MARINES ARRESTED IN DRUG INVESTIGATION

Six Marines were arrested and at least seven others were under
investigation for allege marijuana and steroids use, Camp Pendleton
officials said Thursday.

Five of the Marines arrested were helicopter mechanics; the other
worked at Camp Pendleton's substance abuse control center and
allegedly helped Marines alter the results of their drug tests, said
1st Lt. Eric Dent, a Camp Pendleton spokesman.

The Marines arrested appeared in military court Wednesday for the
civilian equivalent of a bail hearing.

Lt. Bill Bartolomea, an attorney for the Marines' helicopter squadron,
told military magistrate Maj. Etoy Brown that one of the mechanics, a
lance corporal, was a chronic marijuana user who smoked daily and
``sometimes comes to work stoned.''

``This is a Marine who is working on aircraft that we are flying,''
Bartolomea said.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry