Statement) Specification: False Official Statement

Charge III: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 118 (Murder) Specification: Did with premeditation, murder Hashim Ibrahim Awad

Charge IV: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 121 (Larceny) Specification: Stole a shovel and an AK-47 assault rifle

Charge V: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 128 (Assault) Specification: Unlawfully force Hashim Ibrahim Awad to the ground and bind his hands and feet

Charge VI: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 130 (Housebreaking) Specification: Unlawfully enter a dwelling, the property of Hashim Ibrahim Awad, with the intent to commit a criminal offense, to wit: kidnapping, therein

Charge VII: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 134 (General Article) Specification 1: Did willfully and wrongfully seize and hold Hashim Ibrahim Awad against his will (Kidnapping) Specification 2: Did wrongfully endeavor to impede an investigation (Obstruction of Justice)

Lance Corporal Tyler A. Jackson

Charge I: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 81 (Conspiracy) Specification: Conspired to commit Larceny, Housebreaking, False Official Statements, Kidnapping, Murder, Obstruction of Justice

Charge II: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 118 (Murder) Specification: Did with premeditation, murder Hashim Ibrahim Awad

Charge III: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 121 (Larceny) Specification: Stole a shovel and an AK-47 assault rifle

Charge IV: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 128 (Assault) Specification: Unlawfully force Hashim Ibrahim Awad to the ground and bind his hands and feet

Charge V: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 130 (Housebreaking) Specification: Unlawfully enter a dwelling, the property of Hashim Ibrahim Awad, with the intent to commit a criminal offense, to wit: kidnapping, therein

Charge VI: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 134 (General Article) Specification 1: Did willfully and wrongfully seize and hold Hashim Ibrahim Awad against his will (Kidnapping) Specification 2: Did wrongfully endeavor to impede an investigation (Obstruction of Justice)

Private First Class John J. Jodka

Charge I: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 81 (Conspiracy) Specification: Conspired to commit Larceny, Housebreaking, False Official Statements, Kidnapping, Murder, Obstruction of Justice

Charge II: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 107 (False Official Statement) Specification: False Official Statement

Charge III: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 118 (Murder) Specification: Did with premeditation, murder Hashim Ibrahim Awad

Charge IV: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 121 (Larceny) Specification: Stole a shovel and an AK-47 assault rifle

Charge V: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 128 (Assault) Specification: Unlawfully force Hashim Ibrahim Awad to the ground and bind his hands and feet

Charge VI: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 130 (Housebreaking) Specification: Unlawfully enter a dwelling, the property of Hashim Ibrahim Awad, with the intent to commit a criminal offense, to wit: kidnapping, therein

Charge VII: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 134 (General Article) Specification 1: Did willfully and wrongfully seize and hold Hashim Ibrahim Awad against his will (Kidnapping) Specification 2: Did wrongfully endeavor to impede an investigation (Obstruction of Justice)

Lance Corporal Jerry E. Shumate Jr.

Charge I: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 81 (Conspiracy) Specification: Conspired to commit Larceny, Housebreaking, False Official Statements, Kidnapping, Murder, Obstruction of Justice

Charge II: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 118 (Murder) Specification: Did with premeditation, murder Hashim Ibrahim Awad

Charge III: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 121 (Larceny) Specification: Stole a shovel and an AK-47 assault rifle

Charge IV: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 128 (Assault) Specification: Unlawfully force Hashim Ibrahim Awad to the ground and bind his hands and feet

Charge V: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 130 (Housebreaking) Specification: Unlawfully enter a dwelling, the property of Hashim Ibrahim Awad, with the intent to commit a criminal offense, to wit: kidnapping, therein

Charge VI: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 134 (General Article) Specification 1: Did willfully and wrongfully seize and hold Hashim Ibrahim Awad against his will (Kidnapping) Specification 2: Did wrongfully endeavor to impede an investigation (Obstruction of Justice)

Lance Corporal Robert B. Pennington

Charge I: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 81 (Conspiracy) Specification: Conspired to commit Larceny, Housebreaking, False Official Statements, Kidnapping, Murder, Obstruction of Justice

Charge II: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 118 (Murder) Specification: Did with premeditation, murder Hashim Ibrahim Awad

Charge III: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 121 (Larceny) Specification: Stole a shovel and an AK-47 assault rifle

Charge IV: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 128 (Assault) Specification: Unlawfully force Hashim Ibrahim Awad to the ground and bind his hands and feet

Charge V: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 130 (Housebreaking) Specification: Unlawfully enter a dwelling, the property of Hashim Ibrahim Awad, with the intent to commit a criminal offense, to wit: kidnapping, therein

Charge VI: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 134 (General Article) Specification 1: Did willfully and wrongfully seize and hold Hashim Ibrahim Awad against his will (Kidnapping) Specification 2: Did wrongfully endeavor to impede an investigation (Obstruction of Justice)

Corporal Marshall L. Magincalda

Charge I: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 81 (Conspiracy) Specification: Conspired to commit Larceny, Housebreaking, False Official Statements, Kidnapping, Murder, Obstruction of Justice

Charge II: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 107 (False Official Statement) Specification: False Official Statement

Charge III: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 118 (Murder) Specification: Did with premeditation, murder Hashim Ibrahim Awad

Charge IV: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 121 (Larceny) Specification: Stole a shovel and an AK-47 assault rifle

Charge V: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 128 (Assault) Specification: Unlawfully force Hashim Ibrahim Awad to the ground and bind his hands and feet

Charge VI: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 130 (Housebreaking) Specification: Unlawfully enter a dwelling, the property of Hashim Ibrahim Awad, with the intent to commit a criminal offense, to wit: kidnapping, therein

Charge VII: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 134 (General Article) Specification 1: Did willfully and wrongfully seize and hold Hashim Ibrahim Awad against his will (Kidnapping) Specification 2: Did wrongfully endeavor to impede an investigation (Obstruction of Justice)